Governance Arrangements

Trustees and Governance 

Ashcroft Technology Academy is operated through Prospect Education (Technology) Trust Limited (the Trust) and is therefore governed by a Board of Trustees which holds full responsibility for the educational and strategic direction of the Academy. The Trustees are the directors of the Trust. The Trust is a company limited by guarantee with no share capital and is also an exempt charity. 

The Trust's Memorandum and Articles of Association and its Funding Agreement with the Department for Education (DfE) are the primary governing documents of the Trust. Members of the Trust are nominated by either the Secretary of State for Education or by the Principal Sponsor. The articles of association require the members of the Trust to appoint at least three trustees to be responsible for the statutory and constitutional affairs of the Trust and the management of the Academy. 

In accordance with the articles of association, the Trust has adopted a “Scheme of Management” approved by the Secretary of State for Education. The Scheme of Management sets out how the management of the Academy should operate and prescribes that the trustees will be responsible for the overall operations and strategic development of the Academy, but that they may delegate responsibilities relating to the operational affairs and development of the Academy to the Executive Board (EB). In ensuring that the Trust’s finances are properly administered and that books of account are maintained and duly audited at least annually, the trustees have also established a separate Finance and Resources Committee (FRC) with appropriate delegated authorities. 

The full Board of Trustees meets annually and the EB and FRC each aim to meet at least five times a year. Both report directly to the trustees. At present, two trustees serve as members on the EB and one serves as a member and another as observer on the FRC. 

The trustees are informed, in full, of the discussions and decisions of both the EB and the FRC. In addition to their role at the Annual General Meeting, the trustees contribute to and approve the Academy’s Annual Report and Financial Statements. They played a pivotal role in the original establishment of ADT City Technology College and its subsequent conversion to Academy status in September 2007.  A Trustee Remuneration Committee, composed of trustees, meets annually to review and approve the salaries of the Principal and Vice-Principal and to set parameters within which the FRC determines pay decisions for all other staff. The trustees also contribute to and approve the Academy’s annual Pay and Pensions Policy. 

The Principal, who is also the Academy’s designated Accounting Officer, and the Vice-Principal work closely on day-to-day matters of financial control. The Trustees have decided not to appoint an internal auditor; however, in 2019- 2020 they continued to appoint Mr S Harris FCA, a member of the EB, as Responsible Officer (RO). The RO’s role is fully defined and includes giving advice on financial matters and performing a range of checks on the Academy’s financial systems. 

Board of Trustees 

Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Trust. Lord Ashcroft sponsored the development of Ashcroft Technology Academy and has maintained full involvement, interest and support through his role as Chair of Trustees ever since the founding days of ADT College to help ensure the Academy’s on-going success. 

A list of current Trustees and their attendance at the most recent Annual Trustees Meeting is shown below.