Brantwood Specialist School Accountability Framework

BRANTWOOD SPECIALIST SCHOOL

ACCOUNTABILITY

FRAMEWORK

Delegated decision-making authority

The Brantwood Specialist School Accountability

Framework clarifies the distribution of responsibility

and accountability across the key functional areas

of its educational provision within the various tiers

of governance and management.

The Board of Directors of Brantwood Specialist School Ltd

serves as the legal governing body for Brantwood Specialist

School. The Board carries out all statutory responsibilities

concerning charity, company, and education law. It approves

and monitors the school’s educational and financial plans

and budgets, admissions, workforce planning, and holds legal

liability for the Single Central Record and statutory policies.

The delivery of the school’s performance and operations

is primarily delegated to the Head Teacher and the Senior

Leadership Team. The Head Teacher is responsible for

achieving all educational and operational targets set by the

Board of Directors regarding outcomes in the school, with

support from the Senior Leadership Team.

Brantwood Specialist School Ltd, which operates Brantwood

Specialist School, is a member of the Ruskin Mill Trust

Group. The Board of Directors has the option to delegate

management and day-to-day functions and/or to consult with

or receive advice from the Director of Schools and/or the

wider Executive Team of the Ruskin Mill Trust.

For over 30 years, a distinct research-based educational

method known as Practical Skills Therapeutic Education

(PSTE) has been developed by Ruskin Mill Trust. PSTE is

the method that informs the curriculum of Brantwood

Specialist School.

The Board of Directors decides which specialist support

services the school will receive from Ruskin Mill Civil Service.

The following services are available: school improvement and

quality assurance, safeguarding, finance, human resources,

staff training and development, health and safety, residential

services, premises and estates, IT and MIS, admissions,

marketing and communications, and legal support.

2

Notes

The following table outlines responsibilities in areas where it is

important to define roles across the tiers of governance and

management. It does not detail every legal responsibility of a

charity director, company director, or governor, nor does it

prescribe every activity within the remit of the governance layers;

rather, it focuses on the core activities carried out within each

area of operational delivery.

Approval and renewal

The Scheme of Delegation is renewed and approved by the Board

annually, so that the roles and responsibilities outlined continually

reflect organisational realities and updates to statutory legislation.

Key

QUALITY OF EDUCATION

BEHAVIOUR AND ATTITUDES

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT

COMPLIANCE

(Independent School Standards, Section 5)

“The Board” means the Board of Trustees of the school

“SLT” means the Senior Leadership Team

“ET” means the Executive Team

“CS” means the Ruskin Mill Trust Civil Service

3





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees

(Ultimately accountable

and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools

(Advises, supports and

challenges School)

Head Teacher and SLT

(Delivers on provision

performance &

operations)

Civil Service

(provides expertise,

support, and cohesion)

Notes - reporting

Curriculum

• Accountable for

overall vision, values

and method (Practical

Skills Therapeutic

Education (“PSTE”)

informing the syllabus

and curriculum for

the school

• Accountable for

all curriculum and

assessment practices

meeting statutory

requirements

• Approves School

curriculum model

and any significant

curriculum changes

• Agreed School targets

and Priorities

• Agree RSHE

Curriculum

• Agreeing careers

guidance, with

regard to statutory

requirements

• Supports and

challenges Head

Teacher in

setting school

curriculum model

• Provides guidance

to school on

implementation

of curriculum

• Proposes School

targets and priorities

• Develops and

embeds agreed

curriculum model

• Determines learning

programmes for

individual learners

• Delivering careers

guidance, with

regard to statutory

requirements

• Supports the

Executive Team

in quality assuring

aspects of the

curriculum delivery

(Quality of Education)

and delivery of

careers guidance

Board approves decisions

about significant

curriculum change.

Receives regular impact

evaluation reports on

curriculum structure.

Executive Team consulted.

4





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Quality of

Provision,

Standards

and student

performance /

progress, school

improvement

• Holds Head Teacher

and Senior Leadership

Team to account on

school improvement,

quality, student

progress and all

operational areas

• Accountable for

overall vision and

model for teaching

• Sets School

admissions policy

• Quality assurance

visits to assure the

quality of student

experience and

implementation

of PSTE in both

education and care

• Provides improvement

support in School

(where needed):

implementing SAR,

improve teaching

quality, building

leadership capacity,

manage assessment

process, curriculum,

analyse provision

data, develop policies

and procedures

• Supports with

leadership and

guidance in line

with priorities

• Support and challenge,

and input into the

development of the

School development /

improvement plans

• Supports Head

Teacher to develop

and implement

School strategy

• Develops and then

proposes School

priorities and School

improvement plans,

including admissions

criteria, to meet

priorities and strategic

development plan

including suggested

targets

• Delivers performance

as per School

improvement plan and

targets

• Production and

analysis of data

• Develops and then

propose curriculum

model & timetable

• Implements

improvement tools

with the support of

the QA/improvement

team

• Provides support

to provisions and

Executive Team with

quality assurance and

oversight, analyse

provision data,

develop policies

and procedures

• Supports capture

and analysis of data

to inform quality

assurance visits

• Supports provisions

with staff training

and development

Board receives reports

with recommendations

for strategic action as

appropriate. Executive

Team informed of

outcome for Group

oversight purposes.

5





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Quality of

Provision,

Standards

and student

performance /

progress, school

improvement

• Monitors School

performance (in

particular student

progress) against

improvement plans

and targets, through

reviewing and

challenging Head

Teacher’s updates and

data analysis

• Approves Teaching &

Learning Policy

• Supports Head

Teacher in setting

and implementing

vision and model for

teaching; arranging

CPD/training and

reporting on teacher

performance

• Supports and reviews

QA visits and reports

(where required)

• Manages assessment

processes in line with

legal obligations

• Improves teaching

quality through

performance

management, coaching,

CPD etc.

• Monitors and reports

to Board on school

performance (where

required)

6





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Student welfare:

culture, ethos

and wellbeing

• Approve Safeguarding,

Health & Safety and

Behaviour policies

• Accountable for

safeguarding and

health and safety

arrangements, meeting

requirements laid out

in statutory guidance

and ISS

• Set the School

approach to culture,

vision and wellbeing

• Set School attendance,

inclusion and

safeguarding policies

Where required

by the Board:

• respond and/or

oversee safeguarding

and other complaints

against Head Teacher

• monitor compliance

against policies,

ensure audits and

risk assessments are

completed and report

to Board

• Responsible

for ensuring all

safeguarding and

health & safety

arrangements and

practices across the

school meet statutory

requirements

• Implement culture,

vision and wellbeing

including behaviour

models in accordance

with policies

• Implement School

attendance, inclusion

and safeguarding

routines, attendance

and inclusion

in accordance

with policies

• Provide expert advice

and guidance

• monitor compliance

• against policies,

ensure audits and

risk assessments are

completed and report

to Board

• Arrange Health

& Safety and

fire risk audits

• Monitor safeguarding

and health &

safety incidents

Termly and Annual

reports to the Board.

Opportunities for Board

to challenge Head

Teacher. Specialist support

services available from

the RMT Trust Heads of

Safeguarding and Health

and Safety.

7





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Student welfare:

culture, ethos

and wellbeing

• Embed School

attendance, inclusion

and safeguarding

processes in line

with policies,

including training and

DBS processes

• Respond to

safeguarding

complaints

• Oversee referral of

at-risk pupils to LA

and other agencies

Oversee Health &

Safety compliance

at school

• Respond to issues

flagged by DBS

• Arrange Health

& Safety and

Fire risk audits

8





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Personal

Development

• Approve the Trust’s

Equality, Diversity and

Inclusion Policy

• Approve the

Fundamental British

Values Policy

• Set targets to

promote equality of

opportunity

• Monitor routines,

attendance and

inclusion in accordance

with policies

• Set School attendance,

inclusion and

safeguarding processes

• Monitor student

progress to ensure

equal opportunities

• Support and challenge

the inclusivity of the

learning environment

• Support the

development

of community

interactions including

social enterprise,

cultural events and

student performances

• Director of Schools

is responsible for

ensuring that all

personal development

activities are aligned

to the Trust’s vision,

values and method

• Responsible for

ensuring that the

school provides an

inclusive environment

• Ensure that students

have opportunities to

participate in personal

development activities

that demonstrate

democracy, individual

liberty, the rule of law

and mutual tolerance

and respect

• Ensure that staff

understand and

embed Fundamental

British Values

• Ensure that the

school offers careers

advice and guidance

and work experience

opportunities

• Maintain and update

relevant policies and

procedures to ensure

equal opportunity and

inclusion, appropriate

community access

and the embedding

of Fundamental

British Values

• Provide advice and

guidance around

equality and inclusion

Monitor student

progress data

9





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Our people

• Approve all relevant

human resources

policies relating to

recruitment, capability,

disciplinary/grievance,

pay, leave and

reorganisation

• Accountable for Single

Central Record

• Set overarching

approach to attraction

& recruitment,

performance appraisal,

probation, leadership,

pay and benefits,

disciplinary and

grievance, tribunals

and appeals

• Recruit for School

leadership roles

Where required

by the Board:

• provide training and

guidance on employee

relations

• HR tracking

and reporting

• Recruit for school

roles in line with

overall RMT approach

to attraction and

recruitment

• Implement RMT

approach to

performance appraisal,

probation, leadership

development, pay and

benefits, disciplinary

and grievance including

investigations at school

level

• Conduct preappointment

checks

for school roles

• Liaise with unions

• Oversee all HR

tracking and reporting

Where required

by the Board:

• Provide training

and guidance on

employee relations

• HR tracking

and reporting

Termly Annual report

to the Board. Specialist

support services are

available from the RMT

Trust Head of HR.

10





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Finance

• Accountable for

managing the

company’s resources

responsibly

• Accountable for

meeting statutory

requirements around

reporting, budgets and

financial controls

• Approval of all

budgets, finance

targets and

holdback charge

• Approval of all

finance policies and

protocols Scrutiny of

financial controls

and performance

• Supports the Head

Teacher to monitor

School budget

and expenditure

• Where required

by the Board, can

investigate financial

irregularities and

report to the

Board and monitor

for compliance

• Develop and propose

school budget

• Engage in internal

audit activities at a

School level

• Deliver finance

administration and

internal controls

arrangements

• Monitor management

accounts

• Regular reporting to

the Board

Delegated levels for

financial procurement

can be found within the

Procurement policy

• Deliver finance

administration and

internal controls

arrangements

• Support the

development of

financial management

practices and

understanding within

the SLT

11





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

IT and Data

Protection

• Approve IT and Data

Protection Policy

• Accountable for

meeting statutory

requirements around

data protection and

information security

• Accountable for

meeting statutory

requirements with

KCSIE ie Filtering and

Monitoring

Where required

by the Board:

• Lead response in event

of data breach

• Assist in response to

SAR requests

• Support IT projects

in school

• Arrange data

protection training

• Promote and

implement IT and

Acceptable Use Policy

• Promote and

implement Data

Protection and breach/

incident response

policies

• Lead on engagement

with IT & MIS teams

at School

• Ensure the School

meets data protection

requirements and

standards in line

with policies

• Manage IT

maintenance and

upgrades for

the school

• Lead contact

for School’s

Data Protection

Officer service

• Provide expertise

advice and support

with IT/ MIS issues

• Lead on development

of new IT/ MIS

systems and reports

Where required

by the Board:

• Lead response in event

of data breach

• Assist in response to

SAR requests

• Support IT projects in

the school

• Arrange data

protection training

• Manage IT

maintenance

and upgrades

for the College

Termly and Annual reports

to the Board. Specialist

support services available

from RMT Trust Head

of IT & MIS and Legal

Services.

12





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Governance

• Accountable for

ensuring Brantwood

School is carrying out

its charitable purposes

for the public benefit

• Responsible for

meeting all legal,

accounting and

regulatory reporting

requirements

• Accountable for

reviewing, approving

and monitoring

all governance

arrangements

including: Articles of

Association, Schedule

of board meetings,

minute approval,

Committee structures

(if any), Terms of

Reference, Levels of

delegated authority

including limits of

financial authority,

• Support the Head

Teacher in developing

Risk Framework

and Register and

corresponding

effective and

proportionate

strategic and

operational risk

management

systems (in line with

wider RMT Group

framework) and

reporting to the Board

as appropriate

• Escalation to Board

any issues or concerns

• Ensure required

policies are in place

and publicised

• Ensure the Board is

provided with relevant

reports and data

to enable effective

leadership of the

school and scrutiny of

the operations

• Maintain an effective

risk management

process within the

school, escalating any

issues or concerns

that might reasonably

be expected to

expose the school to

significant reputational,

business, financial, legal

or other risk

• Ensure required

policies are in place

and publicised

• Maintain Trust Risk

Register for approval

by the Board

• Maintain Trust

Business Continuity

Plan for approval by

the Board

• Undertake regular

audits and other

quality assurance

processes

Reviewed annually by

the Board in consultation

with Head Teacher and (if

necessary) Executive Team

13





COMPLIANCE


Functional area

Board of Trustees


and approves all

statutory policies

and finance)

Executive Team inc.

Director of Schools


challenges School)



performance &

operations)

Civil Service



Notes - reporting

Governance

Policy of trustee

induction, board

review & development,

Trustee code of

conduct & conflict of

interest policy, Risk

Assessment Policy

Appointment and

removal of:

• Trustees

• Chair of Trustees

• Committee chairs &

members

• Approval and

monitoring of

the school risk

management strategy

• Approval and

monitoring of

the school risk

management strategy

14

Brantwood Specialist School Accountability Framework

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