Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many academies have articles of association which require the Academy Trust to consider any advice given by the principal of a school in the Academy Trust before resolving to take action; and in how many academy trusts the consideration of such advice is discretionary.

The model articles of association for academy trusts set out the expectations of how academy trusts should be governed, including those arising from company and charity law. The model articles do not include any specific requirement on the trust board to consider advice given by the principal but we would expect them to do so. We would expect there to be an effective working relationship between trustees and the principal, who will often serve as a trustee.