Being part of a team that "provides sound governance and scrutiny to ensure that the strategy of the trust is delivered to the highest standards" and "working with a talented group of trustees and our hard working executive team to support the delivery of the trust's objectives" are the highlights for the chair and vice chair of trustees at Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust (KMAT).

Malcolm Graham and Sarah Newton were announced as the head of the KMAT board last summer and have served as trustees during a period of real change at the trust.

The past few years has seen Kenilworth School move to its new site on Glasshouse Lane, a new headteacher take over and it keep its place as an 'Outstanding' Ofsted rated school.

Meanwhile the trust's other school - The Westwood Academy - has seen real progress under its new head Sarah Hatch which culminated in the school coming out of 'Requires Improvement' with its 'Good in all categories' new Ofsted rating earlier this year.

For Malcolm - who joined as a trustee after retiring from a career in IT and telecoms business management, project delivery and customer services - the last few months have given him an opportunity to give something back, in a specific way, to the town he has called his home for nearly 30 years.

The new Kenilworth School on Glasshouse Lane opened in September 2023 (image by Nub News)

"The trust's board's purpose is to provide strategic leadership of the trust by defining the vision for high quality and inclusive education, fostering the trust's culture and championing the trust strategy including determining what, if any, governance functions are delegated to the local governance tier and trust sub committees," Malcolm told Nub News.

"The board provides robust and effective oversight of the operations and performance of the trust, including the provision of education, pupil welfare, overseeing and ensuring appropriate use of funding, effective financial performance and keeping the estate safe and well-maintained.

"Trustees also provide strategic oversight of relationships with stakeholders and involve parents, local schools, businesses and the local community.

"Through the governance, support and challenge we provide to the trust's executive team, it's very pleasing to witness the excellent progress the trust is making and the results it is achieving."

What do the trustees actually do?

Fundamentally, the trustees are both charity trustees and company directors (registered with Companies House) who must ensure robust governance, (critical for effective financial management), holding the executive leader/CEO to account for the educational and operational performance of both schools and ensuring that KMAT complies with all legal and statutory requirements.

The KMAT board comprises 11 trustees who have experience from a wide range of professional backgrounds and industry sectors.

The trustees also sit on a number of sub-committees which meet regularly throughout the year to look over all aspects of managing the two schools.

Sarah explained: "We're not embroiled in the day-to-day executive management obviously, we're not allowed to be.

"We don't cross that line.

"We're there to govern, to advise, to be a critical friend and offer robust challenge.

One of the other key roles the trustees have played over recent years is to help improve Westwood Academy from its previous 'Requires Improvement' rating.

Being part of KMAT means each school within the trust receives a range of benefits (image via KMAT)

This process saw the local governance board dissolved and a new advisory group created to help deliver faster progress at the Mitchell Avenue school.

"Without sparing Sarah's blushes, the interim advisory board that Sarah and a number of other trustees are still part of, did a magnificent job at Westwood," Malcolm explained.

"Combined with Sarah Hatch coming on board as the head teacher, the strengthening of the senior leadership team and the help and oversight of Hayden our CEO, it has made a real difference.

"Although the trustees cannot cross the boundary into executive management, what is particularly rewarding is when we see the positive results that come from the executive team's hard work and application to particular challenges that have been raised and discussed at trust board level.

"You get a real sense of adding value collectively".

Why become a trustee?

Sarah's journey to the KMAT board also came after she left full time employment. Having volunteered during the pandemic at the local vaccination centre, she was persuaded to apply for the role by the previous chair.

With extensive experience working in education with Coventry City Council, Sarah said joining KMAT was a perfect opportunity to use her skills to the benefit of the local community and to learn more herself.

"Even though I had knowledge of education, it's really given me a better insight to the questions we should be asking, the triangulation we should be doing between what the head is telling us, what the pupils are telling us, and what you know the staff are telling us, so that we can actually get a true picture."

Sarah continued: "Being involved in a school like Westwood and seeing the improvements and having some contact with the young people at the school, understanding how they feel about the school and the developments - I have enjoyed that."

The Westwood Academy is now rated 'good' in all areas by Ofsted (image via KMAT)

Speaking on the satisfaction he gets from the role, Malcolm pointed to the record A-Level and GCSE results which came from both schools last year, the number of students going on to university or into apprenticeships, the amazing productions and concerts that each school put on and our entry into the The Good Schools Guide - perhaps why places at both schools are in popular demand by many parents.

He continued: "For me it's also about seeing Westwood grow and improve under Sarah Hatch and her senior leadership team and also being involved with an incredible facility like Kenilworth School and the results that are being attained by both schools…not just in academic achievement but also the culture that exists, which is a reflection of the values that both schools and the trust espouse.

"It's being involved in a co-operative, a happy, positive atmosphere and an environment of wanting to improve underpinned by Westwood's motto 'Where Better Never stops' and Kenilworth School and Sixth Form's 'Be The Very Best That You Can Be'."

What does being part of a trust mean?

It means that each school within the trust receives the benefits of shared resources, economies of scale and increased buying power, consistent standards and practices, school improvement support, staff career development and retention, cross-school collaboration, governance and leadership support and support for struggling schools.

It also provides centralised governance and risk management.

Malcolm added: "Since KMAT was formed it has had a mission statement of 'Aspiring to Excellence through quality, ambition and independence and its good to see our mission translated into practice.

"The schools within our trust provide a diverse range of opportunities for our pupils and families in the communities in which they are located.

"Our environment for learning, with state of the art facilities, provides an IT rich immersive experience for young people to excel.

"The trust also drives for links with employers to provide work experience, apprenticeships and facilitates next steps beyond school. Our lettings and leisure facilities provide our pupils and the community with access to first class sports and fitness amenities."

Westwood's motto is 'Where Better Never stops' (image by Nub News)

The trust has a clear ambition for all its schools that they should learn from each other, to the benefit of the staff and students.

"There's learning from Westwood particularly around SEND pupils which can really support work at Kenilworth with vulnerable students or those who need extra support," Sarah explained.

"Those are things we can help direct and influence how the staff work together.

"We don't want to see isolated units.

"There is a good link between all the staff and senior leadership teams and that benefits both schools.

"Its another thing the trustees can try and make sure happens."

And speaking on the importance of the trustees, KMAT CEO Hayden Abbott said: "I greatly appreciate the work of the KMAT Board of trustees in overseeing the successes of the two schools within our trust.

"They have been excellent in holding me and other executive leaders to account to ensure that the trust is in the strongest possible position for future success and growth.

"They, along with the local governors, of our schools are invaluable in overseeing our finances and assets and ensure that the trust is legally compliant.

"My role as CEO also combines that of accounting officer ensuring that the vision for the trust is fully implemented in our schools and that my responsibility for trust improvement translates into school development plans and actions leading to good outcomes for young people.

"I enjoy working with the trustees and local governors and I am immensely proud of the Kenilworth Multi Academy Trust and I look forward to the continued success of the trust and its strong partnership with other schools, local authorities and employers."

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