Executive Summary: External Review of Governance – UCL Academy Trust 

Date of Review: May – July 2025
Reviewer: Steven W Barker
Date of Report: 7 August 2025 

Purpose & Methodology 

The External Review of Governance (ERoG), commissioned by the sponsor, aimed to independently assess the effectiveness of governance across UCL Academy Trust. The review focused on the role, function, and effectiveness of governance including the sponsor, with the view to identifying strengths and areas for improvement using an “even better if” approach. Methodology for the review included: 

• Detailed scrutiny of trust documentation including the website and papers on GovernorHub 

• Focused interviews with governors, Members of the Trust, and the clerk 

• Reference to DfE Trust Quality Descriptors and the Academy Trust Handbook 

Key Findings and Recommendations  

Governance has improved following a period of turbulence, with positive collaboration and a renewed purpose and commitment to strategic and effective governance. The board is well-led and has impressive skills and experience reflected in its composition. There is recognition of scope for improvement in the structure and function of governance, and the report outlines the three key areas of recommendation the reviewer believes will have the greatest impact and lead to further improvement in the effectiveness of governance. Key findings and recommendations in the three areas included: 

1. Effective Structures  

1. Findings 

• There is a need to review the terms of reference for the two sub-committees and to review the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation, particularly to ensure that all aspects of compliance are routinely covered; 

• Each committee holds a risk register and this should be consolidated and made readily available to governors;  

• The governing body is functioning effectively with a reduced-size constitution; it may be desirable to consider whether this should continue 

• Utilisation of annual agenda planners should be consistent across all sub-committees 

 

1. Recommendations  

• Review and update the Scheme of Delegation to reflect recent changes 

• Review and align committee terms of reference to the Scheme of Delegation 

• Clearly identify the Audit and Risk functions within the Finance, Audit and Resources Committee 

• Consider reconstituting the governing body so that it is no larger than it needs to be 

• Ensure Annual Agenda Planners are a dynamic tool to support effective governance 

 

1. Focusing on student outcomes 

1. Findings 

• The breadth of the Curriculum, Standards and Safeguarding Committee’s remit and the volume of information and data often results in a lack of sufficient, in-depth scrutiny and lack of clarity on key performance indicators and vital messages 

 

1. Recommendations  

• Ensure clarity of key performance indicators and introduce a “Three Key Messages” summary for data presented to governors 

• Avoid unnecessary data burdens on leadership by using existing internal data 

• Provide training for governors to improve scrutiny and focus on improvement priorities 

 

1. The role of the sponsor 

 

1. Findings 

• There is a need to ensure effective communications processes between the sponsor and Members of the Trust 

• The role of the members is not sufficiently clear or well understood, including by governors 

• Support for governance by the sponsor would be a helpful addition to its support to the school 

 

1.  Recommendations 

• Utilise Members effectively to represent the interests of the sponsor, including through a formal, minuted update meeting every term with the Principal; 

• Ensure Members receive training to understand their roles and powers 

• Ensure that scheduled meetings are described as members’ meetings with the Principal.