Members Information

The Members of The Spring Partnership Trust (TSPT) are the equivalent of the shareholders in a commercial company (save that they do not receive dividends). In simple terms the Members look after TSPT on behalf of its beneficiaries and stakeholders, principally the pupils. They have a number of statutory rights as set out in the Trust's Articles of Association including:- 

Who are the Members?

We aim to have five Members and these vary from time to time.  Up to date details can be found below.

What do Members do?

Members make sure that Trustees (Directors) are running the Trust effectively.  Members are ‘eyes on but hands off’, in that they allow the Trustees to operate the Trust and only intervene in exceptional circumstances.

Typically, our Members meet twice a year, one meeting of which is the Annual General Meeting (AGM).  During these meetings, Members review various information about the Trust to ensure the Trust is being run in an effective, safe and sustainable manner.  Information looked at could include academic attainment and progress, financial performance and the pay of the CEO.

When would Members intervene?

Members would intervene if they felt that the Trust was not being run effectively.  For example, Members might have concerns about the strategy, performance, governance, remuneration or approach to risks that the Trustees had.  Interventions could include confidential and private meetings with the Chair, minuted comments at meetings, a formal resolution directing Trustees to act in a particular manner or, ultimately the removal of one or more Trustees from office.

Members can be contacted at independentmember@springpartnership.co.uk

How are Members held to account?

Members publish the minutes of their meetings in order that stakeholders can monitor the performance of Members.  Ultimately it is the Secretary of State for Education to whom the Members answer.

A detailed publication from the National Governance Association about Members can be downloaded by following this link

https://www.nga.org.uk/Guidance/School-structures-and-constitution/Academies-and-free-schools/NGA-Guidance-the-role-of-members.aspx.