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How to scrutinise information as a trust board

The board is accountable for your trust’s performance, so you need a full and accurate picture of how the trust is performing. Find out what information you should be getting and how to triangulate input from different sources so you can provide effective scrutiny and challenge.

New
on 6 May 2025
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 45362
Contents
  1. Be ready to scrutinise a range of different information
  2. Insist that reports are accessible and easy to understand
  3. Don't be afraid to ask for clarification in meetings
  4. Draw on external expertise
  5. Triangulate the information
  6. Scrutiny is a whole team effort

Be ready to scrutinise a range of different information

Expect to see reports and feedback from a range of different sources, such as your:

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
  • Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
  • Central team, including any directors of education who will be leading on school improvement strategies
  • Headteachers' forum
  • Chairs of your local governing bodies (LGBs) or local hubs, if your trust has them
  • Internal and external auditors
  • Risk register, and reports from your audit and risk committee
  • Academy accounts and trust management accounts

However, you'll also need to visit your schools occasionally – or gather feedback from local governors who are carrying out monitoring in schools – to understand what your trust's vision and strategy really looks like in practice.

Although it might feel uncomfortable to request this, don't be afraid to ask for reports and papers to be rewritten or simplified if they seem confusing.  Education is full