Governors from across the Embark family gathered at Aldercar High School on Tuesday 11th November 2025 for our latest Local Governing Team Forum. The event brought together representatives from our primary and secondary schools to strengthen collaboration, share updates, and reflect on the important role governance plays in supporting our young people.
We were delighted with the turnout and the quality of discussion. The session was full of thoughtful questions, constructive challenge, and a shared sense of purpose. It highlighted once again that our values of family, integrity, teamwork and success sit at the heart of everything we do.
Trust updates and the wider picture
Leaders shared an overview of the Trust’s continued progress, including our growing national reputation, the impact of our partnership with the University of Derby, and the strength of collaboration across our schools.
Governors also heard about the importance of strong leadership development, high-quality data use and consistent quality assurance. These elements are central to raising standards and supporting all young people, including those from vulnerable groups.
Governance developments
The session included a helpful walk-through of updates to the Scheme of Delegation. To support strong challenge and assurance in meetings, a new set of quality assurance questions for governors has been released and is now available!
Finance, estates and compliance
Updates were shared on the Trust’s financial position, estates priorities and ongoing compliance work. This included investment in digital infrastructure, planned energy improvements and continued work to address the national backlog of school building maintenance. Governors also received a reminder of key Health and Safety requirements, including asbestos, fire safety and legionella reviews, all of which are regularly audited.
Looking ahead
The next LGT Forum will take place on Tuesday 24 March 2026 at Anthony Gell School, and we look forward to welcoming governors from across our family once again.
Key actions for governors
Governors left with a clear set of next steps, including attending PPRM and RAISE meeting feedback, reviewing school data against national benchmarks, evaluating interventions, engaging with Trust visit feedback, familiarising themselves with the new Ofsted framework, and supporting succession planning within their LGTs.
THANK YOU!
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the governors, school leaders, and central team members who attended, for their dedication to supporting young people across our Trust. A special thank you to the team at Aldercar High School for being brilliant hosts, and to Denbys for providing a wonderful buffet that everyone enjoyed. Our governors and Trustees play a crucial role in helping every young person across Embark to thrive, and we are truly grateful for their time, commitment, and ongoing support.
