CELT was proud to launch our NextGen Governance Local Tier model in 2025/26, following consultation earlier in 2025. This bold new approach strengthens local accountability, deepens community engagement, and embeds assurance across our trust. We are currently recruiting community champions in all our schools.

Our Board of trustees holds three key responsibilities:

· Strategic leadership of the academy trust

· Accountability and assurance

· Engagement

The board of trustees is the legally responsible and accountable body for every academy. The board holds legal liability for areas that would normally be the responsibility of a local governing body in a maintained school, such as the Single Central Register and policies, with support from the central team. While the board may delegate many of its functions (for example to the executive team or a committee), the board remains accountable for these functions.

We are in the process of recruiting our Local Tier of Community Champions that will support by engaging with stakeholders to gain expert local knowledge and insight to understand what matters most to children, families, staff and communities.

A pilot phase began in selected schools during the autumn term, allowing us to:

· Test and refine the model in schools

· Gather feedback from schools, champions, and stakeholders

· Ensure the role reflects the diversity of our communities and delivers meaningful assurance

Our community champions work in partnership with the headteacher and staff to ensure the school provides the best possible education and opportunities for every child.

Our local tier will be made up of community champions, who focus on particular areas, to help us continually learn and improve. Across:

· Community and Civic Champion

· Inclusion and SEND

· Parent and Carer Champion

· Safeguarding

· Pupil Champion

· Staff Champion

· Sustainability Champion

What is a community champion?

Community champions are volunteers who support a local school with key aspects like wellbeing, community links or inclusion. Volunteers will represent the views of children, families, staff and communities.

These roles have been designed to be flexible to fit around work and family commitments. Just a few hours each term can make a big impact. 

As a community champion, you have the opportunity to play a vital role in shaping the future of our schools and ensuring that our learners receive an exceptional educational experience.

To request more information, contact governance@gov.celtrust.org 

Local Tier Community Champions are local advisory committees, not local governing boards. As many governance duties are performed by the Executive and the Trust’s professional support services, Community Champions are not ‘governors’ in the traditional sense. While they may be informed of educational performance, policy and compliance, they will not be relied upon for scrutiny of those areas. Instead, they will have the freedom to focus on providing local feedback, assurance and connection and reflecting on the ‘lived experience’ of students, parents/carers, staff and the community.

 Trust governance

Details of Cornwall Education Learning Trust and our trustees can be viewed on our Trust website.

This includes our Trust’s annual report, annual audited accounts, memorandum of association, articles of association, names of trustees and members and the Trust funding agreement.

If you require further information or would like this information in another format, contact: Governance Officer, Atlantic Centre, Trenance Leisure Park, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 2LZ

Telephone: 01637 800293   

Email: governance@gov.celtrust.org