Academy trusts: provide or update governance contact information

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Updating governance details on GIAS: guidance for multi academy trusts

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Add or update governance details

Academy trusts, including free schools, university technical colleges and studio schools, must notify ESFA about the appointment or vacating of governance roles within their trust. This is a requirement in the Academies Financial Handbook.

ESFA also sends confidential information about funding and financial reporting to academy trusts throughout the year. It’s important we have the right contact details for you.

You must add or update information in the governance section of get information about schools (GIAS) using your DfE Sign-in account.

Further guidance on updating academy trust governance information using GIAS is available.

What you need to include

New trusts have 28 days to supply all governance information for their trust.

You must then tell us about new appointments, or any changes to governance roles, within 14 days of the change being made.

At trust level, we require information for:

• chair of trustees, including direct contact details
• accounting officer, including direct contact details
• chief financial officer, including direct contact details
• all members and trustees

At academy level, we require information for:

• headteacher, including direct contact details
• local chair of governing body, including direct contact details
• local governors

Suitability and enhanced DBS checks for new chairs of academy trusts

New chairs of trustees must complete a suitability check, which includes an enhanced disclosure and barring service check, as soon as they are appointed.

These checks are intended to provide confidence in the suitability of chairs of academy trusts and support safeguarding requirements set out in:

•The Education (Independent School Standards) Regulations (2014)•Keeping Children Safe in Education (2019)

Free schools only

Each current and proposed member and trustee of the academy trust must complete a suitability and declarations form to meet due diligence requirements.

ESFA Update

ESFA Update provides the latest information and actions from ESFA, for academies, schools, colleges, local authorities and further education providers.

We send ESFA Update to the chair of trustees, accounting officer and chief financial officer in each trust. Headteachers of academies also receive a copy.

Anyone can register for news and communication alerts. You will then be notified when new editions of ESFA Update are published.