Our school is part of Exceed Academies Trust, which has three layers of governance that work together to make sure every school provides the best possible education for its pupils:

• Members – make important, high-level decisions about how the Trust is set up and governed.
• Trustees (Directors) – have overall responsibility for the Trust and make strategic decisions about all the schools.
• Local Governors – focus on individual schools, supporting and challenging leaders to make sure each school continues to improve.

Each school normally has a Local Advisory Board (LAB) made up of governors. Some are appointed by the Trust, while others are elected by parents, carers, and staff. A typical LAB includes:

• A Trust representative
• The Headteacher
• Two Parent Governors
• Two Staff Governors
• Three Trust Appointed (Co-opted) Governors

For more information about how governance works across Exceed Academies Trust, please visit the Trust’s website by clicking here.

Before joining Exceed Academies Trust, Knowleswood was part of a federation with one governing board for two schools. When we joined the Trust in May 2023, this arrangement continued for a short time.

In March 2024, Exceed’s Board of Trustees decided that Knowleswood would benefit from having its own dedicated governance group. A Trust Appointed Governance Board (TAGB) was therefore established. This is a temporary group made up of skilled professionals who bring expertise and strong governance to the school.

The TAGB carries out all the usual functions of a Local Advisory Board and will remain in place until a new LAB is formed — we expect this to happen at the end of the second full academic year or sooner.

Our governors act as a critical friend to the Headteacher and leadership team. They provide both support and challenge to help the school offer the best for every child. Their main responsibilities include:

• Ensuring pupils receive a high-quality education
• Monitoring and challenging the school’s performance
• Overseeing finances and ensuring money is used wisely
• Supporting the Headteacher and staff

To achieve this, our TAGB:

• Helps set the school’s direction and priorities
• Monitors progress towards school improvement targets
• Offers professional advice and support
• Represents the views of parents and the local community
• Makes sure the school is accountable for its outcomes
• Reviews policies and plans in partnership with leaders
• Gets involved in decision-making only when needed — not in daily management, unless there are significant concerns

Details of our Trust Appointed Governance Board — including members’ names, roles, terms of office, and declarations of interest — can be found on the 'TAGB – Overview, Attendance & Register of Interests' accessed via the link button lower down the page.

Chair of the TAGB: Ian Blackburn

You can contact the Chair through the school office by calling 01274 778177 or emailing office@knowleswoodacademy.co.uk, or via the Trust’s Governance Team at info@exceedacademiestrust.co.uk.

Exceed Academies Trust is committed to inclusive and diverse governance. We publish anonymous diversity data across our governance community — including Members, Trustees, and Local Governors — to reflect the range of backgrounds and experiences that shape our schools. The data can be accessed below.

Would you like to make a positive difference to our school community?
We are always keen to hear from parents, carers, or local professionals who would like to join our Local Advisory Board in the future.

For more information or an informal chat, please contact the Trust’s Governance Team at info@exceedacademiestrust.co.uk.