Governance

The Members protect the Christian Character, Ethos and Values of the Trust, as well as the Charitable and Educational objectives. They take part in annual and extraordinary general meetings and appoint the Directors to the SDBE MAT Board. 

This role will play a crucial part in ensuring that the SDBE MAT remains closely aligned with the vision and values of the Southwark Diocese.  

The legal powers and responsibilities of Trust are held with the Southwark Diocesan MAT Board who are accountable to the Department for Education.

As a group, the Board set the overall strategic direction of the Trust. They scrutinise, challenge and support our educational and operational performance data, stability, and emerging risks/opportunities.  Accordingly, the Board delegate certain powers and duties to our Local Governing Bodies. This delegation is explained in our Scheme of Delegation (SoD). The Board comprises some representatives from our schools and has a healthy balance of corporate and educational professionals who are each able to bring different perspectives and ideas to the table.

To download our Board Members Business and Pecuniary Interests, please visit our Information Area. 

Local Governing Bodies are the key strategic decision makers and vision setters in every school and academy. They are also a key part of the overall system for school accountability. Governing Bodies have a vital role to play in promoting and protecting the schools Christian Character, driving up school and pupil performance and ensuring that resources are used well to give every child the best possible education. Similar to the role the SDBE MAT Board Members play in the direction of the Trust, Governors play a similar role in their own respective schools.  They are an extension of the SDBMAT Board and are responsible for the day-to-day running of their schools. 

As the SDBE MAT Board is accountable to the Department for Education, we need to have absolute clarity on the role each party plays to ensure we maintain our strong accountability framework.  We achieve this through our Scheme of Delegation.  Protecting our school’s autonomy will underpin our decision making processes and we will assume that all schools have earnt their right to be autonomous.  Where a school is not performing as well as we would expect, some delegated responsibilities may be withdrawn until the school is secure again.  

Board Meeting Attendance for 2025/2026 will be uploaded shortly

Board Meeting Attendance for 2024/2025

Declarations of Interests for 2026/2027

"Since joining the MAT we have found the support given to the school and the governing body to be exemplary.  The training modules are exceptional and we have even had the CEO attend a governors' meeting, which we found very supportive.  

Joining the MAT is the best thing we have ever done!"

Beryl Fielder

"The ongoing support from the MAT in my progression to Chair of Governors has been invaluable. From link governor networks and a wide range of training opportunities to bespoke support in particular circumstances, in every interaction I have found the MAT to be professional, approachable and supportive."

Heather Chalk

“My local governing body benefits from strong support from the MAT across a range of areas - from recruiting high-quality governors; to providing targeted HR expertise in complex cases; and strengthening the learning and development offer. This enables the LGB to continually improve in how it can support the school’s strategic leadership.”

Sam Lazenby

"Joining the MAT is proving to be a very rewarding experience. It is run efficiently and cost-effectively, while the staff are flexible and willing to adapt its offer to the individual needs of the school. More importantly, its Christian values underpin everything it strives to achieve and it has been a real pleasure to be a new member of this extended family of God."

Christine Price