Some academies failing to publish register of governors' interests

A BBC investigation has found some academies in breach of transparency rules by failing to publish a register of all governors’ interests.

Out of 100 academies selected at random by BBC England’s data unit, a total of 19 had not published a register of interests for governors on their websites, or had a register covering only members and trustees. The Department for Education (DfE) said “the rules were clear” and will be investigating further.

The full article published by the BBC can be read here.

The requirements for the publication of governors' interests for academies is set out in the Academies Financial Handbook 2016. Paragraph 3.1.17 states that academy trusts must have a register of relevant business and pecuniary interests of:

• Members
• Trustees
• Local governors of academies within a multi-academy trust (MAT)
• Senior staff

For each interest, the academy trust should record the name of the business, nature of the business, nature of the interest and the date it began.

Paragraph 3.1.19 says that trusts should consider carefully whether any other interests should be registered.

Paragraph 3.1.20 of the handbook says:

Trusts must publish on their websites relevant business and pecuniary interests of members, trustees, local governors and accounting officers.
However, it is up to the academy trust to decide whether to publish the details of any interests held by other individuals on the register.

Some examples of governors’ interests published online can be seen on the following school websites:

Felmore Community Primary School in Essex

Ashby School - secondary academy in Leicestershire