Governance

 THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

A COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF

INSPIRATION TRUST COMPANY NUMBER: 8179349

Amended by Special Resolution dated February 5 2019

THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF INSPIRATION TRUST

 

INTERPRETATION

1. In these Articles:-

a) “the Academies" means all the schools and educational institutions referred to in Articles 4a) and established by the Company (and “Academy” shall mean any one of those schools or educational institutions);

b) “Academy Financial Year” means the academic year from 1st of September to 31st of August of the following year;

c) “Advisory Body” means an advisory body established by the Directors in respect of each Academy, whose role shall be to provide advice to the Directors in relation to the functioning of that Academy;

d) “the Articles” means these Articles of Association of the Company;

e) “Chief Executive Officer” means such person as may be appointed by the Directors as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company;

f) “Chief Inspector” means Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education, Children’s Services and Skills or his successor;

g) “clear days” in relation to the period of a notice means the period excluding the day when the notice is given or deemed to be given and the day on which it is given or on which it is to take effect;

h) “Clerk” means the clerk to the Directors or any other person appointed to perform the duties of the clerk to the Directors, including a joint, assistant or deputy clerk;

i) “the Company” means save as otherwise defined at Article 6.9 the company intended to be regulated by these Articles and referred to

 

in Article 2;

j) “the Directors” means save as otherwise defined at Article 6.9 the directors of the Company (and “Director” means any one of those directors);

k) “financial expert” means an individual, company or firm who is authorised to give investment advice under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000;

l) “the LAs” means all the local authorities covering the areas inwhich the Academies are situated (and “the LA” shall mean any one of these local authorities);

m) “Local Authority Associated Persons” means any person associated with any local authority within the meaning given in section 69 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989;

n) “Local Governing Bodies” means the committees appointed pursuant to Articles 100-101 and 104 (and “Local Governing Body” means any one of these committees);

o) “Member” means a member of the Company and someone who as such is bound by the undertaking contained in Article 8;

p) “the Memorandum” means the Memorandum of Association of the Company;

q) “Office” means the registered office of the Company;

r) “Parent Directors” means the Directors appointed pursuant to Articles 53 – 56 inclusive;

s) “Parent Members” means members of Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies appointed pursuant to Article 53 – 56 inclusive;

t) “Principals" means the head teachers of the Academies (and “Principal” means any one of these head teachers);

u) “Principal Regulator” means the body or person appointed as the Principal Regulator under the Charities Act 2011;

v) “Relevant Funding Agreements” means the agreement or agreements entered into by the Company and the Secretary of State under section 1 of the Academies Act 2010 for the establishment of each Academy, including any variation or supplemental agreements thereof;

w) “the seal” means the common seal of the Company if it has one;

x) “Secretary of State” means the Secretary of State for Education or successor;

y) “Staff Director” means an employee of the Company who may be appointed as a Director pursuant to Article 50A;

z) “teacher” means a person employed under a contract of employment or a contract for services or otherwise engaged to provide his services as a teacher at one or more Academies

aa. Not used.

bb. “the United Kingdom” means Great Britain and Northern Ireland; cc. “Trustees” means those trustees holding the site of the Great

cc. Yarmouth Charter Academy and providing it to the Company for use and occupation by the said Academy pursuant to the terms of a lease entered into between the Trustees and the Company (“Lease”);

dd. words importing the masculine gender only shall include the feminine gender. Words importing the singular number shall include the plural number, and vice versa;

ee. subject as aforesaid, words or expressions contained in these Articles shall, unless the context requires otherwise, bear the same meaning as in the Companies Act 2006, as appropriate;

ff. any reference to a statute or statutory provision shall include any statute or statutory provision which replaces or supersedes such statute or statutory provision including any modification or amendment thereto.

2. The Company's name is Inspiration Trust (and in this document it is called “the Company”).

 

3. The Company’s registered office is to be situated in England and Wales.

 

OBJECT

4. The Company’s object (“the Object”) is specifically restricted to the following:

 

a) To advance for the public benefit education in the United Kingdom, in particular but without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing by establishing, maintainig, carrying on, managing and developing schools (''the mainstream Academies'') offering a broad and balanced curriculum or educational institutions which are principally concerned with providing full-time or part-time education for children of compulsory school age who, by reason of illness, exclusion from school or otherwise, may not for any period receive suitable education unless alternative provision is made for them (“the alternative provision Academies”) or 16 to 19 Academies offering a curriculum appropriate to the needs of its students (“the 16 to 19 Academies”) or schools specially organised to make special educational provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs (“the Special Academies”); provided always that where any of the Academies are designed with a Christian religious character, such Academies shall be conducted in accordance with the principles of the Christian faith as required in any relevant trust deed or charity scheme both generally and in particular in relation to arranging for religious education and daily acts of worship.

b) To promote for the benefit of the inhabitants of Norfolk and the surrounding area the provision of facilities for recreation or other leisure time occupation of individuals who have need of such facilities by reason of their youth, age, infirmity or disablement, financial hardship or social and economic circumstances or for the public at large in the interests of social welfare and with the object of improving the condition of life of the said inhabitants.

5. In furtherance of the Object but not further or otherwise the Company may exercise the following powers:

a) To draw, make, accept, endorse, discount, execute and issue promissory notes, bills, cheques and other instruments, and to operate bank accounts in the name of the Company;

b) To raise funds and to invite and receive contributions provided that in raising funds the Company shall not undertake any substantial permanent trading activities and shall conform to any relevant statutory regulations;

c) (Subject to such further consents as may be required by law or as may be required from the Trustees pursuant to the terms of the Lease) to acquire, alter, improve and (subject to such consents as may be required by law) to charge or otherwise dispose of property;

d) Subject to Article 6 below to employ such staff, as are necessary for the proper pursuit of the Object (including the maintenance of an effective Christian character in respect of the Great Yarmouth Charter Academy) and to make all reasonable and necessary provision for the payments of pensions and superannuation to staff and their dependants;

e) To establish or support, whether financially or otherwise, any charitable trusts, associations or institutions formed for all or any of the Object;

f) To co-operate with other charities, other independent and maintained schools, schools maintained by a local authority, 16-19 Academies, alternative provision Academies, institutions within the further education sector, voluntary bodies and statutory authorities operating in furtherance of the Object and to exchange information and advice with them;

g) To pay out of funds of the Company the costs, charges and expenses of and incidental to the formation and registration of the Company;

h) To establish, maintain, carry on, manage and develop the Academies at locations to be determined by the Directors;

i) To offer scholarships, exhibitions, prizes and awards to pupils and students former pupils and former students, and otherwise to encourage and assist pupils and students and former pupils and former students;

j) To provide educational facilities and services to students of all ages and the wider community for the public benefit;

k) To carry out research into the development and application of new techniques in education and to their approach to curriculum development and delivery and to publish the results of such research, and to develop means of benefiting from application of the experience of industry, commerce, other schools, educational institutions and the voluntary sector to the education of pupils and students in academies;

l) Subject to such consents as may be required from the Trustees in respect of dealings affecting the Great Yarmouth Charter Academy pursuant to the requirements of the Lease or otherwise required by law and/or by any contract entered into by or on behalf of the Company, to borrow and raise money for the furtherance of the Object in such manner and on such security as the Company may think fit;

m) To deposit or invest any funds of the Company not immediately required for the furtherance of its object (but to invest only after obtaining such advice from a financial expert as the Directors consider necessary and having regard to the suitability of investments and the need for diversification);

(n) to delegate the management of investments to a financial expert, but only on terms that:

(i) the investment policy is set down in writing for the financial expert by the Directors

(ii) every transaction is reported promptly to the Directors;

(iii) the performance of the investments is reviewed regularly with the Directors;

(iv) the Directors are entitled to cancel the delegation arrangement at any time;

(v) the investment policy and the delegation arrangement are reviewed at least once a year;

(vi) all payments due to the financial expert are on a scale or at a level which is agreed in advance and are notified promptly to the Directors on receipt; and

(vii) the financial expert must not do anything outside the powers of 8 5 February 2019 the Directors;

(o) to arrange for investments or other property of the Company to be held in the name of a nominee company acting under the control of the Directors or of a financial expert acting under their instructions, and to pay any reasonable fee required;

(p) to provide indemnity insurance to Directors in accordance with, and subject to the conditions of section 232 to 235 of the Companies Act 2006, section 189 of the Charities Act 2011 or any other provision of law applicable to charitable companies and any such indemnity is limited accordingly;

(q) not used;

(r) to establish subsidiary companies to carry on any trade or business for the purpose of raising funds for the Company;

(s) to do all such other lawful things as are necessary for or are incidental to or conducive to the achievement of the Objects.

6.1 The income and property of the Company shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the Object.

6.2 None of the income or property of the Company may be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend bonus or otherwise by way of profit to any member of the Company. Nonetheless a member of the Company who is not also a Director may:

a) benefit as a beneficiary of the Company;

b) be paid reasonable and proper remuneration for any goods or services supplied to the Company;

c) be paid rent for premises let by the member of the Company if the amount of the rent and other terms of the letting are reasonable and proper; and

d) be paid interest on money lent to the Company at a reasonable and proper rate, such rate not to exceed 2 per cent per annum below the base lending rate of a UK clearing bank selected by the Directors, or 0.5%, whichever is the higher.

6.3 A Director may benefit from any indemnity insurance purchased at the 9 5 February 2019 Company’s expense to cover the liability of the Directors which by virtue of any rule of law would otherwise attach to them in respect of any negligence, default or breach of trust or breach of duty of which they may be guilty in relation to the Company: Provided that any such insurance shall not extend to: (i) any claim arising from any act or omission which Directors knew to be a breach of trust or breach of duty or which was committed by the Directors in reckless disregard to whether it was a breach of trust or breach of duty or not; and (ii) the costs of any unsuccessful defence to a criminal prosecution brought against the Directors in their capacity as directors of the Company. Further, this Article does not authorise a Director to benefit from any indemnity insurance that would be rendered void by any provision of the Companies Act 2006, the Charities Act 2011 or any other provision of law.

6.4 A company, which has shares listed on a recognised stock exchange and of which any one Director holds no more than 1% of the issued capital of that company, may receive fees, remuneration or other benefit in money or money’s worth from the Company.

6.5 A Director may at the discretion of the Directors be reimbursed from the property of the Company for reasonable expenses properly incurred by him or her when acting on behalf of the Company, but excluding expenses in connection with foreign travel.

6.6 No Director may:

(a) buy any goods or services from the Company;

(b) sell goods, services, or any interest in land to the Company;

(c) be employed by, or receive any remuneration from the Company (other than the Chief Executive Officer whose employment and/or remuneration is subject to the procedure and conditions in Article 6.8);

(d) receive any other financial benefit from the Company; unless:

(i) the payment is permitted by Article 6.7 and the Directors follow the procedure and observe the conditions set out in Article 6.8; or 10 5 February 2019;

(ii) the Directors obtain the prior written approval of the Charity Commission and fully comply with any procedures it prescribes.

6.7 Subject to Article 6.8, a Director may:

a) receive a benefit from the Company in the capacity of a beneficiary of the Company.

b) be employed by the Company or enter into a contract for the supply of goods or services to the Company, other than for acting as a Director.

c) receive interest on money lent to the Company at a reasonable and proper rate not exceeding 2% per annum below the base rate of a clearing bank to be selected by the Directors, or 0.5%, whichever is the higher.

d) receive rent for premises let by the Director to the Company if the amount of the rent and the other terms of the lease are reasonable and proper.

6.8 The Company and its Directors may only rely upon the authority provided by Article 6.7 if each of the following conditions is satisfied:

(a) the remuneration or other sums paid to the Director do not exceed an amount that is reasonable in all the circumstances.

(b) the Director is absent from the part of any meeting at which there is discussion of:

i) his or her employment, remuneration, or any matter concerning the contract, payment or benefit; or

ii) his or her performance in the employment, or his or her performance of the contract; or

iii) any proposal to enter into any other contract or arrangement with him or her or to confer any benefit upon him or her that would be permitted under Article 6.7; or

(iv) any other matter relating to a payment or the conferring of any benefit permitted by Article 6.7.

(c) the Director does not vote on any such matter and is not to be counted when calculating whether a quorum of Directors is present at 11 5 February 2019 the meeting.

(d) save in relation to employing or contracting with the Chief Executive Officer the other Directors are satisfied that it is in the interests of the Company to employ or to contract with that Director rather than with someone who is not a Director. In reaching that decision the Directors must balance the advantage of employing a Director against the disadvantages of doing so (especially the loss of the Director’s services as a result of dealing with the Director’s conflict of interest).

(e) the reason for their decision is recorded by the Directors in the minute book.

(f) a majority of the Directors then in office have received no such payments or benefit.

6.8A The provision in Article 6.6 (c) that no Director may be employed by or receive any remuneration from the Company (other than a Staff Director and the Chief Executive Officer) does not apply to an employee of the Company who is subsequently elected or appointed as a Director save that this Article shall only allow such a Director to receive remuneration or benefit from the Company in his capacity as an employee of the Company and provided that the procedure as set out in Articles 6.8(b)(i), (ii) and 6.8 (c) is followed.

6.9 In Articles 6.2-6.9:

(a) “company” shall include any company in which the Company:

• Holds more than 50% of the shares; or • controls more than 50% of the voting rights attached to the shares; or
• has the right to appoint one or more Directors to the Board of the Company.

(b) “Director” shall include any child, stepchild, parent, grandchild, grandparent, brother, sister or spouse of the Director or any person living with the Director as his or her partner.

(c) the employment or remuneration of a Director includes the engagement or remuneration of any firm or company in which the 12 5 February 2019 Director is:

(i) a partner;

(ii) an employee;

(iii) a consultant;

(iv) a director;

(v) a member; or

(vi) a shareholder, unless the shares of the company are listed on a recognised stock exchange and the Director holds less than 1% of the issued capital.

7. The liability of the members of the Company is limited.

8. Every member of the Company undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required (not exceeding £10) to the Company’s assets if it should be wound up while he or she is a member or within one year after he or she ceases to be a member, for payment of the Company’s debts and liabilities before he or she ceases to be a member, and of the costs, charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the rights of the contributories among themselves.

9. If the Company is wound up or dissolved and after all its debts and liabilities (including any under section 2 of the Academies Act 2010) have been satisfied there remains any property it shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Company, but shall be given or transferred to some other charity or charities having objects similar to the Object which prohibits the distribution of its or their income and property to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the Company by Article 6 above, chosen by the members of the Company at or before the time of dissolution and if that cannot be done then to some other charitable object.

10. No changes shall be made to Articles 4(a) (in respect of the wording from “provided always” to “acts of worship”, 5(c), 5(d), or 5(l) without the consent of any Trustees.

11. No alteration or addition shall be made to or in the provisions of the Articles which would have the effect (a) that the Company would cease to be a company to which section 60 of the Companies Act 2006 applies; or (b) that the Company would cease to be a charity.

MEMBERS

12. The Members of the Company shall comprise:

a. the signatories to the Memorandum;

b. the chairman of the Directors; and

c. any person appointed under Article 16;

13. Each of the persons entitled to appoint Members in Article 12 shall have the right from time to time by written notice delivered to the Office to remove any Member appointed by them and to appoint a replacement Member to fill a vacancy whether resulting from such removal or otherwise.

14. If any of the persons entitled to appoint Members in Article 12:

a) in the case of an individual, die or become legally incapacitated;

b) in the case of a corporate entity, cease to exist and are not replaced by a successor institution; or

c) becomes insolvent or makes any arrangement or composition with their creditors generally; their right to appoint Members under these Articles shall vest in the remaining Members.

15. Membership will terminate automatically if:

a) a Member (which is a corporate entity) ceases to exist and is not replaced by a successor institution;

b) a Member (which is an individual) dies or becomes incapable by reason of illness or injury of managing and administering his or her own affairs;

c) a Member becomes insolvent or makes any arrangement or composition with that Member’s creditors generally.

15 a) The Members may agree unanimously in writing to remove any Member(s) who is a signatory to the Memorandum (save that the agreement of a signatory to the Memorandum who is to be removed shall not be required), provided that it is in the interests of the Company to remove such a Member(s).

16. The Members may agree by passing a special resolution in writing to appoint such additional Members as they think fit and may agree by passing a special resolution in writing to remove any such additional Members provided that such appointment or removal is in the interests of the Company.

17. Every person nominated to be a Member of the Company shall either sign a written consent to become a Member or sign the register of Members on becoming a Member.

18. Any Member may resign provided that after such resignation the number of Members is not less than three. A Member shall cease to be one immediately on the receipt by the Company of a notice in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to remove him under Articles 13 or 16 provided that no such notice shall take effect when the number of Members is less than three unless it contains or is accompanied by the appointment of a replacement Member.

GENERAL MEETINGS

19. Not used.

20. The Directors may call general meetings and, on the requisition of Members pursuant to the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, shall forthwith proceed to convene a general meeting in accordance with that Act. If there are not within the United Kingdom sufficient Directors to call a general meeting, any Director or any Member of the Company may call a general meeting

NOTICE OF GENERAL MEETINGS

21. General meetings shall be called by at least fourteen clear days’ notice but a general meeting may be called by shorter notice if it is so agreed by a majority in number of Members having a right to attend and vote and together representing not less than 90% of the total voting rights at that meeting. The notice shall specify the time and place of the meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted and, in the case of an Annual General Meeting, shall specify the meeting as such. The notice shall also state that the Member is entitled to appoint a proxy. The notice shall be given to all the Members, to the Directors and auditors.

22. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by, any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

PROCEEDINGS AT GENERAL MEETINGS

23. No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present. A Member counts towards the quorum by being present either in person or by proxy. Fifty percent of the persons (rounded up to the nearest whole number) entitled to vote upon the business to be transacted, each being a Member or a proxy of a Member or a duly authorised representative of a Member organisation shall constitute a quorum.

24. If a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting, or if during a meeting a quorum ceases to be present, the meeting shall stand adjourned to the same day in the next week at the same time and place or to such time and place as the Directors may determine.

25. The chairman, if any, of the Directors or in his absence some other Director nominated by the Directors shall preside as chairman of the meeting, but if neither the chairman nor such other Director (if any) be present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting and willing to act, the Directors present shall elect one of their number to be chairman and, if there is only one Director present and willing to act, he shall be the chairman.

26. If no Director is willing to act as chairman, or if no Director is present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the Members present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to be chairman.

27. A Director shall, notwithstanding that he is not a Member, be entitled to attend and speak at any general meeting.

28. The chairman may, with the consent of a majority of the Members at a meeting at which a quorum is present (and shall if so directed by the meeting), adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business which might properly have been transacted at the meeting had the adjournment not taken place. When a meeting is adjourned for fourteen days or more, at least seven clear days’ notice shall be given specifying the time and place of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted. Otherwise it shall not be necessary to give any such notice.

29. A resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands unless before, or on the declaration of the result of the show of hands, a poll is duly demanded. Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, a poll may be demanded:-

1. by the chairman; or
2. by at least two Members having the right to vote at the meeting; or,
3. by a Member or Members representing not less than one-tenth of the total voting rights of all the Members having the right to vote at the meeting.

 

30. Unless a poll is duly demanded a declaration by the chairman that a resolution has been carried or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority, or lost, or not carried by a particular majority and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution.

31. The demand for a poll may be withdrawn, before the poll is taken, but only with the consent of the chairman. The withdrawal of a demand for a poll shall not invalidate the result of a show of hands declared before the demand for the poll was made.

32. A poll shall be taken as the chairman directs and he may appoint scrutineers (who need not be Members) and fix a time, date and place for declaring the results. The result of the poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded.

33. A poll demanded on the election of the chairman or on a question of adjournment shall be taken immediately. A poll demanded on any other question shall be taken either immediately or at such time, date and place as the chairman directs not being more than thirty days after the poll is demanded. The demand for a poll shall not prevent continuance of a meeting for the transaction of any business other than the question on which the poll is demanded. If a poll is demanded before the declaration of the result of a show of hands and the demand is duly withdrawn, the meeting shall continue as if the demand had not been made.

34. No notice need be given of a poll not taken immediately if the time and place at which it is to be taken are announced at the meeting at which it is demanded. In other cases at least seven clear days’ notice shall be given specifying the time and place at which the poll is to be taken.

35. A resolution in writing agreed by such number of members as required if it had been proposed at a general meeting shall be as effectual as if it had been passed at a general meeting duly convened and held provided that a copy of the proposed resolution has been sent to every Member. The resolution may consist of several instruments in the like form each agreed by one or more Members.

VOTES OF MEMBERS

36. On the show of hands every Member present in person shall have one vote. On a poll every Member present in person or by proxy shall have one vote.

37. Not used.

38. No Member shall be entitled to vote at any general meeting unless all moneys then payable by him to the Company have been paid.

39. No objections shall be raised to the qualification of any person to vote at any general meeting except at the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote objected to is tendered, and every vote not disallowed at the meeting shall be valid. Any objection made in due time shall be referred to the chairman whose decision shall be final and conclusive.

40. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing, signed by or on behalf of the appointer and shall be in the following form (or in a form as near thereto as circumstances allow or in any other form which is usual or which the Directors may approve) -

 

“I/We, …….., of ………, being a Member/Members of the above named Company, hereby appoint …… of ……, or in his absence,

…….. of ……. as my/our proxy to attend, speak and vote in my/our name[s] and on my/our behalf at the annual general meeting/ general meeting of the Company to be held on …..20[ ], and at any adjournment thereof.

Signed on ….. 20[ ]”

 

41. Where it is desired to afford Members an opportunity of instructing the proxy how he shall act the instrument appointing a proxy shall be in the following form (or in a form as near thereto as circumstances allow or in any other form which is usual or which the Directors may approve) -

 

“I/We, ……., of ……., being a Member/Members of the above named Company, hereby appoint …. of ……., or in his absence,

….. of ……, as my/our proxy to attend, speak and vote in my/our name[s] and on my/our behalf at the annual general meeting/ general meeting of the Company, to be held on …. 20[ ], and at any adjournment thereof.

This form is to be used in respect of the resolutions mentioned below as follows:

Resolution No. 1 *for * against Resolution No. 2 *for * against.

*Strike out whichever is not desired.

Unless otherwise instructed, the proxy may vote as he thinks fit or abstain from voting.

Signed on …. 20[ ]”

 

 

42. The instrument appointing a proxy and any authority under which it is signed or a copy of such authority certified by a notary or in some other way approved by the Directors may -

1. be deposited at the office or at such other place within the United Kingdom as is specified in the notice convening the meeting or in any instrument of proxy sent out by the Company in relation to the meeting not less than 48 hours before the time for holding the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the person named in the instrument proposes to vote, or
2. in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it is demanded, be deposited as aforesaid after the poll has been demanded and not less than 24 hours before the time appointed for the taking of thepoll;
3. where the poll is not taken forthwith but is taken not more than 48 hours after it was demanded, be delivered at the meeting at which the poll was demanded to the chairman or to the Clerk or to any Director;

and an instrument of proxy which is not deposited or delivered in amanner so permitted shall be invalid.

 

43. A vote given or poll demanded by proxy or by the duly authorised representative of a corporation shall be valid notwithstanding the previous determination of the authority of the person voting or demanding a poll unless notice of the determination was received by the Company at the office or at such other place at which the instrument of proxy was duly deposited before the commencement of the meeting or adjourned meeting at which the vote given or the poll demanded or (or in the case of a poll taken otherwise than on the same day as the meeting or adjourned meeting) the time appointed for taking the poll.

44. Any organisation which is a Member of the Company may by resolution of its board of directors or other governing body authorise such person as it thinks fit to act as its representative at any meeting of the Company, and the person so authorised shall be entitled to exercise the same powers on behalf of the organisation which he represents as that organisation could exercise if it were an individual Member of the Company.

DIRECTORS

45. The number of Directors shall be not less than three but (unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution) shall not be subject to any maximum.

46. Subject to Articles 48-49, the Company shall have the following Directors:

1. up to 9 Directors, appointed under Article 50;
2. the Chief Executive Officer; and
3. Parent Directors if appointed under Articles 53-56D.

47. The Company may also have any Co-opted Director appointed under Article 58.

48. The first Directors shall be those persons named in the statement delivered pursuant to sections 9 and 12 of the Companies Act 2006.

49. Future Directors shall be appointed or elected, as the case may be, under these Articles. Where it is not possible for such a Director to be appointed or elected due to the fact that an Academy has not yet been established, then the relevant Article or part thereof shall not apply.

APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS

50. The Members may appoint up to 9 Directors.

50A. The Members may appoint Directors through such process as they may determine.

50B. The total number of Directors including the Chief Executive Officer who are employees of the Company shall not exceed one third of the total number of Directors.

 

51. Not used.

52. Not used.

PARENT DIRECTORS

53. Subject to article 53A, there shall be a minimum of two Parent Directors unless there are Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies which include at least two Parent Members.

53A. In accordance with clause 15(a) of the Relevant Funding Agreement, the requirement, in article 53, to have a minimum number of Parent Directors shall only apply for so long as Secretary of State policy shall require it. If Secretary of State policy should change, either to remove, or to lower, the requirement, then the Company shall only be obliged to comply with the requirements of that revised policy

54. Except for 16 – 19 Academies, Parent Directors and Parent Members of the Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies shall be elected or appointed (in accordance with the terms of reference determined by the Directors from time to time). The elected or appointed Parent Directors or Parent Members of the Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies must be a parent of a registered pupil at one or more of the Academies (but not one of the 16 – 19 Academies) at the time when he is elected or appointed.

54A. The number of Parent Directors and Parent Members of the Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies required shall be made up by Parent Directors and Parent Members appointed by the Directors if the number of parents standing for election is less than the number of vacancies.

55. The Directors shall make all necessary arrangements for, and determine all other matters relating to, an election of the Parent Directors or Parent Members of Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies, including any question of whether a person is a parent of a registered pupil at one of the Academies (but not one of the 16 – 19 Academies). Any election of the Parent Directors or Parent Members of Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies which is contested shall be held by secret ballot.

56. In appointing a Parent Director or Parent member of a Local Governing Body or Advisory Body the Directors shall appoint a person who is the parent of a registered pupil at an Academy (but not one of the 16-19 Academies); or where it is not reasonably practical to do so, a person who is the parent of a child of compulsory school age.

56A. In the case of 16-19 Academies, Parent Directors and Parent Members of the Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies shall either be elected by parents of registered students at the 16 to 19 Academies, pursuant to Articles 56B to 56C, or be appointed by the Directors pursuant to Article 56D. The elected or appointed Parent Directors or Parent Members of the Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies must be a parent of a student at one of the 16 to 19 Academies at the time when he is either elected or appointed.

56B. The number of Parent Directors and Parent Members of the Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies required shall be made up by Parent Directors and Parent Members appointed by the Directors if the number of parents standing for election is less than the number of vacancies.

56C. The Directors shall make all necessary arrangements for, and determine all other matters relating to, an election of the Parent Directors or Parent Members of Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies, including any question of whether a person is a parent of a registered student at one of the 16-19 Academies. Any election of the Parent Directors or Parent Members of Local Governing Bodies or Advisory Bodies which is contested shall be held by secret ballot.

56D. In appointing a Parent Director or Parent member of a Local Governing Body or Advisory Body, the Directors shall appoint a person who is the parent of a registered student at one of the 16 to 19 Academies; or where it is not reasonably practical to do so, a person who is the parent of a child above compulsory school age but not above the age of 19.

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

57. The Chief Executive Officer shall be a Director for as long as he remains in office as such.

CO-OPTED DIRECTORS

58. The Directors may appoint Co-opted Directors. A ‘Co-opted Director’ means a person who is appointed to be a Director by being Co-opted by Directors who have not themselves been so appointed. The Directors may not co-opt an employee of the Company as a Co-opted Director if thereby the number of Directors who are employees of the Company would exceed one third of the total number of Directors including the Chief Executive Officer.

59 – 63. Not used.

TERM OF OFFICE

64. The term of office for any Director shall be four years save that this time limit shall not apply to the Chief Executive Officer. Subject to remaining eligible to be a particular type of Director, any Director may be re-appointed or re-elected.

RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL

65. A Director shall cease to hold office if he resigns his office by notice to the Company (but only if at least three Directors will remain in office when the notice of resignation is to take effect).

 

66. A Director shall cease to hold office if he is removed by the person or persons who appointed him. This Article does not apply in respect of a Parent Director.

 

67. Where a Director resigns his office or is removed from office, the Director or, where he is removed from office, those removing him, shall give written notice thereof to the Clerk.

 

DISQUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS

68. No person shall be qualified to be a Director unless he is aged 18 or over at the date of his election or appointment. No current pupil or current student of any of the Academies shall be a Director.

 

69. A Director shall cease to hold office if he becomes incapable by reason of illness or injury of managing or administering his own affairs.

 

70. A Director shall cease to hold office if he is absent without the permission of the Directors from all their meetings held within a period of sixmonths and the Directors resolve that his office be vacated.

 

71. A person shall be disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office as a Director if -
    1. his estate has been sequestrated and the sequestration has not been discharged, annulled or reduced; or
    2. he is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or an interim order.

 

72. A person shall be disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office as a Director at any time when he is subject to a disqualification order or a disqualification undertaking under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 or to an order made under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (failure to pay under county court administration order).

 

73. A Director shall cease to hold office if he ceases to be a Director by virtue of any provision in the Companies Act 2006 or is disqualified from acting as a trustee by virtue of section 178 of the Charities Act 2011 (or any statutory re-enactment or modification of that provision).

 

 

74. A person shall be disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office as a Director if he has been removed from the office of charity trustee or trustee for a charity by an order made by the Charity Commission or the High Court on the grounds of any misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity for which he was responsible or to which he was privy, or which he by his conduct contributed to or facilitated.

 

75. Not used.

 

76. Not used.

 

77. A person shall be disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office as a Director where he has, at any time, been convicted of any criminal offence, excluding any that have been spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act1974 as amended, and excluding any offence for which the maximum sentence is a fine or a lesser sentence except where a person has been convicted of any offence which falls under section 178 of the Charities Act 2011.

 

78. After the first Academy has opened, a person shall be disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office as a Director if he has not provided to the chairman of the Directors a criminal records certificate at an enhanced disclosure level under section 113B of the Police Act 1997. In the event that the certificate discloses any information which would in the opinion of either the chairman or the Chief Executive Officer confirm their unsuitability to work with children that person shall be disqualified. If a dispute arises as to whether a person shall be disqualified, a referral shall be made to the Secretary of State to determine the matter. The determination of the Secretary of State shall be final.

 

79. Where, by virtue of these Articles a person becomes disqualified from holding, or continuing to hold office as a Director; and he is, or is proposed, to become such a Director, he shall upon becoming so disqualified give written notice of that fact to the Clerk.

 

80. Articles 68 to 74, Articles 77 to 79 and Articles 97 to 98 also apply to any member of any committee of the Directors, including a Local Governing Body, who is not a Director.

 

CLERK TO THE DIRECTORS

81. The Clerk shall be appointed by the Directors for such term, at such remuneration and upon such conditions as they may think fit; and any Clerk so appointed may be removed by them. The Clerk shall not be a Director, or a Principal. Notwithstanding this Article, the Directors may, where the Clerk fails to attend a meeting of theirs, appoint any one of their number or any other person to act as Clerk for the purposes of that meeting.

CHAIRMAN AND VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE DIRECTORS

82. The Directors shall each school year elect a chairman and a vice- chairman from among their number. A Director who is employed by the Company shall not be eligible for election as chairman or vice-chairman.

 

83. Subject to Article 84, the chairman or vice-chairman shall hold office as such until his successor has been elected in accordance with Article 85.

 

84. The chairman or vice-chairman may at any time resign his office by giving notice in writing to the Clerk. The chairman or vice-chairman shall cease to hold office if -
    1. he ceases to be a Director;
    2. he is employed by the Company;
    3. he is removed from office in accordance with these Articles; or
    4. in the case of the vice-chairman, he is elected in accordance with these Articles to fill a vacancy in the office of chairman.

 

85. Where by reason of any of the matters referred to in Article 84, a vacancy arises in the office of chairman or vice-chairman, the Directors shall at their next meeting elect one of their number to fill that vacancy.

 

86. Where the chairman is absent from any meeting or there is at the time a vacancy in the office of the chairman, the vice-chairman shall act as the chair for the purposes of the meeting.

 

87-89. Not used.

 

90. The Directors may remove the chairman or vice-chairman from office in accordance with these Articles.

91. A resolution to remove the chairman or vice-chairman from office which is passed at a meeting of the Directors shall not have effect unless -

 

1. it is confirmed by a resolution passed at a second meeting of the Directors held not less than fourteen days after the first meeting; and

 

2. the matter of the chairman’s or vice-chairman’s removal from office is specified as an item of business on the agenda for each of those meetings.

 

92. Before the Directors resolve at the relevant meeting on whether to confirm the resolution to remove the chairman or vice-chairman from office, the Director or Directors proposing his removal shall at that meeting state their reasons for doing so and the chairman or vice-chairman shall be given an opportunity to make a statement in response.

 

POWERS OF DIRECTORS

93. Subject to provisions of the Companies Act 2006, the Articles and to any directions given by special resolution, the business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who may exercise all the powers of the Company. No alteration of the Articles and no such direction shall invalidate any prior act of the Directors which would have been valid if that alteration had not been made or that direction had not been given. The powers given by this Article shall not be limited by any special power given to the Directors by the Articles and a meeting of Directors at which a quorum is present may exercise all the powers exercisable by the Directors.

94. In addition to all powers hereby expressly conferred upon them and without detracting from the generality of their powers under the Articles the Directors shall have the following powers, namely:

1. to expend the funds of the Company in such manner as they shall consider most beneficial for the achievement of the Object and to invest in the name of the Company such part of the funds as they may see fit and to direct the sale or transposition of any such investments and to expend the proceeds of any such sale in furtherance of the Object;

 

2. to enter into contracts on behalf of the Company.

 

95. In the exercise of their powers and functions, the Directors may consider any advice given by the Chief Executive Officer and any other executive officer.

96. Any bank account in which any money of the Company is deposited shall be operated by the Directors in the name of the Company. All cheques and orders for the payment of money from such an account shall be signed by at least two signatories authorised by the Directors.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

97. Any Director who has or can have any direct or indirect duty or personal interest (including but not limited to any Personal Financial Interest) which conflicts or may conflict with his duties as a Director shall disclose that fact to the Directors as soon as he becomes aware of it. A Director must absent himself from any discussions of the Directors in which it is possible that a conflict will arise between his duty to act solely in the interests of the Company and any duty or personal interest (including but not limited to any Personal Financial Interest).

98. For the purpose of Article 97, a Director has a Personal Financial Interest in the employment or remuneration of, or the provision of any other benefit to, that Director as permitted by and as defined by Articles 6.5-6.9.

THE MINUTES

99. The minutes of the proceedings of a meeting of the Directors shall be drawn up and entered into a book kept for the purpose by the person acting as Clerk for the purposes of the meeting; and shall be signed (subject to the approval of the Directors) at the same or next subsequent meeting by the person acting as chairman thereof.

COMMITTEES

100. Subject to these Articles, the Directors:

1. may appoint separate committees to be known as Local Governing Bodies for each Academy; and
2. may establish any other committee.

 

101. Subject to these Articles, the constitution, membership and proceedings of any committee shall be determined by the Directors. The establishment, terms of reference, constitution and membership of any committee of the Directors shall be reviewed at least once in every twelve months. The membership of any committee of the Directors may include persons who are not Directors, provided that (with the exception of the Local Governing Bodies) a majority of members of any such committee shall be Directors. Except in the case of a Local Governing Body, no vote on any matter shall be taken at a meeting of a committee of the Directors unless the majority of members of the committee present are Directors.

 

102. Not used.

103. Not used.

104. The functions and proceedings of the Local Governing Bodies shall be subject to regulations made by the Directors from time to time.

DELEGATION

105. The Directors may delegate to any Director, committee (including any Local Governing Body), the Chief Executive Officer or any other holder of an executive office, such of their powers or functions as they consider desirable to be exercised by them. Any such delegation shall be made subject to any conditions the Directors may impose, and may be revoked or altered.

106. Where any power or function of the Directors has been exercised by any committee (including any Local Governing Body), any Director, the Chief Executive Officer or any other holder of an executive office, that person or committee shall report to the Directors in respect of any action taken or decision made with respect to the exercise of that power or function at the meeting of the Directors immediately following the taking of the action or the making of the decision.

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPALS

107. The Directors shall appoint the Chief Executive Officer and the Principals of the Academies. The Directors may delegate such powers and functions as they consider are required by the Chief Executive Officer and the Principals for the internal organisation, management and control of the Academies (including the implementation of all policies approved by the Directors and for the direction of the teaching and curriculum at the Academies).

MEETINGS OF THE DIRECTORS

108. Subject to these Articles, the Directors may regulate their proceedings as they think fit.

109. The Directors shall hold at least three meetings in every school year. Meetings of the Directors shall be convened by the Clerk. In exercising his functions under this Article the Clerk shall comply with any direction -

1. given by the Directors; or
2. given by the chairman of the Directors or, in his absence or where there is a vacancy in the office of chairman, the vice-chairman of the Directors, so far as such direction is not inconsistent with any direction given as mentioned in (a).

110. Any three Directors may, by notice in writing given to the Clerk, requisition a meeting of the Directors; and it shall be the duty of the Clerk to convene such a meeting as soon as is reasonably practicable.

111. Each Director shall be given at least seven clear days before the date of a meeting –

1. notice in writing thereof, signed by the Clerk, and sent to each Director at the address provided by each Director from time to time; and
2. a copy of the agenda for the meeting;

provided that where the chairman or, in his absence or where there is a vacancy in the office of chairman, the vice-chairman, so determines on the ground that there are matters demanding urgent consideration, it shall be sufficient if the written notice of a meeting, and the copy of the agenda thereof are given within such shorter period as he directs.

112. The convening of a meeting and the proceedings conducted thereat shall not be invalidated by reason of any individual not having received written notice of the meeting or a copy of the agenda thereof.

113. A resolution to rescind or vary a resolution carried at a previous meeting of the Directors shall not be proposed at a meeting of the Directors unless the consideration of the rescission or variation of the previous resolution is a specific item of business on the agenda for that meeting.

114. A meeting of the Directors shall be terminated forthwith if -

1. the Directors so resolve; or
2. the number of Directors present ceases to constitute a quorum for a meeting of the Directors in accordance with Article 117, subject to Article 119.

 

115. Where in accordance with Article 114 a meeting is not held or is terminated before all the matters specified as items of business on the agenda for the meeting have been disposed of, a further meeting shall be convened by the Clerk as soon as is reasonably practicable, but in any event within seven days of the date on which the meeting was originally to be held or was so terminated.

116. Where the Directors resolve in accordance with Article 114 to adjourn a meeting before all the items of business on the agenda have been disposed of, the Directors shall before doing so determine the time and date at which a further meeting is to be held for the purposes of completing the consideration of those items, and they shall direct the Clerk to convene a meeting accordingly.

117. Subject to Article 119 the quorum for a meeting of the Directors, and any vote on any matter thereat, shall be fifty-percent (rounded up to a whole number) of the total number of Directors holding office at the date of the meeting.

118. The Directors may act notwithstanding any vacancies in their number, but, if the numbers of Directors is less than the number fixed as the quorum, the continuing Directors may act only for the purpose of filling vacancies or of calling a general meeting.

119. The quorum for the purposes of -

1. appointing a parent Director under Articles 56;
2. any vote on the removal of a Director in accordance with Article 66;
3. any vote on the removal of the chairman of the Directors in accordance with Article 90;

shall be any two-thirds (rounded up to a whole number) of the persons who are at the time Directors entitled to vote on those respective matters.

120. Subject to these Articles, every question to be decided at a meeting of the Directors shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the Directors present and voting on the question. Every Director shall have one vote.

121. Subject to Articles 117-119, where there is an equal division of votes, the chairman of the meeting shall have a casting vote in addition to any other vote he may have.

122. The proceedings of the Directors shall not be invalidated by

1. any vacancy among their number; or

2. any defect in the election, appointment or nomination of any Director.

123. A resolution in writing, signed by all the Directors entitled to receive notice of a meeting of Directors or of a committee of Directors, shall be valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of Directors or (as the case may be) a committee of Directors duly convened and held. Such a resolution may consist of several documents in the same form, each signed by one or more of the Directors.

124. Subject to Article 125, the Directors shall ensure that a copy of

1. the agenda for every meeting of the Directors;
2. the draft minutes of every such meeting, if they have been approved by the person acting as chairman of that meeting;
3. the signed minutes of every such meeting; and
4. any report, document or other paper considered at any such meeting, are, as soon as is reasonably practicable, made available at every Academy to persons wishing to inspect them.

125. There may be excluded from any item required to be made available in pursuance of Article 124, any material relating to -

1. a named teacher or other person employed, or proposed to be employed, at any Academy;
2. a named pupil or named student at, or candidate for admission to, any Academy; and
3. any matter which, by reason of its nature, the Directors are satisfied should remain confidential.

126. Any Director shall be able to participate in meetings of the Directors by telephone or video conference provided that:

1. he has given notice of his intention to do so detailing the telephone number on which he can be reached and/or appropriate details of the video conference suite from which he shall be taking part at the time of the meeting at least 48 hours before the meeting; and,

2. the Directors have access to the appropriate equipment if after all reasonable efforts it does not prove possible for the person to participate by telephone or video conference the meeting may still proceed with its business provided it is otherwise quorate.

PATRONS AND HONORARY OFFICERS

ANNUAL RETURN

Inspiration Trust Memorandum of Association

Scheme of Delegation