Christian Stewardship and Assuring Governance
“Stewardship: The careful & responsible management and handing-on of something entrusted to one’s care “
“Governance: The organised collective execution of stewardship through practical actions and oversight “
“Assurances: Asking questions that provide supportive challenge to the leaders and staff of a school or trust”
The Assurance Governance resources are grouped under tenGovernance Areas that flow from the ten Characteristics of Strong Christian Stewardship. Each Governance Area also has a corresponding set of Assurance Questions.
Because maintained governor and academy trustee roles are different (albeit with the same stewardship aims), we have created two versions of these resources (all available on this website) – one for maintained school governors, and one for academy trustees.
First the Stewardship characteristics…
The Ten Characteristics of Strong Christian Stewardship exist to provide a strong foundation to all that we do, inherited as sustaining principles from those that came before us, enabling the passing-on of the intergenerational promise of church schooling to those that come after.
| CHARACTERISTICS |
| DISTINCTIVE: Christian Distinctiveness pervades provision serving those of all faiths & none |
| INTENTIONAL: There is a strong and collectively held Vision |
| NURTURING: A culture of strong Safeguarding is made a lived experience |
| ACADEMIC: Ambitious expectations are held for Achievement for all learners |
| INCLUSIVE: All aspects of provision will be fully inclusive regardless of learner context |
| DEVELOPMENTAL: Learners will start childhood well and transition as young adults successfully |
| ENGAGING: All learners will attend regularly and behave well |
| HOLISTIC: Personal Development and Wellbeing is a core focus |
| RESILIENT: Leadership, Stewardship and Governance will be constantly self -evaluated |
| SUSTAINABLE: Strong Financial and Estates management will maintain a stable and sustainable position now and for future generations. |
Then the Governance Areas…
Each of the characteristics are linked to a corresponding area of governance, everyone of which covers the practical way in which governors and academy trustees exercise their duties of oversight. All the areas are covered by resources on this Assurance Governance site.
| Characteristics: | Governance Areas: |
| DISTINCTIVE | Christian Distinctiveness |
| INTENTIONAL | Vision, Strategy, Growth & Risk |
| NURTURING | Safeguarding |
| ACADEMIC | Overall Achievement |
| INCLUSIVE | Overall Inclusion |
| DEVELOPMENTAL | Early Years, Post‑16 and Transitions |
| ENGAGING | Attendance and Behaviour |
| HOLISTIC | Personal Development and Wellbeing |
| RESILIENT | Leadership, Stewardship and Governance |
| SUSTAINABLE | Finance, Estates and Sustainability |
Finally the Assurances in each of the ten Governance Areas…
For each of these ten areas of practical governance, a range of Assurance Questions have been formed.
| Characteristics: | Governance Areas: | Assurance Questions: |
| DISTINCTIVE | Christian Distinctiveness | 10 Assurances |
| INTENTIONAL | Vision, Strategy, Growth & Risk | 20 Assurances |
| NURTURING | Safeguarding | 20 Assurances |
| ACADEMIC | Overall Achievement | 20 Assurances |
| INCLUSIVE | Overall Inclusion | 20 Assurances |
| DEVELOPMENTAL | Early Years, Post‑16 and Transitions | 20 Assurances (20 for each) |
| ENGAGING | Attendance and Behaviour | 20 Assurances |
| HOLISTIC | Personal Development and Wellbeing | 20 Assurances |
| RESILIENT | Leadership, Stewardship and Governance | 20 Assurances |
| SUSTAINABLE | Finance and Property/Estates | 20 Assurances (20 for each) |
Thus we have a framework for moving from overarching stewardship, to areas of governance activity, onto practical Assurance Questions. These three legs of the Stewardship stool give us a stable platform upon which to exercise our custodian duties.
All of the Assurance Governance resources are provided under these ten core governance areas – explore them for both maitained governors and academy trustees here.