1. TO GROW OR NOT TO GROW (APOLOGIES TO SHAKESPEARE)
REMEMBER DUE DILIGENCE
John Fassenfelt - Chair of Swale Academies Trust
19/09/2016

2. WHY GROW
“The Board must have a clear vision.....For MATs the vision should set out the levels of ambition they have for future growth” Governance Handbook 2015
“If you want to build a winning organisation, you have to be prepared to carry on building every day. You never stop building – if you do you stagnate” Alex Ferguson “Leading”
John Fassenfelt - Chair of Swale Academies Trust
19/09/2016

3. MUST EMBRACE DUE DILIGENCE “An investigation or audit of a potential investment”
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Finance HR
Premises/Health and Safety IT
General catch all
WHO DOES IT
Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer
John Fassenfelt - Chair of Swale Academies Trust
19/09/2016

4. PITFALLS
FINANCE – Falling roles, populations changes, deficit budgets, Redundancies
GOVERNANCE – Rogue governors - what is the problem?
STANDARDS – Ofsted, timescale for improvements
COMPETITORS – Future builds/expansion plans
BUILDINGS – PFI, conditions, farms
John Fassenfelt - Chair of Swale Academies Trust
19/09/2016

5. CASE STUDY AVERAGE SIZE SECONDARY SCHOOL RURAL AREA SPECIAL MEASURES
BEING REBUILT
POOR LEADERSHIP TEAM
BRIGHT PUPILS
OFFERED BY LA WITH A GOLDEN HANDSHAKE
John Fassenfelt - Chair of Swale Academies Trust
19/09/2016

6. LESSONS LEARNT DO NOT JUMP TOO QUICKLY CARRY OUT DUE DILIGENCE EARLY
PUT YOUR RESOURCES IN FIRST
MAKE BOLD DECISIONS
TAKE THE ADVICE OF THE PROFESSIONALS
PROJECT YOUR COSTS/INCOME
GET FINANCE UNDER CONTROL
John Fassenfelt - Chair of Swale Academies Trust
19/09/2016

7. CONCLUSIONS WHAT LOOKS GOOD ON THE SURFACE MAY NOT BE UNDERNEATH.
LOOK UNDERNEATH WITH DUE DILIGENCE
John Fassenfelt - Chair of Swale Academies Trust
19/09/2016