Role Of Trustee
While the role of Trustee and Patron are separate at primary level, the terms Trustee and Patron are generally used interchangeably at second level. The Articles of Management use the term Trustee while the Education Act uses the term Patron.
The Education Act (1998) established the role of the Patron or Trustee on a legal basis. The Act outlines the rights and responsibilities of the Patron, these can be classified under two headings:
Inspirational
The Patron determines the “characteristic spirit”. It is often referred to as the ethos of the school.
Legal and Administrative
The Patron is responsible for the physical assets (property) of the school, and also for the financial management of the school’s operation. As the legal ‘owners’ of the school, they must ensure that the school is compliant to all statutory requirements.