Manchester Schools Alliance is a company limited by guarantee (company no. 8998958) and is based on cooperative principles:

• Voluntary and open membership
• Democratic member control
• Members’ economic participation
• Autonomy and independence
• Education, training and information
• Cooperation among cooperatives
• Concern for the community.

Membership is open to all Manchester schools, including academies, free schools and independent schools, and recognised further, higher, adult and other educational institutions within the City, who accept these principles.   MSA is governed by the Forum of Directors (the Company Board). The Forum is made up of 7 elected directors: two secondary school headteachers, two primary school headteachers, one special school headteachers and two school governor representatives. In addition one director is appointed by Manchester City Council and up to three external independent directors with particular skills and experience may be appointed by the Forum. The list of current directors can be found here. The Forum reports annually to a general meeting of members.

The Forum of Directors must:

• Ensure a fair and equitable process of electing Directors
• Set and monitor an annual business plan for MSA
• Set and monitor MSA’s annual budget
• Provide progress reports to members and stakeholders
• Organise consultation and feedback so that it understands and responds to members’ views
• Promote MSA to members and stakeholders.

The Forum elects its own Chair and appoints a Lead Headteacher, who provides professional leadership for MSA and reports to the Forum.

The Forum meets at least four times per year and sets up task groups as required. Members of the Forum are asked to meet the `fit and proper persons test’ for their role. They are expected to commit to

• Attending Forum meetings
• Contributing to the work of the strategy or reference groups for the interest they represent
• Lending their expertise to supporting MSA activities
• Acting as ambassadors for MSA, encouraging schools and stakeholders to engage.

Directors may be asked to resign if they are absent from three consecutive meetings, and can be removed by resolution of a general meeting. Their directorship automatically ends if they cease to be a Headteacher / Governor of a member school, or if their school ceases to be a member.