Non-executive director/trustee at Scholars Academy Trust

This is an opportunity to contribute to the community within Leicestershire by becoming a Trustee and Academy Ambassador at Scholars Academy Trust. Board meetings are held at LE2 4LJ when safe to do so.

The Academy Ambassadors programme brings the expertise of the business world onto boards at single-academy and multi-academy trusts (SATs and MATs). Academy trusts exist to improve the outcomes of young people; at the highest levels of governance, they need highly skilled individuals with a variety of experiences to hold executive leadership teams to account. Insights from a wide-range of backgrounds ensure that boards are able to make informed choices on decisions that impact the lives of children and staff.

The Academy Ambassadors Programme is funded by the Department for Education, to match senior business leaders with academy trusts looking to strengthen their boards. By working together, inspirational educationalists and talented business leaders can provide a better future for the next generation.

The opportunity

Scholars Academy Trust has recently expanded and has two schools based in Leicestershire and a new school set to open in Castle Donington in September 2022. The trust has a dedicated and talented team who work collaboratively to share expertise, best practice and resources to ensure the best for its pupils, whilst making sure each school's unique character and strengths are recognised and supported. This has help the trust build a strong reputation, with its schools Ofsted rated Outstanding and Good, and above national averages for educational outcomes in both.

Scholars Academy Trust aims to draw on the individual strengths of each academy school in the trust in order to build good practice and ensure that outstanding teaching and learning is at the heart of everything it does. Pupils will achieve excellent academic outcomes in a safe and nurturing environment and be empowered to make decisions about their lives and their contribution to society. The trust will nurture its staff professionally and foster positive relationships with parents, and the wider community.

The board seeks two business leaders with board level experience in

• human resources or
• health and safety or
• financial management or
• strategic leadership/general management

Throughout your term of office (typically 4 years, but this may vary between trusts), you will be an active contributor to key board decisions. Specifically, in the next 12 - 24 months the trust's key focus areas will be:

What's involved?

Board governance in education is a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment which typically involves attending between six and nine meetings per academic year, amounting to approximately seven hours per month.

You will be responsible for:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent

As an Academy Ambassador, you will join our ambassador network which provides resources, guidance, networking events and webinars to support you in your role.

All roles are pro bono.

People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

What next?

Please register your interest now to be considered for the role.

When you select the option to Apply you will be redirected to the Academy Ambassadors webpage where you will find a full role specification with more details of the opportunity and the trust, including details of how to apply for the position.

Please be aware the closing date may change if we have received sufficient applications.