Non-executive Director/Trustee at Endeavour Academy Trust

Recruiter
Academy Ambassadors
Location
Bristol
Salary
Voluntary
Posted
14 Jan 2022
Closes
11 Feb 2022
Ref
JN -012022-4682
Contact
Ben Bateson
Job role
NED/Trustee
Sector
Education and training
Contract type
Contract
Hours
Part time
Experience level
Director

Schools need support now, more than ever, and strong leadership at board level is required to navigate the challenges they face. Endeavour Academy Trust seeks to appoint a trustee with legal expertise to become Vice-Chair of the Board. Board meetings are held in Southmead, Bristol, 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

Endeavour Academy Trust oversees four primary academies (each with a nursery) situated in North Bristol and South Gloucestershire, their schools serve areas of relatively high deprivation; on average, 30% of pupils across the trust are eligible for free school meals (FSM). The trust began in 2012 with the conversion of Little Mead Primary Academy, rated Outstanding by Ofsted, which was also designated as an academy sponsor. Henbury Court Primary Academy, taken into the Trust as a sponsored school, is now rated as Good (2019) by Ofsted having been in Special Measures at the time of sponsorship. Fonthill Primary Academy's last inspection was in 2014 and received a rating of Good by Ofsted. Charlton Wood Primary Academy opened in September 2019 making the fourth academy in the Trust.

The board seeks one business leader with board level experience in:

  • Law/Legal Frameworks and Compliance
  • Strategic Leadership

Throughout your term of office (typically four 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:


  • To become the school of choice: The Trust schools strive to provide a holistic well-rounded education for all children. The Trust seeks to support the schools in ensuring that all children reach their potential and prioritise children's mental health and wellbeing. The Trust is undertaking a review of curriculum provision to ensure that the curriculum intent and implementation is in line with the vision & values. All schools currently have an Ofsted rating of Good (or better) and this has enhanced the reputation and popularity of the schools however, with both national and local population demographics showing a sustained decline in primary age pupil numbers, careful and creative planning is required to ensure that the Trust continues to make the best possible use of resource.
  • To become the employer of choice: The Trust is currently seeking to widen the opportunities for staff to work across the trust with all senior leaders holding trust wide roles and responsibilities to support school improvement. The Trust is also reviewing its recruitment, retention and career development policies and processes with the ambition to develop a comprehensive training and development offer and talent management programme.
  • To become the partner of choice: the trust successful opened Charlton Wood Primary Academy in September 2019 and longer term has ambitions to grow further. The trust aims to work with local partners to build leadership and school improvement capacity to improve the life chances of all local pupils and their communities.

    • What's involved?

    Board governance in education is a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment which typically involves attending c. six board meetings per year, amounting to approximately four-six hours' time 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.

    The Academy Ambassadors Programme is committed to supporting boards with inclusive recruitment practices, and we actively encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds.

    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.