Non-executive Director/Trustee at Ashmole Academy Trust

Are you seeking an opportunity to give back to local communities by lending your expertise to education? By becoming a non-executive board director at an academy trust, your range of skills and experience could help to improve the life chances of children and support trusts to navigate the challenges they face.

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

Ashmole Academy Trust comprises two Outstanding schools in London (N14 7NP), employs over 2,000 staff and manages an annual budget of approximately £13million. The trust has plans for future growth within the local community, as well as seeking to secure funding for a new building.

The board seeks to appoint four trustees, one of whom with the potential to become trust board chair and welcome applications from senior professionals with expertise in:

• legal/compliance or
• accounting/financial management or
• education (SEND) / education leadership or
• entrepreneurial and business management

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:

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/4-6 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.

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.