Non-Executive Director

The Redstart Learning

Partnership (TRLP)

The Redstart Learning Partnership in Somerset seeks one new trustee/non-executive director with finance or general management/CEO experience to join its board. Board meetings are held at The Redstart primary School, Chard, Somerset.

About the trust

The Redstart Learning Partnership is situated in South Somerset and is a mixed multi-academy trust (MAT) with eight primary schools, split into two hubs. The trust is celebrating three years since its establishment, having also welcomed three new schools in the past year. Each school within the Partnership serves its local community and has its own unique identity. The Partnership prides itself on the extremely close working relationship between its schools, which has enabled them to provide high quality senior leadership, excellent CPD and school improvement support, to ensure each school continues to thrive and improve.

By sharing key personnel, core policies and admin systems The Redstart Learning Partnership has been able to ensure that all schools attain consistently high expectations in all areas. Most recently, Castle Primary School achieved a rating of Good by OFSTED. Within the report, Ofsted praised the role of the trust, specifying that ‘The school benefits from sharing good practice with other members of the Redstart Learning Partnership’.

The Partnership has its own Teaching School Alliance (TSA). The Redstart Teaching Alliance (RTA) is currently working with a collaboration of over 20 primary, secondary, middle schools and partners across Somerset, Devon and Dorset to provide high-quality training and development to new and existing staff. In November 2015 The Redstart Primary School in Chard, Somerset became the second primary school in Somerset to be designated as a Teaching School and is also a National Support School. This status allows these providers to offer professional development to schools in the area, as well as providing high quality training for staff within the trust.

Plans for the future

The key challenges for the board over the next 12-24 months are:

1. Growth: To establish a sustainable strategy for growth. The trust is looking forward to welcoming a ninth school, Winsham Community Primary School, later this year after converting to an academy.
2. School Improvement: To ensure all schools in the trust are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.
3. Marketing: To strengthen the network of resources and best practice shared between all schools in the trust and to attract other well-performing schools to join.

Trust ethos & values

For more information, please see: http://www.theredstartlearningpartnership.co.uk/655/vision-and-values

Role summary Number of positions advertised:

1

Every Member and trustee is expected to abide by the trust’s code of conduct and the seven principles of public life set out by Lord Nolan: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

The Competency Framework for Governance (DfE) 2017 details the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for effective governance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/583733/Competency_framework_for_governance_.pdf

Role 1 – Trustee/Non-Executive Director

Trustees – or non-executive directors - are both charity trustees and company directors of the academy trust; the role is to hold to account the executive and senior leadership team. The board of trustees manages the business of the academy trust and may exercise all the powers of the trust. The trustees ensure compliance with the trust’s charitable objects and with company and charity law.

Person specification

Successful applicants will have experience of working in large-scale business, preferably at board level in a fast moving, complex organisation. They must have a willingness to devote time and the ability to challenge, evaluate and interpret information. As experienced business leaders and strategic planners, successful applicants will have the ability and determination to adapt and transfer their experience to an educational setting.

Non-executive directors will be responsible for maintaining stability and the management of a dynamic structure. The role also includes contributing to financial planning for sustainability and potential growth, and holding the CEO/CFO to account. Non-executive directors are encouraged to attend some but not all committee meetings on an ad hoc basis.

In the interests of safeguarding, all trustee appointments would be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.

The strategic expertise required for this role includes:

Essential (due to multiple roles, candidates may be accepted who possess one or more of the skills below)

• CEO/ General Management OR 
• CFO/ Finance
• Desirable

   

  • Non-executive director/ trustee
  Time commitment

  8 hours per month minimum. There are 6 board meetings a year, generally held 5pm-7pm on weekdays. There are a further 6 Finance and Audit Committee meetings throughout the year.

  Location of board meetings and trust website

  Board meetings are held at The Redstart primary School, Chard, Somerset, TA20 1SD.

  Please see: http://www.theredstartlearningpartnership.co.uk/

  Governance structure

  For more information, please use the following link and refer to ‘TRLP Governance Structure Jan 19’ at the bottom of the page: http://www.theredstartlearningpartnership.co.uk/698/hubs-and-committees

  Background on academy trusts

  Academy schools, which are charities run independently of local authority control, now account for 74% of secondary schools and 31% of primaries – and their number is growing all the time.

  Many of these schools are grouped together as multi-academy trusts (MATs). There are currently 832 multi academy trusts of 3+ schools. If the schools are to fulfil their potential, the trusts need non-executives (known in charity law as trustees) to bring a wide range of skills and experience to help guide strategy, ensure their ambitions can be soundly financed and keep their schools up to the mark delivering for their pupils.

  “Boards must be ambitious for all children and young people and infused with a passion for education and a commitment to continuous school improvement that enables the best possible outcomes. Governance must be grounded in reality as defined by both high-quality objective data and a full understanding of the views and needs of pupils/students, staff, parents, carers and local communities. It should be driven by inquisitive, independent minds and through conversations focussed on the key strategic issues which are conducted with humility, good judgement, resilience and determination.” 
  Source: Governance Handbook, Department for Education (2019)

  Trusteeship is a voluntary, unpaid role for people who have the energy and skills to make a real contribution to shaping the future of our schools. You do not need to have any specialist knowledge of education. 

  Applications

  Academy Ambassadors is a non-profit programme which recruits senior business leaders and professionals as volunteer non-executive directors onto the boards of multi-academy trusts. If you are interested in applying for the role please send your CV and a short expression of interest detailing which role you are applying for to academyambassadors@newschoolsnetwork.org. Please note: candidates should live within reasonable travelling distance of the trust and/or have a link with the region. For more information, please call 0207 952 8556 or visit www.academyambassadors.org.

  Key dates

  We strongly recommend applying as early as you can to have the best possible chance of being considered as we may change the closing date if we have received sufficient applications. Applicants should be aware of the following key dates in the recruitment process –

  Deadline for applications: Fri 22^nd November 2019