Non-executive director/Trustee at Parallel Learning Trust

Recruiter
Academy Ambassadors
Location
Bromley, London
Salary
Voluntary
Posted
25 Oct 2021
Closes
22 Nov 2021
Ref
JN -072021-4434
Contact
Ben Bateson
Job role
NED/Trustee
Sector
Education and training
Contract type
Contract
Hours
Part time
Experience level
Director

Parallel Learning Trust in Bromley, seeks two skilled individuals with experience in SEND or Estates/Health and Safety to join the board. Board meetings are held at BR2 6HQ 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 service 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

"We are a specialist Multi-Academy Trust established in 2014, with expertise in Special and Alternative Provision academies. We embrace our moral imperative to educate and develop young minds in preparation for their futures in the world of work with the aim of ensuring that all pupils that attend our provisions can enjoy and achieve their true potential, irrespective of their starting point thus enabling them to make a positive contribution to their community. We are a truly collaborative organisation and the culture that we promote is one that is driven by our core values. These values have been carefully developed and apply across all of our academies. Most importantly, our approach is driven by passion, commitment and a genuine desire to create and nurture long term relationships that have sustainable outcomes that enable independence."

The Trust currently oversees seven academies: Kennington Park Academy, Victory Park Academy, Park Campus Academy, Ramsden Hall Academy, Inspire Academy, Sutton House Academy and Wandle Valley Academy. Overall, the Trust employs approximately 300 employees, has 450 pupils and an annual income of £19m.

The board seeks two leaders with board level/senior experience in

  • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) OR
  • Estates/Facilities Management AND
  • Health and Safety

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


  • Governance: strengthening the quality and effectiveness of governance, strategic leadership and financial oversight of the trust. Developing the London, Kent and Essex hubs to be sustainable and ensuring effective implementation of the Trust board's Scheme of Delegation at all levels in the governance structure.
  • Improving educational standards and pupil outcomes: ensuring consistency across the Trust in delivery, balanced by a real understanding of local needs and community and oversight of the set-up and launch of new provisions and expansion of existing provision.
  • Financial management and compliance: ensuring the Trust takes action to achieve a balanced budget and long-term financial sustainability, and engages with the Education Skills and Funding Agency to meet regulatory reporting requirements and ensure compliance with its funding agreements and the Academies Financial Handbook.

    • This is an exciting time for the Trust as it has just completed a £12 million major building project with another planned for delivery by Sept 2023 as well as a range of diverse business development opportunities hence the desire to expand the governance skill set.

    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/6-8 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.