Skip to main content

This job has expired

Non-Executive Director/Trustee at Extol Academy Trust

Employer
NEW SCHOOLS NETWORK
Location
Yorkshire and the Humber
Salary
Voluntary
Closing date
30 Jun 2021

View more

Extol Academy Trust in Hartlepool seeks up to three non-executives/directors to join its board. Board meetings are held at TS26 9LY when safe to do so.

The Academy Ambassadors programme brings the expertise of the business world onto boards at multi-academy trusts (MATs) throughout the country to raise standards of education and improve the life chances of young people, which is critical to our social and economic success.

The opportunity

Based in the North East of England, Extol Academy Trust currently oversees the governance of Eldon Grove Academy in Hartlepool, New Silksworth Infant and Junior Academies in Sunderland and Thorntree Academy in Middlesbrough. The first three of these schools are all Ofsted 'Good', with Thorntree Academy pending a new inspection by Ofsted, however it was rated 'Requires Improvement' prior to joining the trust in March 2020.

The trust serves a diverse community, with each school demonstrating varied levels of deprivation. The percentage of learners eligible for Free School Meals (FSM), one such indicator of deprivation, ranges from 70% to 30% across its schools. The number of students identified as requiring Special Educational Needs or Disabilities (SEND) is in-line with national averages, and the number of students studying English as an Additional Language (EAL) is well below national average.

The board seeks three business leaders with board level experience in a combination of the following:

  • Strategic Leadership
  • Growth Management
  • Succession Planning
  • Non-executive Director/Trustee
  • Entrepreneurial/Business Management

As a key member of the board you will support the trust in achieving the following over the next 12 - 24 months:

  • Growth: To ensure the sustainability of the trust and establish Extol as a regional presence. The trust's main priority over the next 12 months is to grow, however remains mindful that this needs to be undertaken in a phased and planned way, ensuring there is capacity within the central business functions, and to continue to have a positive impact on school improvement in all its schools. The trust currently works within 3 regional authorities and see this as a positive, as geographically it has a wider span in the region and can ensure schools are not isolated.
  • Succession Planning: The trust is mindful to develop a succession programme which will incorporate talent management or address identified gaps.
  • Financial Management: The trust aims to ensure it has strong financial oversight within a period of pressure on public money spend, guaranteeing that both revenue and capital income is used efficiently and effectively so that its schools are well placed both in the short and long term.

Future plans

'As highlighted above our future plans are that of growth. We would hope to have added two schools to the trust over next 12 months and have developed a strong regional presence. As a Trust we are passionate about our civic responsibility and think our schools should be at the forefront of bringing about educational and community change.'

What's involved?

Board governance in education is a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment which involves attending six board meetings per year, amounting to 14 hours of work a 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.

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

Get job alerts

Create a job alert and receive personalised job recommendations straight to your inbox.

Create alert