This is an opportunity to contribute to the community within Cambridgeshire by becoming a Trustee and Academy Ambassador at Horizons Education Trust. Board meetings are held at PE29 1TQ 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) 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 Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, Horizons Education Trust is a multi-academy trust that is currently comprised of two special schools, Riverside Meadows Academy and Spring Common Academy, Ofsted rated as Good and Outstanding respectively. The trust is also currently preparing for the opening of two new special schools in 2023. The trust's vision has a focus on equalities and catering for children and young people from the ages of 3-19 with a very broad range of needs including those with autism and complex needs; those with profound and multi learning difficulties; and students with medical conditions. The trust currently manages a budget of over GBP6m and employs around 150 staff, however these numbers are expected to double when the new schools open. Additionally, the trust has been approved as a sponsor and has built capacity in the staff team to support others, and as such is seeking to expand even further in the next 12 months.

The board seeks three business leaders with strategic/board level experience in:

• Education Leadership or
• Health or Social Care or
• CEO/General Management

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

• Growth: The trust aims to add more special schools or provision whilst maintaining the present outstanding quality of education and provision. In the shorter terms this involves the development of a new 150 placement Special Needs Free School at Alconbury Weald, Cambridgeshire and of a new 60 placement SEMH Special Needs Free School in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire.
• Negotiation and implementation of contract agreements: One of the new schools will be co-located with other mainstream schools on the same site, but operated by a different trust. This will enable the children from the special school to access some of the specialist facilities in the mainstream school as well as sharing some services (e.g. lunch provision, facilities management, etc)
• Recruitment, training and retention of additional workforce for trust growth and development whilst ensuring any re-structuring is well-managed to maintain the values and vision of the trust.

What's involved?

Board governance in education is a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment which at Horizons Education Trust requires attending four board meetings per year. The sub-committees also meet 4 times per year, and it is expected that trustees will be asked to commit approx. 6 hours' time per month to attend the board meetings, and the meetings of a sub-committee.

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.

A full trust specification is available here:

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