Non-Executive Director

River Tees Multi-Academy Trust (RTMAT)

River Tees Multi-Academy Trust seeks two new non-executive directors to join its expanding board. The trust was created from a base of three Alternative Provision (AP) schools in Middlesbrough, a town with significant levels of deprivation. It has since expanded with a further Alternative Provision school in Gateshead, which joined the trust in January 2018. Board meetings are held at Sulby Avenue, Middlesbrough.

About the trust

At River Tees Multi Academy Trust, learning is at the centre of everything that is achieved. It is recognised that each learner requires a unique setting and support programme to help them back into either mainstream education or a specialised educational setting.

The trust believes that Alternative Provision (AP) should give every learner the chance to be the best that they can be. It believes that this is achieved through the removal of barriers to learning and the delivery of personalised programmes which lead to valued and valid qualifications.

Currently the trust has four Alternative Provision academies across the North East and an extensive Home and Hospital Teaching Service in Middlesbrough which includes provision at a Tier Four Mental Health Adolescent Hospital.

Trust ethos & values

River Tees Multi-Academy Trust is dedicated to providing high quality education through an innovative structure, so that vulnerable students have access to advanced and energising centres of learning. They are supported to develop the lively and enquiring minds of young people, whilst ensuring that they feel safe and valued in an inclusive environment. The ethos of inclusion is central to all of the work of the trust in helping young people to achieve aims and ambitions.

The trust recognises four key priorities:

• High Aspirations
• Effective Intervention
• Removing Barriers
• Outstanding Outcomes

Plans for the Future

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

1. Strengthen governance from outside the education sector by identifying strong trustees, able to contribute to the effective and robust management of the trust;
2. Backfill senior leads to release them to improve failing schools;
3. Sustained and substantial growth while maintaining the trust’s high standards and vision.

As the trust embeds its vision and expands, it will further develop its relationships with other similar organisations in the North East. Its aim is to engage with other ‘Good’ schools, and eventually welcome them into the trust as partners. This will enrich each organisation and strengthen the trust’s ability to support similar schools facing challenges.

Role Summary

Number of Positions Advertised:  2

Roles 1-2 – 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.

Non-executive directors will be responsible for maintaining stability during a period of rapid growth and the management of a dynamic structure. The role also includes contributing to financial planning for sustainability and growth, and holding the CEO/CFO to account.

The competencies required for these roles include:

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

• Change Management OR
• Growth Management OR
• Corporate Governance OR
• Legal/ Compliance

Desirable

• Legal/ Compliance
• Real estate/ Property
• Risk
• Change Management
• Entrepreneur/Founder
• CFO / Finance

Person specification

Under the trust’s Articles of Association, trustees are responsible for the overall strategic management, development, administration of the schools within the trust. Providing robust scrutiny of its affairs and ensuring it is solvent, well-run and delivering the trust’s outcomes for the benefit of the children, parents and the wider community. The trust is looking for up to two individuals, each demonstrating some or all of the above essential criteria.

Additionally, the trust is seeking somebody with experience across a variety of business sectors. While it is acknowledged that not all candidates will possess all skills, it would be advantageous to identify an individual with experience of managing rapid growth and sustaining quality across a number of establishments, including underperforming organisations.

Ideally, candidates will possess a sound grasp of the current political climate and of financial and resource management. An awareness of organisational structures, acquisitions and mergers would be advantageous. The trust requires and a strategic thinker with excellent communication skills, who is forward thinking and embraces change.

The trust is seeking individuals who are able to actively and support its ‘inclusion ethos’, reflecting the belief that all young people can achieve, given the opportunity to feel included in, and empowered by, the learning environment.

Time commitment

2 hours per month (minimum).

Location of board meeting and trust website

Trust board meetings are held at Sulby Avenue, Pallister Park, Middlesbrough, TS3 8RD

www.rtmat.org.uk   

Governance Structure

https://rtmat-middlesbrough.frogos.net/app/os#!/governors

Background on academy trusts

Academy schools, which are charities run independently of local authority control, now account for 69% of secondary schools and 23% of primaries – and their number is growing all the time.

Many of these schools are grouped together as multi-academy trusts.  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.

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 don’t need to have any specialist knowledge of education. 

Applications

Academy Ambassadors is a non-profit organisation 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: Friday 1^st February