Non-executive director x 2

South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy Trust

South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy Trust is a three school trust in the Gloucestershire area. The trust seeks to recruit two non-executive directors with business and HR experience to join its board.

Board meetings are held in the South Gloucestershire and Stroud area.

Applicants of all faiths and of none are welcomed.

About the trust

South Gloucestershire and Stroud Academy Trust is a three school trust in the Gloucestershire area. The trust has been in a period of growth and development since its establishment in 2015. Forest High School is a secondary academy for pupils aged 11 to 16 in the Forest of Dean and has just exited Special Measures status. SGS Berkeley Green University Technical College opened in September 2017 and is a 14-19 school with a curriculum specialising in Advanced Manufacturing and Digital Technologies designed to accommodate a maximum of 660 pupils. Finally, SGS Pegasus is a Special Free School which opened in September 2017 supporting students diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This school is currently operating out of refurbished accommodation at Patchway Community College, with purpose built, £14m new school close to this site being developed with an expected opening in Autumn 2019.

The trust plans to be recognised as

Plans for the future

Key challenges for the trust over the next 12-24 months are:

1. Effectively supporting and further developing three schools (two of which are new schools) with

specific needs and requirements.

1. Growth of the trust through responding to opportunities available in the geographical area, with

specific focus on development of new schools.

1. Development in the context of financial constraints and reductions in funding. Further development and consolidation of existing schools and new school developments. Further development of Governance structures to support growth.

Trust ethos & values

The trust aims for excellence in all we do: in teaching, in the depth and breadth of learning

experiences, in the personal qualities of the people within its community. All members of its

community will be effective communicators who are confident, curious, creative. Its

core value is ‘We provide an essential service for our communities and will act with honesty,

respect, responsibility and care.’

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.

Person specification

The competencies required for this role include:

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

• Corporate Governance
• Change management
• Non-executive/ Trustee
• HR
•  

Desirable

• Chair
• Legal/ Compliance
• Risk
• Succession Planning

The trust seeks candidates with a background in governance. As part of the trust’s succession planning, the trust welcomes individuals who may hold Chair experience or be interested in

development to this role within the medium term.

Time commitment

6 hours /month minimum. Number of board meetings 6 year

Plus sub committees

Role 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.

Person specification

The competencies required for this role include:

Essential

Non-executive/ Trustee

Risk

Change management

Business Growth

Desirable

Entrepreneur/ Founder

Legal/ Compliance

The ideal candidate will have experience as non-executive director/trustee.

Time commitment

6 hours /month minimum. Number of board meetings 6 year

Plus sub committees

Location of board meetings and trust website

https://academytrust.sgscol.ac.uk/index.php

Governance structure

https://academytrust.sgscol.ac.uk/governance

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.

“Academy 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 focused on the key strategic issues which are conducted with humility, good judgement, resilience and determination.” 
Source: Governance Handbook, Department for Education (2017)

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: 22^nd February

Interviews will be held on  20^th March 2019

Successful candidates will be invited to attend a Trust Board meeting on 2^nd April 2019