Non-executive director X 3

Fierte Multi Academy Trust

Fierte Multi Academy Trust seeks a trustee with demonstrable change management and corporate governance experience. The trust is also seeking two Members – responsible for holding the trust board to account, and with the power to alter the trust’s article of association - with a range of business skills and experience to drive the trust’s vision of expansion.  The trust wishes to ensure successful succession planning and would welcome candidates with ambition to becoming Chair over time.

Board meetings are held at Fierte Multi Academy Trust, Silverlink, Road, Tamworth but will rotate to different academies as the trust expands.

About the trust

Fierte Multi Academy Trust was initially formed through uniting two schools, both of which are now rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted. Since formation two further schools have joined the trust and another school is set to join the trust in due course. Two of the trust’s schools, situated in Tamworth, are in areas of high deprivation.

The trust currently comprises one infant academy with a nursery, rated ‘Outstanding’, one primary academy rated ‘Outstanding’, and two primary academies with nursery provision rated ‘Good’. Additionally, the infant academy set to join the trust is rated ‘Good’ by Ofsted. The trust is in the process of applying for a Free school in Burton on Trent and a Free school in Tamworth through the Local Authority, whilst also engaging with other schools in the area that are considering joining a multi-academy trust.

Plans for the future

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

1. Managing growth – due to new schools joining the trust in the near future, it is keen to plan and manage the myriad elements of change inherent in this.
2. Corporate development – the trust wishes to grow its operational ability by ensuring successful recruitment within the schools and improving the leadership within the trust in order to foster and maintain good relationships throughout the trust.
3. Governance - reinforce the statutory responsibilities and the roles of the academies within the governance of the trust. This will ensure that the governance structure has the capacity and ability to grow with the trust.

The trust has recently undergone a restructure at senior executive level in order to manage the expected growth. It therefore wishes, over the longer term, to develop its stakeholder engagement in order to ensure a continued focus on achievement within the schools.

Trust ethos & values

The trust places the education and the welfare of children in its school at the core of its values; it believes that there is no limit to what each child can accomplish. The trust aspires to give children a sense of pride and achievement in all that they and the wider community endeavour. The trust aims to foster a culture and mindset of belonging, self-worth, higher aspirations and an intellect of independence within its pupils.

Further information on their ethos and values can be found on the trust website: http://www.fierte.org/page/?title=Values+and+Ethos&pid=12

Role summary Number of positions advertised:3

Role 1 – 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 and the management of a dynamic structure. The role also includes contributing to financial planning for sustainability and potential growth, and holding the CEO/CFO to account.

The board will ultimately comprise eight non-executive directors/trustees, working together to develop the strategic development of the trust. Experience of working on a board would be beneficial.

Person specification

The competencies required for this role include:

Essential

• Change Management
• Risk
• Corporate Governance
• Non-executive/ Trustee

Desirable

• Growth Management
• Finance

An individual possessing a proven track record in strategy-building, managing change and planning for the challenges that come with it is highly sought.

A relevant qualification in an appropriate field – for example, CIPD - is advantageous, along with senior level experience, ideally working with, or reporting to a board of directors.

A candidate with demonstrable experience of working at a senior level within a team is sought, especially those able to bring a unique and independent perspective. A commitment to safeguarding, equal opportunities, anti-discriminatory practice, and adherence to the Nolan Principles is essential.

An individual with the desire to assist in the provision of excellent educational experience to the pupils is essential, possessing a commitment to offering time and buying into the trust’s ethos and values.

Time commitment

6 hours per month minimum.

Roles 2 & 3 – Member

A Member is able to alter the Trust's Articles of Association and appoint (or remove) trustees/directors where necessary. They provide independent oversight to the work of the board of trustees in order to ensure suitable accountability for its decision making and strategy. At Fierte Multi Academy Trust the members are expected to be signatories for the academy trust, to attend two meetings per year, and to add to the already broad skillset within the existing team of members.

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)

• Legal/ Compliance
• Corporate Governance
• Growth Management
• Non-executive/ Trustee

Desirable

• Change Management
• Entrepreneur/ Founder
• Legal/ Compliance

Individuals with past experience in the field of corporate governance and a prior role as a non-executive are sought. Competence and confidence in defining strategy is essential. The trust seeks candidates with a wide array of skills to help bring breadth and vision to the Members board.

Members are expected to commit to the ethos and values of the trust.

Time commitment

Up to two meetings each year.

Location of board meetings and trust website

Board meetings are held at Fierte Multi Academy Trust, Silverlink, Road, Glascote Heath, Tamworth, B77 2EA but will rotate to different academies as the trust expands.

Trust website: http://www.fierte.org

Governance structure

http://www.fierte.org/attachments/download.asp?file=102&type=pdf

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: Friday, 22^nd February 2019