Skip to main content

This job has expired

Non-executive director X 2

Employer
Academy Ambassador
Location
North Yorkshire
Salary
unpaid/ voluntary
Closing date
7 Mar 2019

View more

Sector
Education
Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Part Time / Job share
Specialist Area
General HR Function

Yorkshire Collaborative Academy Trust

Yorkshire Collaborative Academy Trust (YCAT) seeks two non-executive directors to join its board. This is a growing multi-academy trust dedicated to working with primary schools. The trust was formed in 2015 by three primary schools with a long track record of successfully working in partnership. Two further schools joined in the 2016/17 academic year. Board meetings are held in North Yorkshire.

About the trust

YCAT is building a partnership of schools that put the needs of children at their heart and is committed to true collaborative working. Its schools work together to ensure pupils are confident, responsible and are equipped with the knowledge and skills to take ownership of their life-long learning.

One of the trust’s schools is the lead school for the Harrogate and Rural Teaching Alliance (HART) which includes approximately 50 members; the trust recognises the importance of attracting new teachers into the profession and developing their skills. YCAT plays an active part in this through its School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT) programme.

The trust seeks to continue to identify ways to further improve progress in its high attaining schools. This is achieved through the establishment of consistent operational models, to ensure that its provision has the maximum impact on children’s outcomes. 

The trust has recently been praised in a national DfE media release as one of the top ten MATs in the country for attainment levels at Key Stage 2 (end of primary stage):

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gap-between-disadvantaged-pupils-and-their-peers-narrows--2

Plans for the Future

YCAT is committed to growing the trust in order to continue to meet the need for more innovative approaches for school improvement across the region, in particular in rural areas. 

The trust’s growth strategy is supported by promotion of YCAT through targeted marketing activities and increased profile of senior leaders at conferences and other events, to further build on its reputation for collaborative and innovative approaches to school improvement.

The trust’s plans for the next year include focusing on the five key elements of its strategy:

  • Improving pupil outcomes;
  • YCAT growth and further developing its trust and wider learning community;
  • Financial & commercial effectiveness;
  • Developing strong leadership and governance;
  • Developing employees.

 

 

To improve pupil outcomes, key priorities have been agreed both at school and trust level. Growth in the coming year includes continued working with interested schools, discussions with the DfE regarding potential sponsor schools and focused plans on development of leadership and succession planning. 

Financial and commercial effectiveness will be further improved through the renegotiation of contracts for services with the aim of achieving better value for money. Work is ongoing to further strengthen governance at all levels including embedding new processes and training.

The trust recognises that staff are its greatest asset and it is committed to supporting the health & well-being of staff as well as their continued professional development.

Trust ethos & values

YCAT is built on shared core values and a passionate belief in collaborative approaches to learning.  At the heart of YCAT are its trustees who have a wide range of experience from the education and business sector and a commitment to good governance. The trustees are the custodians of the vision that YCAT shares with its family of schools and strategically plan school improvement across its schools.

YCAT is a partnership of primary schools that believe that through working and learning together they will make even more difference to children’s lives. Striving to better meet children’s needs is the fundamental goal of the schools.

Strong working partnerships and commitment to collaboration will help the trust to more consistently meet all of its pupils’ learning needs.  

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 this role include:

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

 

  • CFO/ Finance OR
  • HR/ Legal

Desirable

 

  • Non-executive Trustee
  • Change Management
  • Growth Management
  • Corporate Governance
  • Strategic

Person specification

  • Role 1: YCAT seeks a non-executive director with a strong background in accounting, finance and business. The appointed candidate will join the finance, resources, audit and risk committee; responsible for financial oversight, monitoring of budgets, finance planning and reporting, internal controls and audit and risk management.  Due to the YCAT’s plans for growth, experience of growth management would be advantageous.
  • Role 2: YCAT seeks to appoint a non-executive director who can proactively support the capacity building needed for growth, preferably with some experience of human resources issues particularly associated with change management and culture change. The appointed candidate will provide strategic input into the creation of policies and practice that will support the growth, ethos and values of YCAT. They will also assist the executive in developing a staff development and retention strategy that nurtures talent and supports the objectives of YCAT, putting staff health and wellbeing at the centre of the trust’s approach.

  Time commitment

Preparation and attendance at five board meetings per academic year.

Preparation and attendance at committee meetings (approximately four per academic year).

Ad hoc strategic support to leadership on appropriate issues.

Location of board meetings and trust website

The trust rotates meeting locations around its schools, so meetings will alternately be held in Harrogate, Askwith, Leyburn, Lothersdale or Hawes. Due to the current location of its trustees, most meetings are held in Harrogate or Askwith. 

The AGM and other meetings with the Members board are usually held in Ripon.

Trust website: http://YCATschools.co.uk

Governance Structure

http://ycatschools.co.uk/about-us/governance-school-improvement/

  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: 22nd March 2019

Get job alerts

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

Create alert