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Non-Executive Director X 2

Employer
Academy Ambassador
Location
Durham (County)
Salary
unpaid/ voluntary
Closing date
25 Apr 2019

View more

Sector
Education
Contract Type
Permanent
Hours
Part Time / Job share
HR Jobs Level
Director / Head / VP
Specialist Area
General HR Function

Cleves Cross Learning Trust

Cleves Cross Learning Trust, a two-school multi-academy trust based in Ferryhill, County Durham, seeks to appoint two individuals – one, with prior experience and knowledge of the corporate world and a good grasp of finance, to its Member board and a second, with expertise in finance, branding and HR, to its trustee board. The trust is looking for managed growth to help improve standards and capacity in the local area. Board meetings are held at Cleves Cross Primary School, Ferryhill, Durham.

  About the trust

Cleves Cross Learning Trust is a multi-academy trust (MAT) established in November 2013; the trust currently comprises two primary schools - Cleves Cross Primary School and Rosa Street Primary School.

The conversion to academy status, initially by Cleves Cross Primary School, opened up greater opportunities for decision making and budget management to enhance provision for the school. As an outstanding primary school, academy status allowed Cleves Cross to be ready to sponsor and support schools in its community that were facing challenging circumstances. In September 2014, Rosa Street Primary School joined Cleves Cross Learning Trust as a sponsored academy. Having undergone an Ofsted inspection in June 2017, Rosa Street was adjudged to have made significant progress, having previously been in 'Special Measures'. The school is now expecting its next Ofsted assessment within the next six months.

In 2016, Cleves Cross Primary enhanced and expanded capacity through the addition of a 52-place nursery. The trust is now looking to grow in size with further primary schools joining the trust either via the sponsor route or by chosen conversion.

Trust ethos & values

Cleves Cross Learning Trust views itself as a growing family of schools that work together, support each other and share good practice. Its aim is to help all children with the trust’s schools to realise their own potential and reach their maximum achievement.

  Plans for the Future

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

  1. To achieve a successful result for Rosa Street Primary School in its first Ofsted inspection.
  2. To achieve the addition of further primary schools to the trust through structured expansion.
  3. To optimise opportunities throughout the trust, both financial and in teaching and learning.

The trust intends to manage growth, within its local area, to a size where effective communication, positive relationships and close working arrangements are still possible. The aim is for children within the trust’s schools to achieve the best education through:

  • Exemplary teaching
  • Exciting and engaging curriculum
  • Inspirational learning opportunities
  • Engagement with the local and wider community

  Role Summary Number of Positions Advertised: 

2

Role 1 – Member

The trust currently has three Members, responsible for the appointment of directors and signatories to its Articles. In order to ensure a further dimension, in terms of vision and community presence, the trust is seeking to add to this membership.

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 Cleves Cross Learning Trust the Members are expected to be signatories for the academy trust, to attend one meeting 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

 

  • CFO/ Finance
  • Non-executive/ Trustee
  • Corporate Governance

Desirable

 

  • Audit Committee Chair
  • Change Management
  • Risk

Members are required to hold the trustees to account and as such, experience of trustee/non-executive directorship is essential. Additionally, strong grasp of corporate governance is required to allow the successful candidate to execute duties fully.

An individual with some finance experience is highly desirable – ideally, a candidate with experience of the corporate world, with a demonstrable track record of effective leadership in business will be appointed.

The ideal candidate will possess commitment to the community and subscribe to the vision of the trust. Further to this, the candidate will have the ability to share and expand the ethos of the trust within and beyond the current schools.

Time commitment

1 hour /month minimum.

Role 2 – Trustee/Non-Executive Director

Trust directors set the strategic direction for the multi academy trust and are accountable for the performance of the schools within it. They hold the Executive Head Teacher to account and have responsibilities as set out in the trust Articles.

Person specification

The competencies required for this role include:

Essential

 

  • CFO/ Finance
  • Branding/ Marketing
  • HR

Desirable

 

  • Corporate Governance
  • IT/ Technology
  • Risk
  • Change Management

The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate commitment in time and expertise to add to the current board, bringing, in particular, experience in HR, branding and marketing, as well as expertise in change management.

The trust seeks an individual who has a genuine interest in the provision of the best possible educational experiences for children within the schools’ communities.

  Time commitment

6 hours /month minimum.

  Trust Website and Location of board meetings www.clevescrosslearningtrust.org.uk

Cleves Cross Primary School, Ferryhill, Co. Durham, DL17 8QY

Governance Structure

www.clevescrosslearningtrust.org.uk/about-us/

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, April 26th

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