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Non-executive director X 2

Employer
Academy Ambassador
Location
London (North), London (Greater)
Salary
unpaid/ voluntary
Closing date
16 Aug 2019

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Lubavitch Multi-Academy Trust

Lubavitch Multi Academy Trust, comprising three schools, is seeking two non-executive directors with experience of operating at a senior capacity in financial or HR positions, to join the board. Applicants of all faiths and of none are welcomed and all board meetings are held in Stamford Hill, London.

About the trust

The Lubavitch Multi Academy Trust is the first Jewish faith MAT. Newly formed in April 2018, it comprises three schools: Junior boys, Junior Girls and Senior girls. Each school has c. 100 pupils, the Trust employs 120 staff and manages an annual budget of approx. £1.3million.

The three key aims of the MAT are to:

  1. increase pupil numbers
  2. raise pupil standards
  3. reduce costs.

  Plans for the future

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

  1. Increase the quality of teaching: The school day is split 50/50 between religious and secular studies, address teacher recruitment challenges and reduce the reliance on supply teaching staff.
  1. Increase pupil numbers by raising the profile and qualities of the trust. A key challenge faced by the trust is that a majority of the community live in north London, with 60% of pupils needing to be transported to school every day. Class sizes are currently small, ranging from 15 to 22 pupils per year group.
  1. Achieve a balanced budget, taking into account rising salary costs and lower than average pupil numbers. The trust recognises the opportunity to create efficiencies through shared services across all three schools.

Trust ethos & values

The trust is founded on the religious-based Lubavitch ethos and caters for the physical, mental and emotional, intellectual and spiritual well-being of pupils. The schools aim to provide Tora-true education in an atmosphere of love, warmth and respect which enables pupils to develop and grow, realising their own special potential.

Role summary Number of positions advertised:

2

Role(s) 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 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.

Person specification

Every trustee is expected to abide by the trust’s code of conduct and the seven principles of public life set out by Lord Nolan: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

The Competency Framework for Governance (DfE) 2017 details the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for effective governance: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/583733/Competency_framework_for_governance_.pdf

The strategic expertise required for this role includes:

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

 

  • CFO / Finance OR
  • HR Director

Desirable

 

  • Procurement
  • Contracts
  • Premises / Property Management
  • Organisational Change
  • Restructuring
  • Leadership Development
  • Succession Planning

 

 

The trust would be particularly interested in hearing from experienced trustees who have been involved in the turnaround of failing schools.

Time commitment

6 hours /month minimum. Number of board meetings: in the immediate term, board meetings will be held once per month.

Location of board meetings and trust website

Further information may be found here: https://www.lubavitchseniorgirls.com

Board meetings are held at Lubavitch House, 107 Stamford Hill, London, N16 5EW.

Governance structure

https://www.lubavitchseniorgirls.com/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/2520485/jewish/Trustees-at-Lubavitch.htm

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.

“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 (2019)

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 –

Interviews:  Successful applicants will be invited to meet the Chair of the Board and trust Members. 

Deadline for applications: 16th August 2019

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