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Non-Executive Director X 2

Employer
Academy Ambassador
Location
Crewe, Cheshire
Salary
Unpaid/voluntary
Closing date
24 Aug 2019

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The Learning for Life Partnership

The Learning for Life Partnership (LfLP) is a multi-academy trust (MAT) based in Cheshire East. It has ambitions to grow, extending beyond the boundaries of its current locale. The trust seeks to recruit up to two new trustees / non-executive directors, with IT and/or General Management experience at the most senior level. Board meetings are held at the trusts office at Shavington Primary School.

About the trust

The Learning for Life Partnership was formed to ensure there is high quality partnerships for school-to-school support in the area. The schools take pupils from different communities. The trust believes that schools are at the heart of the communities that they serve and the leaders in the schools are best placed to devise the correct curriculum and experiences for their children.

The LFLP currently consists of four primary schools: Shavington Primary School (Ofsted ‘Good’), Wheelock Primary School (Ofsted ‘Outstanding’), Wistaston Church Lane Academy and Leighton Academy (Ofsted ‘Requires Improvement’). Shavington Primary School has recently opened autism provision and undergone a £2.5-million-pound expansion project. A further school, with an Ofsted ‘Requires Improvement’ assessment, is due to join the trust in the summer term.

The schools within the LfLP work collaboratively, sharing expertise and developing innovative approaches to curriculum that are stimulating and motivate children to love learning. As an ‘outward-looking’ organisation the trust seeks to learn from others as well as its own good practice and expertise.

The trust plans to grow in a controlled and gradual manner, to a minimum of 10 schools over the next few years. As a sponsor organisation, the trust is also looking to support other schools in the locality.

Plans for the future

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

  1. To continue improving the two schools rated 'Requires Improvement' – the trust aims to ensure these are both rated as at least 'Good';
  2. To further develop its central hub which provides individual and quality services to its schools including HR, Finance and ICT support, whilst increasing opportunities for collaboration and professional development across the trust;
  3. To grow the trust without causing detrimental impact on its current schools.

Over the longer term, the trust is looking to manage the risk factors associated with growth, as well as balancing the targeted improvement of educational outcomes with sustainable financial management.

Trust ethos & values

The LfLP vision is to create a dynamic and inclusive partnership that meets the diverse needs of the children who attend its schools through excellent service, teaching expertise, value for money and emotionally intelligent leadership.

Role summary Number of positions advertised:

2

Role 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 possessing some of the skills below may be considered)

 

  • Non-executive / trustee AND
  • Corporate Governance AND
  • Marketing/ Branding OR
  • CEO/ General Management OR
  • IT/ Technology

 

 

Desirable

 

  • Growth Management
  • Risk
  • Restructuring

The trust seeks up to two individuals with extensive and significant experience in the fields of marketing, IT/ technology and/or senior general management to bring depth of knowledge, critical challenge and scrutiny to its board. In addition, the trust seeks an individual with a proven track record in managing a complex organisation through a period of growth and/or change, as well as experience in handling and managing risk.

Experience of leading the restructuring of a medium-sized or large organisation, along with knowledge of the governance expectations and requirements of this is also advantageous.

Experience and willingness to work constructively and effectively with accordance to the ‘Nolan Principles: Standard of Public Life’ are essential.

Candidates should be aware of the following requirements when applying for a role with The Learning for Life Partnership:

  • Directors are required to attend a board meeting every term, held at the trusts offices at Shavington School;
  • Directors will normally be expected to serve on at least one other sub-committee of the board;
  • Directors are occasionally called upon to attend, either in person or by telephone link, ad hoc meetings as required.

  Time commitment

6 hours per month minimum; two meetings per term.

Location of board meetings and trust website LfLP Trust office, Shavington Primary School, Southbank Avenue, Shavington, Crewe CW2 5BP

www.thelearningforlifepartnership.com

Governance structure

https://www.thelearningforlifepartnership.com/members-and-directors

  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 (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 –

Deadline for applications: Friday, 13th September 2019

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