Non-Executive Director

Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust

Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust seeks to appoint two new non-executive directors with skills in risk or HR to its board. Owlcotes Multi Academy Trust (OMAT) was established in March 2018 by two primary schools, Pudsey Primrose Hill and Pudsey Waterloo. OMAT is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) serving a community in West Leeds. It was established with the clear vision and purpose of developing effective collaboration and excellent practice to improve achievement for all its pupils. Board meetings are held in the Stanningley area of West Yorkshire.

About the trust

The trust has grown in its first year following invitation from the Department for Education to sponsor Calverley Parkside, a primary school in the same area. The aim of the trust is to grow steadily with a view to becoming MAT of five primary schools in three years. .  The Board is proud of its prudent financial management and it is in a sound financial position.  OMAT is an outward facing trust and has links with the Noctua Teaching School Alliance. The CEO of the Owlcotes MultiAcademy Trust is a National Leader of Education and a founder member and strategic partner in Noctua. Primrose Hill is also the lead school for Initial Teacher Training in a consortium of approximately 15 schools across Leeds and Bradford.

The trust consists of two primary schools, each with two forms of entry, and a one-form entry primary school; the trust caters for approximately 1200 pupils. All of the schools have school-based nursery classes.

Plans for the future

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

1. To build a strong governance through developing effective trust-wide policies and lines of accountability and compliance at all levels.
2. To grow the trust to increase sustainability whilst maintaining high levels of performance across schools and delivering effective and sustainable improvements to joining schools.
3. To maintain high standards and build on positive outcomes for pupils, as the trust expands, while managing financial challenges.

The aim of the trust is to grow steadily with a view to becoming a MAT of five primary schools in three years and eight primary schools within five years.

Trust ethos & values

OMAT is committed to developing inclusive schools providing excellent education. It strives to develop creativity and aspiration through an enriched curriculum. The trust is committed to the principles of co-operation and collaboration with a strong focus on staff development, whilst maintaining the unique identity of all schools within the trust.

Role summary Number of positions advertised: 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

The competencies required for this role include:

 

Essential

 

• HR or
• Legal/Compliance
• Risk

Desirable

 

• Growth Management
• IT/Technology
• Non-executive Director

 

 

 

 

Role 1 - For this role, the trust seeks someone with skills and experience at a senior level with regards to strategic human resources, with particular focus on succession planning and building a workforce around the strategic vision of an organisation.

Role 2 - The trust seeks an individual with significant leadership experience and a proven track-record of strategic planning and/or oversight. They must be able to interpret educational, legal and financial data, and will have the ability to question and provide challenge.

Time commitment

The Board meets once each half-term (i.e. six times a year) and meetings are generally on Thursdays starting at 12.30. AT the moment the Board does not operate any sub-committees but there has been discussion about possibly introducing these at some stage. There are routine training opportunities together with statutory safeguarding training.  In total it is expected that candidates will need to devote up to 6 hours per month (on average) which would include reading papers etc prior to meetings and training.

Location of board meetings and trust website

Board meetings are held at Pudsey Primrose Hill Primary School, Primrose Hill, Stanningley, LS28 6AB.

www.owlcotesmat.org

Governance structure

https://owlcotes-multi-academy-trust.secure-primarysite.net/governance-documents/

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 –