Trustee at Yorkshire and The Humber Co-operative Learning Trust

Yorkshire and the Humber Co-operative Learning Trust in Hull seeks two non-executives/directors with experience and skills in primary/secondary education, marketing or human resources to join its board. Board meetings are held at The Pavilion, Bishop Alcock Road, Hull, HU5 4QH when safe to do so.

The Academy Ambassadors programme brings the expertise of the business world onto boards at multi-academy trusts (MATs) throughout the country to raise standards of education and improve the life chances of young people, which is critical to our social and economic success.

The opportunity

YHCLT comprises two secondary schools and seven primary schools, in a 5 miles radius. Each school has an individual ethos, strengths and set of challenges. Hull has areas of high deprivation and regeneration: some of the Trust's schools have high numbers of children with English as an additional language and a disproportionately high number of pupils join (or leave) the schools in the middle of a school year. Consequently, mobility is a further challenge the schools face but, nevertheless, the Trust has high expectations for all pupils. The Trust's aim, underpinned by co-operative values and an ethical approach to leadership, is to work in partnership with the community it serves to combat social exclusion and deprivation; to build a sustainable and vibrant community and local economy; and to provide learners with a global perspective helping them to become responsible and articulate citizens in a global economy. YHCLT also includes a Teaching School Alliance for Hull and the East Riding, the Northern Co-operative Teaching Alliance (NCTA). In all, YHCLT comprises nine schools.

The board seeks two business leaders with board level experience in

• Primary/Secondary Education OR
• Marketing OR
• Human Resources

As a key member of the board you will support the trust in achieving the following over the next 12 - 24 months:

1. Recruitment - ensuring the recruitment of the best Staff, Governors and Trustees in a challenging location. There is a real demand in the Trust for specialist teachers. The Trust aims to support recruitment, training and development of staff to ensure the highest levels of teaching provision, career progression and succession planning.
2. Financial - ensuring the Trust does the best for pupils with increasingly challenging budgets. The Trust is in a solid financial position overall. However, it has challenges within some of its schools due to low pupil numbers. Therefore, enhanced marketing/external communications are needed to celebrate what the schools offer and to demonstrate the impact the Trust continues to make.
3. Standards - improving standards each year, and at each school, against a backdrop of below average ability on entry at school; increased mobility of pupils; increased number of countries/ languages of pupils; increased expectations in examinations at age 7, age 11 and age 16, against the backdrop and uncertainties of the pandemic.

Over the medium term, the Trust aims to consolidate and strengthen its current offer - developing and improving internal structures as part of this. The Trust is considering growth but not at the expense of its current schools. Over the longer term, the Trust recognises the need to grow in order to ensure financial viability for all of its schools.

What's involved?

Board governance in education is a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment which typically involves attending c. six board meetings per year/6-8 hours' time per month.

You will be responsible for:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent

As an Academy Ambassador, you will join our ambassador network which provides resources, guidance, networking events and webinars to support you in your role.

All roles are pro bono.

People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

What next?

Please register your interest now to be considered for the role.

A full trust specification is available here: https://www.academyambassadors.org/board-opportunities/yorkshire-and-humber-co-operative-learning-trust

Please be aware the closing date may change if we have received sufficient applications.