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Non-executive Director/Trustee at Discovery Educational Trust

Employer
Academy Ambassador
Location
Essex, England
Salary
Voluntary
Closing date
16 Jun 2021

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Could you be an Academy Ambassador in Essex? Discovery Educational Trust seeks three non-executive directors/Trustees to join its board. Board meetings are held at CM13 2HG 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

Discovery Educational Trust, formerly Brentwood Academies Trust, was founded in 2014 when Larchwood Primary, an Ofsted rated Inadequate school, was sponsored by St Martin's School, and has since grown to take on a third school. Larchwood Primary is now Ofsted Outstanding and St Martin's school is rated Good. The final school, Chase High School, is rated as Requires Improvement, and the trust's primary focus is embedding recent changes, and working to improve the Ofsted to Good or better.
The trust's schools serve very diverse communities, reflected in their pupil numbers. The amount of students eligible for Free School Meals (FSM) - an indicator of deprivation - totals 614 pupils but there is a wide range across the 3 schools - 79 (20%), 133 (7.4%) and 402(36%). Similar variations exist for the 457 students identified as having Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND): 30 (8%), 158 (8.77%) and 269 (24%). Lastly, students studying English as an Additional Language (EAL) total 408 are split thusly: 56 (14%), 75 (4.16%), 277 (25%).
The trust has undergone a lot of change recently, taking on a new Executive Headteacher/CEO, 3 new Headteachers, a new Chair of the Board, 50% new Trustees, 3 new Local School Committee Chairs, and an expanded Central Team. Despite this change, the trust is confident in its structures and skills, and ultimately plans to expand further at primary level.

The board seeks three business leaders with board level experience in a combination of the following:

* Stakeholder engagement
* PR/Marketing and Communications
* Risk Management
* Strategic Leadership
* Finance
* HR

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

1 Secure a Good Ofsted grading for Chase High and ensure all three schools are a 'school of choice' within their community.
2 Embed the vision and aims of the trust into the individual schools, including addressing pupil and staff well-being.
3 Communicate the benefits of the trust to stakeholders (and beyond).

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.

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

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