Non-Executive Directors at Enlighten Learning Trust

The Academy Ambassadors programme brings the expertise of the business world onto boards at single-academy and multi-academy trusts (SATs and 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

Enlighten Learning Trust is a Church of England Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) in Surrey with an inclusive and collaborative ethos welcoming both community and church schools into its family. The Enlighten Learning Trust comprises of two schools, one primary and one secondary, with a total of 1500 pupils and 200 staff and an annual budget of £8.7m; both schools were graded 'Good' by Ofsted. ELT has an ambitious Growth Plan, supported by both the Diocese and Regional Schools Commissioner, and will seek to grow to around ten schools by 2025. Board meetings will be held virtually or in Surrey, KT11 2AX when safe to do so. Applicants of all faiths and of none are welcomed.

The board seeks four business leaders with board level experience in:

* CFO/ Finance Director OR
* Qualified lawyer OR
* Growth Management OR
* HR (including staffing/performance management)

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

1 Academy Effectiveness - Support excellent standards of teaching and learning. Implement a CPD programme for their Academies to ensure that their staff have the right skills to further raise standards, deliver good teaching and learning, and disseminate good practice to ensure rapid improvement. During Covid the trust coped well with the rapidly changing requirements and good IT systems helped to enhance online learning. Implementation of the recovery curriculum is helping to ensure that pupils catch up any identified loss in learning.
2 Growth - Develop a network of schools across primary and secondary phases who work together to champion children. Growth needs to be at a measured pace to ensure each existing school has solid support to maintain their strengths and improve along with joining schools.
3 Central Services - Grow and build a strong infrastructure in the MAT to support the drive for every ELT academy to be an exceptional school. Ensure that the trust has business arrangements that are efficient and effective to enable it to deliver on its commitments to grow, prosper and deliver value for money across all of their operations.



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.