Non-executive director/Trustee at Tandridge Learning Trust

Are you seeking an opportunity to give back to local communities by lending your expertise to education? By becoming a non-executive board director at an academy trust, your range of skills and experience could help to improve the life chances of children and help trusts to navigate the challenges they face.

Tandridge Learning Trust in Warlingham, Surrey, seeks to appoint three trustees to the board. Board meetings are held at CR6 9YB when safe to do so.

The Academy Ambassadors programme brings the expertise of the business world onto boards at single-academy and multi-academy trusts (SATs and MATs). Academy trusts exist to improve the outcomes of young people; at the highest levels of governance, they need highly skilled individuals with a variety of experiences to hold executive leadership teams to account. Insights from a wide-range of backgrounds ensure that boards are able to make informed choices on decisions that impact the lives of children and staff.

The Academy Ambassadors Programme is funded by the Department for Education, to match senior business leaders with academy trusts looking to strengthen their boards. By working together, inspirational educationalists and talented business leaders can provide a better future for the next generation.

The opportunity

Tandridge Learning Trust was established in May 2017 and is a strong partnership of five schools. All Ofsted rated Good, that are committed to providing a caring and nurturing learning environment that delivers equity and excellence in education for every child.

The trust is committed to supporting the communities it serves, and to inspiring a lifelong love of learning for everyone. 'Together we work as an innovative learning community, appreciating the significant difference we can achieve by working in partnership. We are proud of our effective network which fosters excellent relationships and creates opportunities for pupils and staff alike to thrive and to learn from one another.'

The trust employs 450 staff across its 5 academies, to support over 2300 learners. The trust has a budget of approx. £14m.

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

• HR or
• Primary Education Leadership

The remaining two trustees will have strategic experience in a combination of the following:

• Education
• IT/Digital Transformation
• HR/Employment
• Estate Management
• Governance
• Safety (Safeguarding, Health and Safety and/or Mental Health and Wellbeing)

Throughout your term of office (typically four years, but this may vary between trusts), you will be an active contributor to key board decisions. Specifically, in the next 12 - 24 months the trust's key focus areas will be:

1. Pupil Achievement Continuing to improve the educational experience and outcomes for all pupils, ensuring no child is left behind.
2. Growth Strategy Growing our group of schools, partnering and networking with others who share our vision and values.
3. A Learning Organisation Developing a trust-wide learning culture which positively impacts our pupils and their families, every staff member, our governors and our trustees.

What's involved?

Board governance in education is a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment which at Tandridge Learning Trust involves attending six board meetings per year, amounting to approximately four 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.

The Academy Ambassadors Programme is committed to supporting boards with inclusive recruitment practices, and we actively encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds.

What next?

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

When you select the option to Apply you will be redirected to the Academy Ambassadors webpage where you will find a full role specification with more details of the opportunity and the trust, including details of how to apply for the position.

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