Trustee/Non-executive director at Cleves Cross Learning Trust

This is an opportunity to contribute to the community within Durham by becoming a Trustee and Academy Ambassador at Cleves Cross Learning Trust. Board meetings are held at Cleves Cross Primary School, Ferryhill, Durham 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

Cleves Cross Learning Trust (CCLT) is a multi-academy trust (MAT) established in November 2013; the trust currently comprises two primary schools - Cleves Cross Primary School and Rosa Street Primary School.

The conversion to academy status, initially by Cleves Cross Primary School, opened up greater opportunities for decision making and budget management to enhance provision for the school. As an outstanding primary school, academy status allowed Cleves Cross to be ready to sponsor and support schools in its community that were facing challenging circumstances. In September 2014, Rosa Street Primary School joined Cleves Cross Learning Trust as a sponsored academy. Having undergone an Ofsted inspection in June 2017, Rosa Street was adjudged to have made significant progress, having previously been in 'Special Measures' the school is now expecting Ofsted Good.

In 2016, Cleves Cross Primary enhanced and expanded capacity through the addition of a 52-place nursery. Plans are in-hand to add a nursery at Rosa Street to open from September 2022. The trust is now looking to grow in size with further primary schools joining the trust either via the sponsor route or by chosen conversion, and is actively engaged with the DfE System Leadership and leadership support partnerships, to build local school alliances.

The trust has an annual budget of c.£1.8m and around 420 pupils on roll, with 48 staff across its sites.

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

• Business Development and
• HR (including staffing/performance management) and
• Primary Education

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. Sustainability - CCLT recognises the need to expand the Trust to ensure it remains strong enough and effective enough to support pupils fully. The board aim to grow by welcoming like-minded primary schools to the trust family;
2. Maintain and expand pupils currently attending all schools and therefore secure future funding and quality of education for children and communities;
3. Develop and strengthen the trust board to enable trustees to provide the challenge and support needed in an expanding MAT.

What's involved?

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