Non-executive director X 2

LEO Academy Trust

LEO Academy Trust based in Sutton, Surrey seeks two non-executive directors with finance, business development skills to join its board. The trust has ambitious plans to grow and is looking to double in size. The strategy of the trust is to develop as a Primary Specialist Trust, with small hubs of schools consisting of a mixed economy of good and outstanding schools and schools requiring support. Board meetings are held at Cheam Common Junior Academy, Kingsmead Avenue, Worcester Park, KT4 8UT. Although there are plans to hold future meetings at other LEO academies within the London Borough of Sutton

About the trust

LEO Academy Trust, established in 2015 is comprised of six primary schools, all based in the London Borough of Sutton. We provide education to over 3,500 pupils and employ 500+ staff across our seven sites. We are discussion with a number of schools about them joining the trust.

LEO Academy Trust is passionate about supporting other schools to help improve outcomes for their pupils and to drive performance across the wider school system. All academies within the trust retain their own individuality but work together to share best practice in teaching and learning that guides all pupils to fulfil their potential. We believe collaboration is key by by staff and pupils.

Trust ethos & values

All trust academies subscribe to the LEO Guarantee – a set of agreed values, principles and protocols designed to ensure its pupils, staff and academy communities benefit from excellent teaching, learning, leadership and never ending opportunities.

Plans for the Future

The main focus for the trust will be ensuring managed and  successful growth over the next three to five years whilst maintaining financial stability and performance. The key challenges for the board over the next 12-24 months are:

1. To sustain growth to ensure financial stability.
2. Consolidate the trust board and local governing bodies by developing expertise in the areas of business, commerce and marketing.
3. Development of the business side of the trust by providing guidance to the Chief Finance Officer and the Chief Operator Officer enabling them to support the growth and the challenges faced by a rapidly expanding business.

Role Summary

Number of Positions Advertised: 

2

Role 1– Trustee/Non-Executive Director Essential

 

• Entrepreneur/Founder
• Business Development

 

 

Desirable

 

• Strategic
• Fundraising

 

 

 

 

      Role 2– Trustee/Non-Executive Director Essential

 

• Financial Management
• Growth Management

Desirable

 

• Change management
• Strategic
• Six Sigma
• procurement expertise

      Person specification

Leadership & Commitment

• Understand and accept the duties and liabilities of being a charity Trustee
• Empathy with the vision, mission and aims of the LEO Academy Trust
• A willingness and ability to devote the necessary time and effort

Focus & Organisation

• Apply knowledge strategically
• Think creatively
• Keep mission-focused
• Analyse and evaluate management information and other evidence
• Willingness to listen and learn

Communication & team working

• Communicate clearly and sensitively and to take an active part in discussions
• Influence and engage
• Work effectively as part of a team
• Willing to express own opinion in a reasoned way, while also listening to the views of others
• Able to challenge constructively and ask questions appropriately

Management & Accountability

• Strategic leadership and management within a medium sized or large organisation (budget or annual turnover above £10 million pa)
• Trusteeship or similar role in a similar size or larger organisation, together with implementation of best practice in corporate governance
• Exercise sound and independent judgment
• Willingness to make and stand by collective decisions, including those which may be unpopular
• A fair and inclusive approach
• Manage difficult and/or challenging situations
• Maintain confidentiality on confidential and/or sensitive information
• Specialist Knowledge

  Time commitment

The time commitment is usually from about 8-10 hours per month, comprising one or two meetings per term plus preparation, ideally we are looking for commitment of closer to 2 days per month or more.

Trust Website

www.leoacademytrust.co.uk

Governance Structure

Details of the trust’s governance structure can be found here.

Background on academy trusts

Academy schools, which are charities run independently of local authority control, now account for 74% of secondary schools and 31% of primaries – and their number is growing all the time.

Many of these schools are grouped together as multi-academy trusts (MATs). There are currently 775 multi academy trusts of 3+ schools. If the schools are to fulfil their potential, the trusts need non-executives (known in charity law as trustees) to bring a wide range of skills and experience to help guide strategy, ensure their ambitions can be soundly financed and keep their schools up to the mark delivering for their pupils.

“Academy boards must be ambitious for all children and young people and infused with a passion for education and a commitment to continuous school improvement that enables the best possible outcomes. Governance must be grounded in reality as defined by both high-quality objective data and a full understanding of the views and needs of pupils/students, staff, parents, carers and local communities. It should be driven by inquisitive, independent minds and through conversations focused on the key strategic issues which are conducted with humility, good judgement, resilience and determination.” 
Source: Governance Handbook, Department for Education (2017)

Trusteeship is a voluntary, unpaid role for people who have the energy and skills to make a real contribution to shaping the future of our schools. You do not need to have any specialist knowledge of education. 

Applications

Academy Ambassadors is a non-profit programme which recruits senior business leaders and professionals as volunteer non-executive directors onto the boards of multi-academy trusts. If you are interested in applying for the role please send your CV and a short expression of interest detailing which role you are applying for to academyambassadors@newschoolsnetwork.org. Please note: candidates should live within reasonable travelling distance of the trust and/or have a link with the region. For more information, please call 0207 952 8556 or visit www.academyambassadors.org.

Key dates

We strongly recommend applying as early as you can to have the best possible chance of being considered as we may change the closing date if we have received sufficient applications. Applicants should be aware of the following key dates in the recruitment process –

Deadline for applications: 2^nd August 2019