Trustee Vacancy Information for Great Learners Trust
The role of the trustee / director
There are now more than 1,150 academy trusts across the country, each of which receives direct government funding and operates alongside a board of trustees. A board is responsible for holding the trust’s executive team to account, delivering strategic leadership, overseeing budgets, and upholding the highest levels of governance. A strong board will possess a diverse blend of individuals, capable of representing the communities they serve. It will also comprise a good mix of professional skills, expertise, and experience from areas such as finance, HR, law, governance, estates and IT. Insights from an array of backgrounds can ensure boards make informed decisions on matters that impact the lives of children and staff.
Governors for Schools has a rich background in matching skilled people to governing board roles across England and Wales. The need to identify strong, independent trustees has never been greater, and we are working to match those who want to offer their time, knowledge and acumen with volunteering opportunities.
The GfS team assesses each volunteer’s background, skills, and experience, and identifies suitable openings on academy trusts boards.
What do trustees do?
These roles have a dual function – as well as operating as a trustee of the academy trust as a charity, volunteers are classed as Non-Executive Directors, listed on Companies House and subject to company law. You’ll be responsible for contributing to the strategic decision-making of the board, helping the trust to realise immediate and long-term goals, and ultimately ensuring transparency, accountability and, challenge.
From large national trusts to small community-based trusts, you can work with our regional experts to find a suitable match.
Board governance in education is considered a strategic, “eyes on, hands off” commitment, requiring that you give up to eight hours per month of your time and attend up to six meetings across a 12-month period.
The key functions of the board are
- Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Holding executive leaders to account – both for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Overseeing the organisation’s financial performance and ensuring its funds are directed to the best possible educational outcomes for young people
About Great Learners Trust
| Number of Schools: | 11 |
| Meetings held at: | Varies but within 10 miles of HP16 0AZ (Great Missenden Church of England Combined School).
Committee meetings are remote. |
| Website: | https://www.greatlearnerstrust.co.uk/
https://www.greatlearnerstrust.co.uk/our-local-governing-boards/ https://www.greatlearnerstrust.co.uk/vision-and-aims/ |
| Frequency of board meetings: | 6 x Full board per year 18:00 – 20:00Trustees are only expected to sit on one committee depending on their expertise. Personnel Committee x 3 per year |
| Annual Budget: | £13m |
The Great Learners Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) based in Buckinghamshire, comprises 11 primary schools and serves nearly 3,000 pupils. The Trust is seeking an Educationalist to join their board in guiding the Trust through its next exciting phase of development. The Trust comprises seven primary schools, one infant school, and three junior schools, and is a mixed MAT meaning that it has both Church of England schools as well as community (secular) schools.
After the retirement of the founding CEO, a new CEO was appointed who has a strong track record for driving standards and outcomes. The Trust is now looking to further develop the Trust’s medium- and long-term strategic plans and drive forward a renewed ‘GLT Brand’. Trustees, Governors and staff are passionate about the Trust’s redefined Scheme of Delegation and refreshed vision and values. The Trust is currently undergoing a review of governance (Autumn 2024) to further develop and strengthen strategic operations within the Trust. The Trust has made a strong appointment to the role of CFO who is new to the Trust in September 2024 and they, alongside the CEO, are keen that the Board drive forward a strategic plan to further develop central operations and support to further increase impact for all the Trust’s pupils and staff.
The Trust has two ASD (Autism Spectrum Diagnosis) provisions set across two of its schools and serves some communities with high levels of EAL (English as an Additional Language). The Trust faces some challenges with there being an increase in families moving to the area and sending their children to private education, however the Trust is passionate about the mission to inspire and empower all and is now looking to be ‘Brave, Bold, and Ambitious’ in plans. The Trust is currently leading the way on DfE Digital Strategy and has a number of ongoing initiatives to support pupils’ wider development such as their school bank initiative which teaches students valuable financial literacy skills, promoting responsible money management and savings habits from an early age.
What the trust are looking for
Great Learners Trust is looking for an experienced Educationalist to join, the Board and help bring their strategic vision to life. The ideal candidate will have strategic leadership experience within the MAT sector or working in a strategic capacity with a large number of schools.
Trust Board meetings are held six times a year, typically running 6pm-8pm. Times for the 2024-2025 academic year are open to review in consultation with the Board but will likely remain broadly the same/similar.
Board meetings are planned in advance and are usually held on Wednesdays. Board meetings are held face to face though remote options are available to Trustees in exceptional circumstances. There are also three sub-committees: Education Standards, Finance Audit & Risk, and Personnel. These committees each meet three times a year and also meet 6pm-8pm. Most Trustees sit on 1 committee and committee meetings tend to occur 1-2 weeks before the Trust Board meeting.
Induction for the new trustee will be developed based on the candidate’s previous experience. The Trust Board also has access to NGA (National Governance Association), Confederation of School Trusts (CST) and Bucks Education Partnership to support its governance. Candidates will also receive access to ‘The First 100 Days as a Trustee’ immersive eLearning, through Governors for Schools (developed in partnership with CST).
What difference will you make? What’s in it for the volunteer?
Volunteering on an academy trust board is deeply rewarding as it allows you to impact the life chances of young people. Academy trusts support schools to give children a better future. For young people to have the best possible opportunities in later life, it’s vital we have individuals with the right expertise leading schools and holding executive teams accountable. Becoming a trustee is a fantastic opportunity to give back to your local community by strengthening education.
As well as looking for new opportunities to give something back to society, you may be looking for opportunities to build your experience in strategic decision-making at senior level or demonstrate your ability to perform in a non-executive position as part of a portfolio career.
All roles are pro bono.
People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Governing boards should represent the communities they serve, as well as wider society. We welcome interest from underrepresented groups to ensure academy trust boards are diverse in background, skillset, and thought.
Diversity is a powerful instrument for effective governance. Trustees are required to make choices that impact the daily lives of children, from school finance all the way through to staff and pupil recruitment. It’s essential that boards possess a broad set of beliefs, experiences, and ideas to inform their final judgements. We believe that true representation at board level enables all children to fulfil their potential.
Further Information
We strongly recommend that you review information about the trust both via their website, and also on Companies House, Get Information About Schools and the Schools Financial Benchmarking Service.