The Olympus Academy Trust
Trustee Vacancy Information
We are currently seeking a trustee to join the board of The Olympus Academy Trust, a trust of 9 schools, with an annual budget of £60m.
As a trustee/director your key responsibilities will be to:
- Ensure clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
- Hold executive leaders to account – both for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
- Oversee the organisation’s financial performance and ensure its funds are directed to the best possible educational outcomes for young people
By volunteering as a trustee/ director you will 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.
About The Olympus Academy Trust
http://www.olympustrust.co.uk/
The Olympus Academy Trust (TOAT) is a thriving and ambitious multi-academy trust based in South Gloucestershire. Founded in 2012 from an all-through Free School, the trust has grown steadily and now comprises nine schools: one all-through school (4–18), three secondary schools (11–19), and five primary schools, some with pre-school provision. All schools are located within a relatively compact geographical area, ensuring a coherent and collaborative working environment.
The trust’s growth journey continues with a new 11–16 secondary Free School, set to open in September 2026. This school will serve a significant new housing development and will grow year-on-year from Year 7 upwards. Ofsted outcomes across the trust are strong. Most schools are rated ‘Good’, and one with elements of ‘Requires Improvement’ was also recognised for areas of strong practice. No school within the trust has been judged ‘Inadequate’. Financially, TOAT is robust, with an annual income of around £60 million and reserves managed in line with DfE guidance.
TOAT currently supports over 6,500 learners and employs more than 850 staff, serving a diverse population including pupils with English as an Additional Language. Two schools host specialist resource bases—one secondary and one primary—supporting students with speech, language, and autism needs through commissioned places from the local authority, with a focus on integration into mainstream education.
Strategically, TOAT is in advanced merger discussions with a large 26 school trust (20 primary, 6 secondary) that serves pupils aged 3–19. The other Trust includes six Church of England schools and is governed as a mixed MAT, with most schools rated ‘Good’ or better. If approved by the Department for Education (DfE) in summer 2025, the merger will create a brand new trust of 36 schools, one of the largest in the South West. This new organisation will operate under a new name and brand, while retaining strong links to the legacy trusts.
TOAT’s Trust Board is composed of professionals with expertise in education, finance, HR, risk, and estates. As part of succession planning, the trust is seeking to recruit a new trustee with expertise in secondary education to join the board and play a vital role through the proposed merger and beyond.
What the trust are looking for
TOAT is seeking to appoint a Trustee with experience in secondary education, ideally someone who has held a senior leadership role across multiple schools. This may include experience within a MAT, a local authority improvement service, or working across schools in areas such as teaching and learning, curriculum development, behaviour, progress, attainment, or staff development. While not essential, an understanding of the current Ofsted Inspection Framework—or experience as an inspector—would be advantageous.
This appointment comes at a pivotal moment for TOAT, with the launch of a new school in 2026 and the potential merger. The successful candidate will be expected to bring educational insight and leadership to the Board during this period of significant change, ensuring that standards remain high and pupil outcomes remain central to decision-making.
The new Trustee would also be expected to specifically contribute to the Education Standards Committee, which meets six times per year, typically on Tuesday mornings at 09:30, and lasts up to two hours. Committee meetings are held in-person at Winterbourne Academy, Bristol (BS36 1JL), with remote attendance available in exceptional circumstances.
In addition, the full Trust Board meets six times per year, generally on Thursday evenings at 17:30, for meetings of up to two hours. Trustees are welcome to be involved in additional committees should they have the desire and capacity to do so.
The trust is committed to effective governance, supported by a professional governance lead and secure access to papers via Google Drive. New trustees receive a thorough induction and are well supported to make a meaningful contribution from the outset.
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join the leadership of a strong, forward-thinking trust on the verge of significant transformation. The newly appointed trustee will not only help to shape the current trust’s educational direction but will have the opportunity to be part of the new trust board post-merger, ensuring continuity and strategic influence across the wider organisation.
While the trust’s immediate need is for a secondary education specialist, candidates with primary experience will be considered if they have worked in school improvement roles spanning the secondary phase—for example, as a CEO, Deputy CEO, or Director of Learning with oversight across both sectors.
What difference will you make?
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
You can also find out more public information about the Trust on the Get Information About Schools Page: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Groups/Group/Details/4095
On this page you will find a link to the Trust’s record on Companies House.
The following documents provide useful information and reading to any potential trustee: