We are currently seeking an academy trustee to join the board of Townley Grammar School Trust, a trust with 1 school.
As an academy 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 an academy 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 Townley Academy Trust
Townley Grammar School is an academically selective and socially responsible girls’ school with a co-ed sixth form. Townley is a unique grammar school with significant levels of diversity not represented in our local community. Our diversity derives from a wide catchment area that encompasses a broad range of socio economic backgrounds.
Townley has 1605 students on roll, including 485 students in the Sixth Form. Townley is an ethnically diverse community; approximately three-quarters of the students in both KS3/KS4 and KS5 represent the four largest ethnic groups (Black or Black British – African, White – British, Asian or Asian British. We have…
- 227 staff.
- 1605 students in total.
- 118 with Pupil Premium.
- 113 with SEND.
- 460 who have English as an additional language.
Townley Grammar School is located in Bexleyheath, in Kent, which is close to the boroughs of Greenwich, Lewisham and Bromley as well as bordering Kent. We’re close to both Bexleyheath train station and Abbeywood – which provides access to the Elizabeth Line.
We were awarded Ofsted Outstanding in March 2023, but are always innovating and improving. We have recently come away from a multi-academy trust and centrally managed operations structure. Therefore finance, HR, IT, estates are all areas that are being re-established. As a girls’ school it is our mission and vision to provide a multitude of opportunities for our students that break glass ceilings and outdated gender stereotypes, whilst nurturing active changemakers that can be a force of good on a global platform.
What the trust are looking for
There are potentially 4 vacancies on the trust board. We’re looking for a variety of skills, experience and knowledge spanning across all professions. This can include, but is not limited to, finance, HR, audit and risk, legal, IT, marketing and communications, any STEM related professions (particularly healthcare related, computing, engineering and scientific research), individuals working in Further Education in any field.
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.
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 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/17088
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: