We are currently seeking a trustee to join the board of Creating Tomorrow Multi Academy Trust, a trust of six schools, with an annual budget of £18m.
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 Creating Tomorrow Multi Academy Trust
Creating Tomorrow Multi-Academy Trust consists of six special schools covering full 4-19 age range, in addition to a separate college (Creating Tomorrow College) which is deemed a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trust which caters for SEND (special educational needs and disability) young adults aged 18-25. The Trust has two ‘Outstanding’ schools and three ‘Good’ schools with another, a new free school, awaiting its first inspection.
The schools of the Trust have different specialisms with some catering for those with autism, dyslexia and other moderate learning difficulties while others cater for pupils that have profound and multiple learning difficulties including some with life limiting conditions. Some schools also provide for those with Social Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs including children that have experienced childhood trauma.
The Trust is in the process of expanding through new building programmes and expansions to provide more capacity to take more children. This means some schools will almost double in size. A site in Lutterworth is already identified to open in 2024 with others in the pipeline for 2025.
The Trust has approximately 800 students in total and 500 members of staff; all schools are currently oversubscribed. The Trust’s current annual budget is c.£18m but likely to expand to c.£30m within two years.
Creating Tomorrow College is shortly due to expand from two to three campuses, with the aim of expanding the number of pupils it can support into employment. The Trust has strong relationships with the Local Authorities (North and West Northamptonshire and Luton).
The Trust is looking to focus on the following priorities going forward:
- Strengthen governance and leadership
- Trust maturity & growth
- Financial Sustainability
The Trust’s requirements
Creating Tomorrow Multi-Academy Trust is looking to recruit Members to the Trust.
Ideal candidates will strongly align with the Trust’s values and ethos and will have have executive/senior level leadership experience in their sector. The Trust would particularly welcome applications from people with a background in HR, Finance, Community Engagement, Strategic planning, or SEND. The Trust provides an opportunity to make a tangible contribution to ensuring that every child is successful irrespective of their learning needs by working with a small, agile executive team who work to ensure that there is a relentless focus on students, staff and their families at the heart of everything within the Trust and its schools.
The commitment:
• Trustees meet as a full board four times a year (Sept, Dec, Mar, July) – meetings are held on Thursdays at 5pm and run for up to two hours. The Trust also has a Board Strategy Day, usually in May, to look at longer-term planning and strategy.
• The Board also has three committees: Business (which also looks at finance), Education Standards and Audit & Risk. Each Committee meets three times a year (Oct, Feb, May). Committees are usually held via video (Zoom/Teams) and start at 4pm.
• The Member role is akin to that of the shareholder – Members hold the Trust Board to account, receive the annual audited accounts and have the power the appoint and remove trustees, as well as amending the Trust’s Articles of Association. Members are required to meet up to three times a year. One meeting (the AGM) is ideally face to face but others may be online to update Members with Trust progress. Meeting times are arranged to suit the Members.
All new Trustees/Members will be provided a bespoke induction package from the Trust’s Governance Lead to suit each person’s experience. Access is provided to online learning materials as well as face-to-face courses via the National Governance Association or Confederation of School Trusts (fees are covered by the Trust).
The Trust is in the process of restructuring its governance arrangements and thus this is an ideal opportunity for someone to help shape the future of the trust to provide support to many vulnerable young people as well as oversee its expansion as the trust plays a key role in developing provision for young people for 4-25 in the region.
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.
Useful information – about the trust
Trust website: https://www.creatingtomorrowmat.co.uk/
Companies House information: https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/09392862
Get Information About Schools: https://www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Groups/Group/Details/16772
Useful information – academy trust governance
Academy Trust Handbook: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64a52424c531eb000c64fe78/ATH_2023_FINAL_040723__digital__tracking_off.pdf
Academy trust governance guide – https://www.gov.uk/guidance/-governance-in-academy-trusts