Business leaders shaping the future for the next generation.
Academies are changing education by giving schools greater autonomy. That change needs leadership and academy trust boards across the country want senior business people and professionals to join them as pro bono non-executive directors or trustees.
Read our brochure to find out how you can begin using your expertise to improve academies across England.
What is an Academy?
An academy is a state funded school that is run by an independent charitable trust. Academies are directly funded by the Department for Education and have control over their own finances.
Academies have more freedom over the curriculum, length of school day and pay and conditions for staff than local authority maintained schools. Many of these schools are grouped together within multi-academy trusts (MATs).
What is the role of a Non-Executive Director at an Academy Trust?
Trust boards across England are looking for high-calibre people ready to shape the future of their schools who can:
- Provide strategic advice, including strategies for business growth or consolidation.
- Give robust independent challenge to school leaders.
- Dedicate around four to eight hours per month (four to twelve Board/Committee meetings per year).
- Challenge the Chief Executive, Financial Director and others to ensure that education and pastoral standards in schools rise quickly and that academy groups deliver value for money.
- Improve financial stewardship of large multiacademy trusts with budgets in excess of £10m to £150m+/year
What are the Rewards?
Many outstanding business leaders are choosing to become trust board non-executives. They gain huge satisfaction from building thriving new trusts; turning round failing schools and unleashing innovation in free schools. A role with an academy trust can offer a new challenge whether you have retired from full time work or are looking for continuing professional development opportunities. It provides valuable experience of a different challenge for those developing their board career. As academies are covered by both company and charity law the role offers a unique opportunity to develop leadership skills relevant to both private and third sector. You will therefore be gaining experience both as a ‘Non-Executive Director’ and a ‘Trustee.
Your Leadership skills can be used to directly improve the education of young people.
How do you get involved?
- Express your interest to Academy Ambassadors – send your CV including contact details and your preferred location to [email protected] or call 020 7952 8475.
- Brief Academy Ambassadors about the type of trust that would fit your skills, location and interest. We will also invite you to join our LinkedIn group which hosts all our available opportunities.
- Review potential trust matches. Since we only make introductions when location, skillset, ethos and objectives are compatible, the matching process can take a matter of weeks or it could take a number of months.
- Meet the team at the trust and decide if the match could work in principle.
- Go forward for interview
- Connect: As a Non-Executive Director you join the Academy Ambassadors alumni; a network of senior business leaders, including CEOs and professional partners who share their experiences through events, mentoring and online.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.