Coastal Academies Trust in Kent seeks one non-executive director/trustee with management or corporate governance experience to join its board. Board meetings are held at CT79BL when safe to do so.

The Academy Ambassadors programme brings the expertise of the business world onto boards at multi-academy trusts (MATs) throughout the country to raise standards of education and improve the life chances of young people, which is critical to our social and economic success.

The opportunity

Comprised of four academies clustered in Thanet, Kent, Coastal Academies Trust is in the process of drawing up new 3-5 year strategic plans following the appointment of a new CEO in September 2020. The trust is also discussing the possibility of incorporating and supporting a fifth school in the area, along with consolidating and improving on the current sites.

The trust employs approx. 300 staff to support 3500 pupils across its schools, with a total budget of about £21.5m. The trust serves a varied demographic: two of the schools have over 40% of students supported with Free School Meals (FSM) - an indicator of deprivation - along with over 20% of students studying English as an Additional Language (EAL). The remaining two schools have level in-line or below national averages. Currently two of the schools are Ofsted rated as 'Outstanding', one as 'Good' and the last as 'Requires Improvement'.

'CAT is a multi-academy trust of four schools in Thanet, Kent. We operate as a partnership of equals and a team of Headteachers, taking collective responsibility for all students in the Trust, and sharing practice and challenging each other to constantly improve outcomes for students. We are committed to Thanet because, as a deprived coastal region, it needs a relentless focus on improvement. We are also committed to remaining a small Trust, supporting the development of other MATs in the area, with whom we can collaborate. We also believe that we have a collective responsibility for all children in Thanet and, therefore, we will not seek to promote the interests of CAT schools at the expense of others. Whilst we believe in healthy competition between schools, we will not tolerate any single school in Thanet being allowed to fail - because we know from experience that such failure blights poor communities.'

The board seeks a business leader with board level experience in

• CEO/Managing Director
• Corporate governance
• Non-executive director/Trustee

As a key member of the board you will support the trust in achieving the following over the next 12 - 24 months:

• Growth - The possible incorporation into the trust of a fifth school. A secondary of 850+ pupils, that was rated by Ofsted as Requires Improvement.
• Support - Continue actively supporting Hartsdown Academy, one of the trust's current secondary schools, to ensure financial and academic stability and move it from Requires Improvement to Good or Outstanding.
• Covid-19 Recovery - Assisting all the trust's schools as they move towards functioning normally again as soon as possible.

Future plans

A new CEO took post in September 2020 and the Trust is currently drawing up a new 3-5 year Strategic Plan.

What's involved?

Board governance in education is a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment which typically involves attending c. six board meetings per year/6-8 hours' time per month.

You will be responsible for:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils, and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent

As an Academy Ambassador, you will join our ambassador network which provides resources, guidance, networking events and webinars to support you in your role.

All roles are pro bono.

People from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

What next?

Please register your interest now to be considered for the role.

Please be aware the closing date may change if we have received sufficient applications.