The Academy Ambassadors programme matches leaders who have developed their expertise and specialist skills in business or from the professions onto boards at academy trusts 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

The Spring Partnership Trust is a very community orientated education provider based in Bromley. The trust board has been recognized for the quality of its governance and strategic leadership and seeks two non-executive directors with expertise in either Primary Education Leadership or HR to join their board. The trust has five primary schools with over 2,000 pupils. Board meetings are held in Bromley, BR2 7AL.

The board seeks two leaders with board-level experience in:

• Primary Education Leadership
• Strategic HR

Throughout your term of office (typically 4 years, but this may vary between trusts), you will be an active contributor to key board decisions. Specifically in the next 12 - 24 months, the trust's key focus areas will be:

• School Improvement & Business - To continue their work of integrating their schools into a cohesive whole where there is mutual support and improvement together with benefiting from economies of scale both in terms of being more efficient financially but also in reducing teachers' workloads.
• Business & Leadership - Operationally, the trust outsources HR to an external provider called EPM with oversight by the CFO. The trust has already implemented a workforce review but has yet to review the Central Team and aims to consider how to improve performance management, centralise contracts and refresh associated HR policies.
• Leadership & Outcomes - The trust's governance structure and procedures are constantly evolving to enable the trust Board to take a high-level strategic view whilst also coordinating carefully with the work of Local Academy Councils. LGCs are focused on engaging with and support their local community and families to improve learning at home. During the pandemic, the trust sought to provide families with IT equipment to enable home learning for all pupils. The trust also gained funding to provide summer school in two of its schools for a four-week period. Longer-term, the trust board would like to offer nursery provision in all its schools to engage with parents and pupils early and support their transition into Reception class.

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.

NSN is passionate about supporting boards to ensure an inclusive organisational culture that values the different contributions that each individual brings. We are passionately committed to improving the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives amongst applicants who are considering becoming a trustee within education and openly encourage people from diverse backgrounds 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.