This is an opportunity to contribute to the community within Kent by becoming a Trustee and Academy Ambassador at Our Community Multi Academy Trust. Board meetings are virtually, or in Lynsted, Kent, when safe to do so.

The Academy Ambassadors programme brings the expertise of the business world onto boards at single-academy and multi-academy trusts (SATs and MATs). Academy trusts exist to improve the outcomes of young people. At the highest levels of governance, they need highly skilled individuals with a variety of experiences to hold executive leadership teams to account. Insights from a wide-range of backgrounds, ensure that boards are able to make informed choices on decisions that impact the lives of children and staff.

The Academy Ambassadors Programme is service funded by the Department for Education, to match senior business leaders with academy trusts looking to strengthen their boards. By working together, inspirational educationalists and talented business leaders can provide a better future for the next generation.

The Opportunity

On the 1st June 2021, the Potential in Everyone Academy Trust changed its name to Our Community Multi Academy Trust when six new schools successfully joined, taking the total schools in the trust to ten. All the Trust's schools are based in Kent, with six found in the Sittingbourne area, two on the south and west sides of Canterbury, and the final two schools located in Dymchurch and Lydd. The merger has presented challenges for the Trust, with one of the new schools rated as Inadequate, another rated as Requires Improvement (RI), and two of the new small rural schools having current falling rolls. The trust will remain a Church Majority Trust.

There are 1700 pupils on roll, 280 staff and they are operating with a budget of £10m. The trust aims to promote excellence across all its schools.

The board seeks one business leader with board level experience in:

* PR/Communications
* Branding/Marketing

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:

1 Financial and Resource Management - While the trust's financial position is stable, this has been achieved through reducing provision over time, which has inevitably had an impact upon the schools' work. The ongoing and effective management of resources remains a key issue as does securing funding to improve older buildings and improve facilities, including IT infrastructure and security.
2 Recruitment and Retention - The recruitment, retention and professional development of staff to high quality teaching and learning is an important factor in the trust's future plans. Teacher recruitment is a challenge locally, notably at secondary level.
3 Educational Outcomes - The trust aims to maintain the high quality of pupil's educational outcomes, improving progress at KS2 and KS4 and 'closing gaps' between learner groups.

What's involved?

Board governance in education is a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment which at The De Curci Trust typically involves attending seven board meetings per year, amounting to an expected 2.5 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.

When you select the option to Apply you will be redirected to the Academy Ambassadors webpage where you will find details of how to apply for the position.

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