About the trust

The trust is relatively new, with two secondary and one primary school. Its aim is for sensible considered growth that balances opportunity with a drive for quality.

All the schools will include a broad and balanced curriculum and will be inclusive in the range of abilities and talents we aim to nurture and develop. The trust serves comprehensive intakes; its targets for increased progress by disadvantaged pupils right through compulsory schooling to university entrance is its commitment to releasing the potential that is currently being wasted in our local area.
Engaging teaching and strong pastoral care are key to the success of our schools and the Trust.

 The trust provides education to over 2,500 children and employing over 300 members of staff. The current schools in the trust are:

• Red Oaks Primary
• Abbey Park School
• Lydiard Park Academy

The trust currently operates with a budget of approximately £14 million and this is expected to increase as the trust continues to grow. The trust has been working with the Regional Schools Commissioner for the South West and will be finalising its plans for a fourth school to join the trust this term.

Role summary

Number of positions advertised:1

Roles 1- Trustee/Non-Executive Director

Trustees – or non-executive directors - are both charity trustees and company directors of the academy trust. The core functions of their role are: ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction; holding executive leaders to account for the educational and financial performance of a charitable company funded by the public purse.

The board of trustees manages the business of the academy trust and may exercise all the powers of the trust in compliance with its charitable objects, company and charity law.

In the interests of safeguarding, all trustee appointments would be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.

The strategic expertise required for this role includes:

Essential

• CFO/Qualified Accountant

Desirable

• Audit
• Non-executive/ Trustee

Time commitment

6 to 10 hours /month minimum.

The board meets 4x p/a; the Finance and Audit Committee meets 6x p/a and the Education and Standards Committee meets 5x p/a. All meetings run 6-8pm.

Location of board meetings and trust website

Lydiard Park Academy, Grange Park Way, Swindon, SN5 6HN with some rotation around other academies