Non-Executive Director  - The Pinnacle Learning Trust

Non-executive director/ Trustee role

Could you be an Academy Ambassador in Greater Manchester?  The Pinnacle Learning Trust seeks two non-executives/directors to join its board. Board meetings are held in the Oldham area.

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

The Pinnacle Learning Trust comprises three academies; the trust’s academies serve families from a range of different backgrounds, many are deemed disadvantaged with a high proportion of children from families which speak English as an additional language.

The trust was established in order to build upon a shared belief that young people in Oldham and surrounding area should have access to excellent educational provision and to provide new and additional ways in which the community can further improve on its strengths and provide support to other schools, both within and beyond the trust.

Going forward the board aims to implement a carefully managed trust growth strategy in line with its mission, vision and values and strategic improvement plan. Whilst the trust may appear small, only having three academies, it provides for around 3,900 pupils from the full 3-18 age range: it employs over 400 staff and has a budget of almost £21m.

The board seeks two business leaders with expertise in

• corporate governance and
• business growth, or
• risk and
• audit

The trust welcomes candidates with a range of skills. The suitable individual with a professional understanding of risk will be appointed to the board with a view to becoming the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. 

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

• Securing improvement at Werneth Primary School and ensuring ongoing success at Hathershaw and OSFC
• Securing the trust’s growth strategy whilst managing associated risks.
• Balancing the support and challenge to new senior leaders in the trust’s academies.

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 alumni network which provides resources, guidance, networking events and webinars to support you in your role. All roles are pro bono.

What next?

Please send a copy of your CV and details of your location to us, either through this website or directly to academyambassadors@newschoolsnetwork.org. A full trust specification is available at https://www.academyambassadors.org/board-opportunities.

We strongly recommend applying as early as you can to have the best possible chance of being considered as we may change