The Corinium Education Trust aims to improve outcomes for all pupils by developing ways of sharing best practice across its schools. The pupil cohort varies across each of our schools and we are committed to providing an inclusive approach to education, providing opportunities for all pupils to thrive and succeed.

 

The Corinium Education Trust is aware of the challenges schools face and the different experiences of families in the South Cotswolds. Focusing on a defined geographical area helps us make a more coherent provision for families who have children in different phases.  

 

The Trust Board has overseen a £2.2m investment in its estates and facilities over the last two years.  

 

As an inclusive multi-academy trust overseeing a Church School we have a good working relationship with the Diocese of Gloucestershire which is supported by all Trustees.

 

Our plans for the future

 

The Trust Board is looking to recruit three additional non-executive directors/trustees to increase our capacity to fulfil our strategic ambitions and plans for the future:

 

• Improving outcomes - especially within the sponsored primary school. All other schools have been rated as ‘good’ by Ofsted, and SIAMS where appropriate. The board’s ambition is for all schools to be in the top 20% of all performing schools in England over time.
• Developing staff – the Trust uses some in-service days to enable whole staff learning and development. We promote cross MAT peer reviews as well as good practice reviews. The Trust is keen to develop its leadership and talent management programmes to provide clear career pathways which would not otherwise exist in a stand-alone school. This will enable The Corinium Education Trust to attract and retain high quality staff.  
• Sustainability and growth – the Trust aspires to grow to around seven schools over the next two years in line with its focus on values and locality (to facilitate effective collaborative working across schools in the Trust).

 

Our trustees – or non-executive directors – are both charity trustees and company directors of the academy trust. The core functions of their roles 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 oversees 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 and in accordance with Department for Education requirements, all trustee appointments will be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.

 

Every trustee is expected to abide by the Trust’s code of conduct and the seven principles of public life set out by Lord Nolan: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.

 

The Competency Framework for Governance (DfE) 2017 details the knowledge, skills and behaviours required for effective governance.

 

The strategic expertise required for Role 1 includes:  

 

The strategic expertise required for Role 2 includes:  

 

 The strategic expertise required for Role 3 includes:  

 

Time commitment

 

The Corinium Education Trust is an ambitious and growing multi academy trust. The new non-executive directors/trustees will join the board which meets formally six board meetings per year plus appropriate committee and/or time-limited task and finish groups to optimize the use of individual areas of expertise as well as any relevant professional development events/activity.

 

Our registered office address is: Cirencester Deer Park School, Stroud Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1XB. Board meetings rotate around its school locations in Cirencester (6-8pm).

 

The Standards Committee enables cross MAT oversight as part of its local governance arrangements and is chaired by a trustee with educational expertise. The Board also has an Audit Committee which meets four times per year; a Remuneration Committee which meets twice per year plus ad hoc panels and task and finish groups.

 

More information about our Trustees can be found on Who Are We.

 

Background on academy trusts

 

Academy schools, which are charities run independently of local authority control, now account for 74% of state secondary schools and 31% of state primaries – and their number is growing all the time.

 

Many of these schools are grouped together as multi-academy trusts (MATs). There are currently 900 multi academy trusts of 3+ schools. If the schools are to fulfil their potential, the trusts need non-executives (known in charity law as trustees) to bring a wide range of skills and experience to help guide strategy, ensure their ambitions can be soundly financed and keep their schools up to the mark delivering for their pupils.

 

“Boards must be ambitious for all children and young people and infused with a passion for education and a commitment to continuous school improvement that enables the best possible outcomes. Governance must be grounded in reality as defined by both high-quality objective data and a full understanding of the views and needs of pupils/students, staff, parents, carers and local communities. It should be driven by inquisitive, independent minds and through conversations focused on the key strategic issues which are conducted with humility, good judgement, resilience and determination.”   
Source: Governance Handbook, Department for Education (2019)

 

Trusteeship is a voluntary, unpaid role for people who have the energy and skills to make a real contribution to shaping the future of our schools. You do not need to have any specialist knowledge of education.   

 

Applications

 

If you are interested in applying to be one of our trustees, please complete the Corinium Education Trust’s application form and a short expression of interest, detailing which role you are applying for, and send to academyambassadors@newschoolsnetwork.org. Academy Ambassadors is a non-profit programme which recruits senior business leaders and professionals as volunteer non-executive directors onto the boards of multi-academy trusts.

 

Please also read The Corinium Education Trust’s Code of Conduct. Please note: candidates should live within reasonable travelling distance of the trust and/or have a link with the region. For more information, please call Academy Ambassadors on 0207 952 8556 or visit the Academy Ambassadors website. Alternatively contact Chiquita Henson, CEO Corinium Education Trust.

 

Deadline for applications: Tuesday 14 April 2020