Are you looking for a challenging and rewarding role where you can make a real difference in children’s lives?

Educate Together Academy Trust is seeking new trustees to join its high-performing board.

The Opportunity

Educate Together Academy Trust (ETAT) is looking for new trustees to join our high performing board. We are looking for individuals who can bring fresh perspectives and ideas and positively challenge our CEO as we look to the future of the Trust and the achievement of our strategic goals.

We are particularly interested in candidates with an Audit & Risk, HR or Financial background, but are open to all backgrounds and experience. More important is an enthusiasm for creating a safe and inspiring environment for our children to learn in this ever-changing world, alongside a strong commitment to our ethos and strategic direction.

Being a trustee is a fantastic way to gain strategic experience, develop and refine your critical thinking, problem solving and analytical skills, and develop your strategic flair and ability to work in a team. It also offers an excellent route for professional development.

Who are ETAT?

We live by the motto ‘no child is an outsider’ and ‘learn together to live together’.

Our schools celebrate diversity and individuality, respecting each child’s identity and that of their family equally. This enables us to nurture the whole child and encourage all children to thrive and excel. Our unique ethical curriculum (taught alongside the national curriculum) and core principles enable us to create a nurturing learning environment where our children develop the skills they need to live as global citizens in the increasingly diverse society in which we live.

We are a Trust with a solid track record and are committed to providing the best possible education for all children regardless of their background. We are an Academy Trust of UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools, promoting and realising children’s rights, and we are committed to being an anti-racist organisation.

ETAT is based in the South West of England, we have five primary schools in Bristol, Bath, Keynsham, Weston-super-Mare and Swindon. Our first school opened in Redfield, Bristol in 2014 and our fifth school, Abbey Farm, opened in September 2022.

What’s involved?

As a trustee, you will have the opportunity to use your skills and experience to help shape the future of our Trust. You will be involved in all aspects of our work, from strategic planning to financial oversight, and will work with a talented and dedicated team passionate about education.

You will be jointly responsible for the general control and management of the administration of the Trust and core governance functions, including:

• Establishing and ensuring a clear vision, ethos and strategic direction

• Holding school leaders and the Executive Team accountable for the educational performance of the Trust’s schools

• Ensuring sound financial management, risk management and compliance to ensure long-term sustainability.

• Managing growth while ensuring systems and processes are fit for purpose, compliant, and scalable.

• Ensuring that educational and inclusion provision support all our children.

The Board meets six times a year, once per school term, as a group (in person when possible) for two hours at our Trust office in Kingswood, Bristol. Meetings may also be held at our schools.

In addition, we have three committees: Finance & Resources, Education Standards and Audit & Risk. Trustees are expected to join at least one committee. These meetings last between 1 and 2 hours and are predominantly held virtually but can be held in person if needed.

There may be ad hoc meetings each year that you are invited to attend, such as the Annual General Meeting of Members, pay panels, recruitment panels, school visits and other trustee meetings and training.

Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, organisations are required to give employees reasonable time off from work to perform public duties, which includes serving as trustees. During an average six-week school term, the time required for meetings is approximately 5 hours plus preparation time. Meetings are rarely held during school holidays.

We recognise that people are busy at home and work, and when scheduling meetings, we make every effort to arrange times to fit everyone’s situation.

We are an inclusive and diverse board, welcoming all ages, demographics and ethnic backgrounds.

All trustee roles are unremunerated (voluntary) but with appropriate expense reimbursement.

The benefits of becoming a trustee

• Make a difference for children and families in how education is considered and delivered.

• Contribute to the sustained success and growth of our school systems.

• Grow professionally and personally.

• Put your experience and expertise to work.

• Be intellectually challenged and learn new skills.

• Expand your network.

• Enjoy working in a supportive team.