The White Rose Academies Trust
Leeds City Academy - Leeds East Academy - Leeds West Academy - Alder Tree Primary (A voluntary, unpaid role)
Can you drive forward a vision, provide positive criticism and offer challenge for some of the most rapidly improving schools in the country?
If so, The White Rose Academies Trust would like to invite you to apply for the crucial role of a Sponsor/Trust-nominated Governor.
The White Rose Academies Trust is currently seeking exceptional individuals to volunteer as governors for Leeds City Academy, Leeds East Academy, Leeds West Academy and Alder Tree Primary.
Potential Governors should be able to offer a wide range of life experience, be an excellent communicator and most importantly be passionate about education and the future of our region. Experience as a member of Leadership Committees and Groups would be highly beneficial, coupled with a successful and dynamic career history.
Background
In order to achieve our transformational vision, we're seeking outstanding Governors who can support our vision of excellence, by setting detailed aims and objectives for the Trust and its academies.
The White Rose Academies Trust is a local trust dedicated to raising and fulfilling the ambitions of young people. Our academies throughout Leeds are at the heart of the communities they serve, which is why we are committed to delivering an outstanding education to every one of our students.
White Rose Academies Trust is a member of Luminate Education Group. Other members of the group include Harrogate College, Keighley College, Leeds City College and Leeds Conservatoire. The group provides leadership and operational support and advice to all our academies. They also share our vision of creating a truly outstanding Trust.
The Trust currently employs over 500 members of staff and is responsible for educating and developing almost 4,000 students between the ages of 3 to 16. The Trust consists of three secondary schools - Leeds City Academy, Leeds East Academy and Leeds West Academy, and also welcomed its first primary school Alder Tree Primary Academy on 1st December 2020.
The White Rose Academies Trust has two levels of governance, with a Board of Directors having overall responsibility for the strategic direction of the Trust and Local Accountability Boards (LABs) for each Academy.
Local Accountability Boards
The Trust Board has ultimate legal responsibility for all aspects of the work across the academies but will delegate much of the responsibility for education performance, student well-being and staff matters to the LAB.
The LAB will always be chaired by a Director of the Trust and there will usually be at least one other Director. Luminate Education Group will also nominate one senior member of staff to sit on the LAB to provide a direct link between the Group as sponsor and the individual academies.
At the Heart of our Decision Making
The role of a Local Accountability Board is a strategic one; its key functions are to:
Set detailed aims and objectives for the Academies
Set the policies for achieving those aims and objectives
Set the targets for achieving those aims and objectives
Monitor and evaluate the progress the Academy is making towards achievement of its aims and objectives
Be a source of challenge and support to the Academy Principals (a critical friend)
A Governor will be required to:
Always act in the best interests of all the students in the Academy
Have a clear, enhanced DBS check
Adhere to the Code of Conduct adopted by the Local Accountability Board
Undertake a Skills Audit as part of New Local Accountability Board members Induction
Commit sufficient time and energy in order to involve themselves actively in the work of the Local Accountability Board
Make every effort to gain a good understanding of the Academy and staff as appropriate
Develop an effective working relationship with the Principal based on honesty, confidentiality and mutual trust
Develop relationships with stakeholders, such as parents, the Board of Directors, the Local Authority, the local community and other schools
Have a three-year term of office
Join us on our Journey to Outstanding
If you feel you can make an outstanding contribution to our Trust of schools, then our CEO, Mr Whitaker, would like to hear from you.
For consideration, please provide a one/two-page letter of introduction for Mr Andrew Whitaker, outlining:
Why you wish to serve as a Governor at one of our Academies
What particular skills and experience you can bring to the role
An overview of why you are passionate about education in our region
Applications of interest should be sent to Yvonne Hare, Head of Marketing, Communications and Projects, via email at hare.y@whiteroseacademies.org or by mobile on 07906 699942.
Click the link below to be taken to our Governor Person Specification.
