GOVERNANCE VACANCY · LEEDS MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST
Trustee at White Rose Academies Trust, Leeds
Help shape the future of 3,600 young people across four Leeds academies. Bring your experience, judgement and commitment to children to our Board.
Commitment
10–15 days a year
Meetings
Weekday evenings, from 5:30pm
Location
Our academies across Leeds
Closing Date
Rolling Applications
Why this role matters.
White Rose Academies Trust is a cross-phase trust of three secondary schools and one primary school in Leeds. Our academies are welcoming, inclusive communities, and many of our pupils come from some of the city's most diverse and disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Our Board makes sure every one of those pupils gets an excellent education. Trustees set the Trust's strategic direction, safeguard public money and hold our executive leaders to account, so that our schools can stay focused on what matters most: the education and wellbeing of our students.
It's a chance to use what you know for the good of your city, alongside a committed group of fellow Trustees and a strong central team.
What you'll do.
Trustees are both charity trustees and company directors. Working together as the Board, you'll focus on strategy, assurance and accountability. Day-to-day running of the Trust sits with our executive team.
Strategic leadership
Shape and review the Trust's vision, values and strategic plan
Weigh up future opportunities, challenges and risks
Champion high aspirations and inclusion for every pupil
Educational quality
Hold leaders to account for standards and pupil outcomes
Monitor performance through agreed reports and measures
Seek assurance that safeguarding is effective across the Trust
Financial stewardship
Ensure public funds are well managed and deliver value for money
Review and approve budgets and significant spending
Protect the Trust's long-term financial sustainability
Governance, compliance and risk
Ensure we meet company law, charity law and the Academy Trust Handbook
Monitor strategic risks and how they're being managed
Uphold integrity, transparency and accountability
People and culture
Support the appointment and appraisal of our Chief Executive
Seek assurance on staff wellbeing and leadership capacity
Champion equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding
Your time
Around 10–15 days a year, covering Board and committee meetings, reading papers, training, and the occasional academy visit or Trust event.
Board meetings usually start at 5:30pm on weekday evenings and rotate between our academies.
Six Board meetings a year, scheduled half-termly.
Who we're looking for.
You don't need to have been a trustee before. If you care about young people and are willing to learn, we'll give you the induction and training to succeed.
We'd love to hear from you if you have:
- A genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people
- A commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion
- The ability to think strategically and make sound, balanced judgements
- The confidence to analyse information, ask good questions and offer constructive challenge
- Strong communication skills and a collaborative approach
- Integrity, discretion and a commitment to the Nolan Principles of Public Life
- The time and willingness to take part in training and Board activity
Who we're looking for.
We value a mix of backgrounds on our Board. Professional expertise in education, finance, law, human resources, estates, technology, communications or business would be especially welcome.
Experience as a governor, non-executive director, charity trustee or board member, or in strategic leadership and change management, is a bonus but not essential.
How to apply.
Read the recruitment pack
It includes a welcome from our Chair, the full role description and person specification, and more about our academies.
Send a short application
Send your expression of interest to Alice Ryan, Governance Manager, at Ryan.a@whiteroseacademies.org. Please include a short statement on why you’d like to join our Board and what you’d bring to it.
We'll be in touch
We review expressions of interest as they are received and may make appointments while vacancies remain available. We therefore encourage you to express your interest at the earliest opportunity.
Ready to make a difference?
Questions you might have.
Do I need to work in education?
No. A Board works best with a range of perspectives, and skills from finance, law, HR, business, technology and many other fields are just as valuable as an education background.
Is this a paid role?
No. Like all academy trustees, our Board members are volunteers who give their time because they believe in what our schools do for young people.
Will I be involved in running the schools?
No. Trustees set direction and provide oversight and challenge. Operational management is the job of our Chief Executive, central team and academy leaders.
What support will I get?
You'll have a full induction, ongoing training and development, and the support of experienced fellow Trustees and our governance team.
