Improving the life chances of young people, particularly the disadvantaged, is critical to the UK’s social and economic success. The objective of the academies programme is to change education in England for the better by raising standards. As multi-academy trusts (MATs) grow and develop in pursuit of this objective, they face significant challenges. The skills and experience of business leaders can help these trusts and their pupils succeed.

We have selected some current roles to highlight to you that we believe are an excellent opportunity for those seeking their first Non-Exec Board opportunity.  A diverse range of board-level skills is required to oversee the complexity of multi-academy trust governance. The trust will seek to use your skills and experiences together with those of other board members to build a fully-rounded board. All positions recruited through Academy Ambassadors are pro bono and therefore not remunerated.

St Barnabas Multi Academy Trust based around the Cornish town of Liskeard seeks a new Chair and non-executive director. With six rural schools, four of which are Ofsted ‘Require Improvement’, there is a deeply rewarding task ahead for a new Chair. Create Partnership Trust in Birmingham also seeks a new Chair of the Board as it prepares for future growth beyond the current 2,600 pupils and almost 400 staff.

For those looking for a challenging role with real social impact, South Pennine Academies (SPA) which meets in Huddersfield is recruiting four new board members. All 12 schools and nurseries in this rapidly growing trust serve areas of significant disadvantage and there is a history of poor quality education to turn-round.

Other large-scale roles with significant opportunity to have impact include The Enquire Learning Trust which operates 29 academies in three hubs across the north of England. Board meetings are held in Wakefield and the trust seeks people with demonstrable skills in the areas of finance and HR to join its board. Unity Schools Partnership is one of the largest trust in the East of England, led by a highly regarded CEO. Meeting in Haverhill, Suffolk, the trust currently oversees the education of 10,300 pupils and employs 1400 staff with an annual budget of just over £50 million. Bradford Diocesan Academies Trust (BDAT) is another large cross-phase Church of England multi-academy trust with 17 academies due to refresh their board with new members. All seek board members with business skills and experience in education is not required.

Thinking Schools Academy Trust in Chatham, Kent is recruiting a specific Chair of HR NED to work as part of the board developing trust of 16 schools in Portsmouth and in Kent and Medway.

Lime Trust, which meets in Central London, has schools across London and Peterborough and over 1,800 pupils. Changes to the board and capacity development has opened up four non-executive to support ambitious plans to grow.

Solent Academies Trust is a very different opportunity. Based in Portsmouth this trust specialises in Special Educational Needs (SEN), catering for pupils with a wide range of complex needs from 2 to 19 years old.

For more information or to register with Academy Ambassadors:

Tel: 0207 952 8556 |

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |

Address: Academy Ambassadors, New Schools Network, 8th floor, Westminster Tower, 3 Albert Embankment, SE1 7SP

Please do let them know that you heard about them through First Flight!

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