Parent Governor

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust; Paignton; On-site; GBP 100,000 - GBP 125,000; Full time

Job description

About The Role

Join us as a School Governor: Transform lives and shape futures!

Are you ready for a fulfilling role that combines challenge, impact and community engagement? As a School Governor you'll play a pivotal part in shaping the educational landscape in your local community. You will work with school leaders to make a positive change for the students in your school and ensure they are receiving the best of what the trust and schools have to offer.

As a Governor you will:

• Make a real difference: Your insights and experiences matter. Use your unique perspective to inform crucial conversations about education and student well‑being.
• Board‑Level Skills Development: Step into a board‑level environment where you'll hone your leadership, decision‑making and strategic thinking skills. It's a chance to grow both personally and professionally.
• Community Contribution: Give back to your local community by actively participating in the school's development. Your commitment will directly impact pupils, staff and families.
• Support and Challenge: Be the voice that drives positive change. Support the school's growth while constructively challenging it to improve. Your input matters!
• Diverse Perspectives: We value diversity. Bring your unique experiences and insights to decision‑making, ensuring a well‑rounded approach that benefits everyone.

Governing Boards are skills based and cover a wide variety of areas. Whilst it is advantageous, experience in education is not a necessity as you will have the opportunity to learn and develop your knowledge base. The most important attributes we are looking for is a Governor who is dedicated and has time to fulfil the role, is open to learning new things, and most importantly believes in our vision to transform the life chances of young people who attend our school.

Other reasons to consider being a Governor:

• Rewarding Experience: Few roles offer such a sense of fulfilment. Witness the impact of your contributions first hand.
• Professional Growth: Develop skills beyond the classroom. Network with like‑minded professionals and broaden your horizons.
• Community Integration: Become an integral part of the wider community, fostering connections that go beyond the school gates.

About Us

Our School

Lodestar Academy, located in Torbay, is a dynamic and highly regarded institution, dedicated to providing exceptional education for young people aged 11‑18. We believe that every young person, regardless of their background or life challenges, has the potential to succeed. Our mission is to empower those, particularly those facing social, emotional, and mental health challenges, who have been excluded or marginalised from mainstream education.

At Lodestar Academy, we create a safe, nurturing environment for 50 secondary‑aged students who have struggled in traditional school settings. Through a tailored approach that prioritises academic achievement alongside behaviour interventions and therapeutic support, we help our students reintegrate at the same key stage as their peers and open the door to future opportunities in employment and further education.

With a recent Ofsted rating of "Good," Lodestar Academy is recognised for its commitment to the welfare of students and their families. As Ofsted put it, "The welfare of pupils and their families is at the heart of The Lodestar Academy." Join us in helping to unlock the full potential of every student and provide them with the support they deserve.

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is a family of schools consisting of both primary and secondary schools across the South West, South, South East, and East of England.

We believe that every young person in our community deserves to have the best opportunities at life regardless of their individual circumstances. That’s why we invest in our people, so that our staff are best supported to positively impact our pupils.

Learn more about our Vision and Values here.

Next Steps

If you are interested in working at our school, benefiting from a supportive network of colleagues across our Trust, and are keen to progress your career then please apply today!

Early applications are encouraged, and we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a suitable candidate is found.

We strongly encourage anyone who may be interested in working at our school to contact Paula George (Office Manager) [e-mail] to arrange an informal conversation about the role.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check. As per KCSIE we will also undertake online searches for all shortlisted candidates, if you have any questions regarding this process, please email [e-mail].