Trustee/Director

SGOSS - Governors for Schools; Bedford; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational charity in the UK is seeking a Trustee to provide strategic leadership and accountability to enhance educational outcomes. Ideal candidates should have experience in inclusion, particularly in SEND. The role involves up to eight hours of commitment per month along with attending board meetings. This is a meaningful opportunity to impact young people's futures while gaining valuable governance experience.

Benefits

Valuable experience in senior decision-making

Opportunity to support career development

Contribute meaningfully to education

Responsibilities

• Contribute to strategic decision-making of the board.
• Ensure clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction.
• Oversee financial performance and effective management of funds.

Skills

Education/Teaching

SEND

Safeguarding

Strategic Leadership

Job description

Growing out of one of the country's first Free Schools - West London Free School - Knowledge Schools Trust is a nine-school academy trust comprising seven primary schools - four of which are rated Outstanding by Ofsted - and two secondary schools. The trust has grown steadily, adding new Free Schools and sponsored converter schools; it took on two schools when Bedford College Academies Trust closed and merged into KST in 2024. The trust's schools thus span West London, Bedford and adjacent areas.

The trust supports 3,850 learners and has 510 staff. Its annual grant income from the DfE is c.£33m.

The trust is recruiting to two roles: the first is in the area of secondary education leadership, while this role requires an individual with knowledge, experience and expertise in Inclusion, preferably in the area of SEND. This individual will have senior experience from an education, charity, health or social service setting and be comfortable with providing challenge to executive leaders in this area. The successful applicant will attend both the Primary and Secondary Education, Curriculum and Outcomes (ECO) committees.

Skills

• Education/Teaching
• SEND
• Safeguarding
• Strategic Leadership
• Type of establishment: Multi-academy trust

What does the role include?

These roles have a dual function – as well as operating as a trustee of the academy trust as a charity, volunteers are classed as Non-Executive Directors, listed on Companies House and subject to company law. You’ll beresponsible for contributing to the strategic decision-making of the board, helping the trust to realise immediate and long-term goals, and ultimately ensuring transparency, accountability and challenge. Board governance in education is considered a strategic, 'eyes on, hands off' commitment, requiring that you give up to eight hours per month of your time – though this can vary depending on the opportunity – and attend up to six meetings across a 12-month period, alongside any additional school visits required by the role.

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding executive leaders to account – both for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the effective and efficient performance management of staff
• Overseeing the organisation’s financial performance and ensuring its funds are directed to the best possible educational outcomes for young people

What are the benefits?

Volunteering on an academy trust board is a meaningful way to shape young people’s futures and strengthen education in your community. Trustees play a vital role in setting strategic direction and holding executive leaders to account — ensuring schools deliver the best outcomes. Alongside making a tangible impact, you’ll gain valuable experience in senior-level decision-making. This is a great opportunity to support your career development, build a non-executive portfolio, and give back to education.

Further information:

You can also find out more public information about the Trust on the Get Information About Schools Page https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/Groups/Group/Details/5271 The following webpage also provide useful information and reading to any potential trustee: https://governorsforschools.org.uk/trs/resources-for-academy-trustees/ If you have any questions before applying, please contact our Trustee Recruitment Team on [e-mail]