Board of Trustees, The Frank Field Education Trust (FFET)

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Job description

Board of Trustees

Frank Field Education Trust (FFET)

Location: North-West of England and West Midlands

Join our Board of Trustees

The Frank Field Education Trust (FFET) is a multi-academy trust based in the North-West of England and West Midlands which aims to build on the work of outstanding teachers, leaders and schools within the Trust to serve schools and communities.

The founder of the Trust, The Rt Hon. the Lord Field of Birkenhead, served for almost 40 years as the Member of Parliament for Birkenhead. During this time, Frank has campaigned extensively for social justice and in 2010 wrote "The Foundation Years: preventing poor children becoming poor adults" report, which has become a landmark document regarding the importance of Education and Early Years care in ending disadvantage.

We are looking for trustees to join our Board. Trustees serve as volunteers appointed by the Trust's Members, typically for a four-year term. They play a crucial role in the strategic direction of the Trust, holding legal and strategic accountability. Their responsibilities include establishing the framework within which the chief executive and executive team operate on a daily basis.

What do Trustees do?

Our trustees work together to carry out their core functions:

• ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the performance management of staff
• overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent
• ensuring the voices of stakeholders are heard (as recognised by the National Governance Association (NGA)

Why become a Trustee?

There are many benefits to becoming a trustee:

• Support children and young people in our communities and be part of a team that will make a real difference in their lives;
• Develop your professional skills and experience in areas such as strategic planning, chairing, policy implementation, and teamwork, all of which are valued by employers and can assist your career development and;
• Build relationships and networks with other professionals in the UK.

How to Apply

To apply, please send the following to Bobby Bailey (Marketing and Communications Manager), by email .

• A concise covering letter (no longer than two pages), addressing which role you are interested in and why you would like to become a Trustee and what you would bring to the role.
• An up-to-date CV.
• Names and contact details of two referees (minimum of 1 professional reference to be included. Referees will only be approached at the final stage of the process and only with your express permission).

Boards Strategic Responsibilities

The Trust board works closely with the senior executive leaders who handle the daily operational management of the Trust and its schools, whereas the board's role is to provide strategic direction.

Consequently, trustees are tasked to:

• Develop the Trust's vision and strategy
• Establish a culture of high educational standards, which promotes staff and pupil wellbeing
• Set the Trust's strategic aims and objectives
• Make sure all pupils have access to a broad and balanced curriculum
• Monitor provision for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
• Monitor educational performance of the Trust's academies, using a range of data sources
• Ensure stakeholders (parents, pupils, staff and the local community) are informed and consulted as appropriate
• Approve the budget for the Trust and for academies within the Trust
• Monitor and evaluate the Trust's financial performance
• Approve and review Trust policies, and hold staff to account for their implementation
• Ensure the Trust is compliant with legal requirements, including that all statutory policies and documents are in place
• Make sure the Trust complies with laws that apply to charities and companies, and with its funding agreement
• Carry out the appointment and performance management of the chief executive officer(s)
• Be a source of challenge and support to the chief executive officer(s)
• Monitor and evaluate the Trust's staffing structure(s)
• Monitor health and safety in the academy/across the Trust
• Agree schemes of delegation, outlining the responsibilities delegated to the senior executive leaders and the responsibilities of the board and the local academy governing boards
• Work with those involved in local academy governance, supporting and holding them to account and ensuring effective communication channels are in place.

For further information visit

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