Help Us Ensure Every Pupil Thrives

At The Kite Academy Trust, our governance volunteers play a vital role in helping us achieve our mission: to work as one team, sharing our expertise so every pupil receives an excellent education and an equal opportunity to thrive and succeed in life. Our Members, Trustees and Governors make a real difference to the lives of children and young people across our communities.

We are looking for volunteers from diverse backgrounds who share our belief in our Kite values of positivity, integrity, resilience, respect and aspiration and who are committed to working with us to achieve our vision for every pupil to be happy and healthy; to contribute positively to their communities and achieve academic excellence.

What Governance Involves

Our Members, Trustees and Governors play a key role in providing strategic leadership and accountability. These roles offer critical challenge and support to leadership teams with the ultimate aim of driving up standards and improving life experiences for children.

Governance roles provide an opportunity to develop a range of both new and existing skills while expanding your professional network, either using professional expertise in a specific capacity, or working on softer skills such as team working, leadership or negotiation. As a Member, Trustee or Governor, you will gain a fascinating insight into how schools work and how the education sector is changing and evolving.

Members

Members are akin to the shareholders of a company. They have the ability to appoint Trustees and the right to amend the Trust’s Articles of Association. Their key purpose is to hold the Board of Trustees to account and ensure that the Trust is well run and well managed.

Trustees

The Board of Trustees are responsible for determining the overall strategic direction and development of the Trust through strong governance and clear planning, to ensure that it delivers the best possible outcomes for our children. The Board ensures compliance with the legal and financial requirements under company and charity law, and under agreements made with the Secretary of State for Education. Trustees are responsible for:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding the Trust’s senior leaders to account for educational standards and performance, the safeguarding and wellbeing of our children, and the implementation of the Trust’s vision, ethos and strategic direction.
• Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

Governors

Governors form Hub Board Committees (committees of the Trust Board) to act as a critical friend to our academy leadership and represent the views of the communities that our academies serve. Governors are responsible for monitoring key areas of each academy’s performance – including safeguarding, educational standards and community interaction - and the local implementation of the Trust’s vision, ethos and strategic direction.

Who We’re Looking For

Almost anyone over 18 years of age can become a Member, Trustee or Governor and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. You don’t need to be an education professional or have any particular qualifications - just someone who shares our mission, vision and values and can offer:

• A willingness to learn
• Time for meetings, preparation and training
• The ability to think strategically and ask thoughtful questions
• Passion for improving opportunities for young people

Whether you’re seeking leadership experience or wanting to give back to your local community, governance is a powerful and rewarding way to make a valuable contribution.

Suitability and vetting checks (including an enhanced DBS check) need to take place before you can be appointed, in line with legislation to keep children safe in education. The Kite Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

How to Express Your Interest

We’d love to hear from you. For more information on how to apply, please contact governance@kite.academy