Board Members:

Orchard Academy Trust is seeking new board members. Two roles are being recruited:

1. Chair of Finance,
2. Trustee/ Non-Executive Director.

Board meetings are held at Allington Primary School, Hildenborough Crescent, Maidstone, ME16 0PG and Finance Meetings are held at Barming Primary School, Belmont Close, ME16 9DY.

About the trust

Orchard Academy Trust is a multi-academy trust consisting of two primary schools, each catering to 420 pupils. The trust views its schools as beacons of learning, inspiring self- development and nurturing growth whilst also ensuring pupils enjoy their learning experience. The trust have a strong sense of togetherness, where staff, parents, governors, relatives, and members of the local community pull together to nurture a truly creative and supportive learning environment for all children to thrive and succeed. The trust’s key aim is to encourage children to be healthy and happy, with a keen sense of who they are and where they might go in life. The trust’s lead school, Allington Primary School has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted and has served the local community since 1970. The second school within the trust, Barming Primary School, has not yet been rated by Ofsted having only converted to an academy in 2016.

Orchard Academy Trust has ambitious plans to grow over the next four years. The trust’s main priority has been to consolidate and realise the full benefits of working in partnership to achieve outstanding performance. At the same time, the trust has been putting their growth plan in place, including attracting other primary schools to join the trust, increasing capacity at their current schools to meet demand from parents seeking places at the schools which are oversubscribed. The trust is also planning to submit a proposal to build a new school and is working to open nursery provision. Whilst the trust is ambitious in their plans for future growth, they have a strong desire to maintain their unique family and community feel.

Trust ethos and values

The trust views its schools as beacons of learning, inspiring self-development and nurturing growth whilst also ensuring pupils enjoy their learning experience. The trust have a strong sense of togetherness, where everyone pulls together to nurture a truly creative and supportive learning environment for all children to thrive and succeed.

Role Summary

1. Chair of Finance

Chair the Finance and Premises Committee and act as lead on the audit committee function.

Provide detailed oversight of the trust financial procedures. Monitor the trust financial position together with future budget planning and provide challenge to the trust executive on the trust finances.

The Trust are looking for somebody with experience of Chairing meetings, CFO/Finance and non-executive/trustee experience.  Additionally it would be advantageous if you have experience of: audit, real estate, education and/or risk assessment.

Person specification

1. A commitment to the aims and objectives of Orchard Academy Trust.

2. A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort; 6 hours per month minimum.

3. Strategic Vision.

4. Good, independent judgement.

5. Ability to think creatively.

6. An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.

7. The ability to work effectively as a team member.

8. Financial qualifications and senior experience

9. The skills to analyse proposals and examine their financial consequences.

10. The skills to analyse and challenge budgets.

 

2.Trustee/ Non-Executive Director

Provide oversight of the trust strategic direction and delivery of trust objectives. Monitor performance of the trust and its academies and provide challenge to trust executives. Provide oversight on performance of local governing bodies. Provide oversight on the trust financial performance.

The trust is looking for somebody with experience of governance and  growth management; additional expertise of: Chairing meetings, education, real estate and/or risk assessment would be advantageous.

Person specification

1. A commitment to the aims and objectives of Orchard Academy Trust.

2. A willingness to devote the necessary time and effort, 4 hours per month minimum.

3. Strategic Vision.

4. Good, independent judgement.

5. Ability to think creatively.

6. An understanding and acceptance of the legal duties, responsibilities and liabilities of trusteeship.

7. The ability to work effectively as a team member.

8. The ability to monitor performance and provide challenge to trust executives.

 

 The key challenges for the board over the next 12-24 months are:

1. Maintaining and improving on the high quality of education at Allington Primary School and maintain the school's "outstanding" status. Improving outcomes at Barming Primary School so that the school achieves a "good" rating from Ofsted when it is inspected.
2. The trust is looking to build and maintain a resilient and sustainable operation across the two primary schools. Growth by expanding the existing schools, opening a nursery, encouraging other primary schools to joint and to bid for a new school.
3. To maintain a strong and stable governance structure across the trust and put in place a succession plan so that new governors and trustees appointed now are acting as leaders in the future.

Application

To apply please submit a letter of application together with your CV to the Trust Business Manager, Mrs Smith email tbm@allington.kent.sch.uk.  If you would like any further information or to arrange a visit to the schools please contact Mrs Smith on 01622 757350