Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust Governor in Birmingham

Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust are offering an opportunity for the right people to make a real difference to the outcomes and life chances of young people in Birmingham and Solihull. This is an opportunity to give something back to the local community and use and develop your own skills in a board-level environment. We need individuals willing to commit some of their time and apply their skills and experience to be a Governor within Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust.

We serve students from a wide range of backgrounds including some in challenging circumstances. We have much higher than average proportions of students from disadvantaged homes and with special educational needs. We firmly believe that every student has the right to realise their full potential, and to do that they need to experience a high-quality education in a supportive environment to help them achieve their career aspirations and live their lives to the full.

We are seeking to appoint a number of Governors with a range of skills including education, finance, human resources, risk management, health and safety, and estates.

Key elements of being a Governor include:

• Holding leaders to account for the school’s performance and delivery of annual improvement plans
• Overseeing the operational activity of the school

The role of a Governor can be challenging but it can be hugely rewarding too. It will give the individual the chance to make a real difference to young people, give something back to their local community, and use and develop their own skills in a board-level environment.

It can help you to:

• Develop broader skills such as leadership and accountability, influencing and decision making
• Experience and gain insight into a complex organisation in another sector, including the inter-relationship of all functions (HR, Finance, estates)
• Understand a different perspective through experiencing an environment very different from their day-to-day work

Commitment:

• Attend up to 5 Academy Governing Body Meetings per annum
• Undertake training, school visits (Ideally 3 half days a year), supporting school activities and ad hoc panels
• Circa 50 hours per annum including meeting preparation, ad hoc meetings and school visits

Responsibilities:

• Scrutinise the impact of expenditure of the budget allocated to the Academy by Directors
• Carry out the Trust’s vision, policies and priorities
• Scrutinise the academic performance of the academy as defined by the Trust Board
• Support the Trust Board and its committees in relation to the impact of additional funding (Pupil Premium, Catch-up and Sports Premium)
• Advise and act as a critical friend to the Principal and advise the Trust Board about local issues they need to consider
• Represent the interests of the Academy community in the running of the Academy and to represent the Academy in its community
• Provide support to the Principal in undertaking appropriate day-to-day procedures that are essential to the life of the Academy
• Ensure the academy operates within the ethos, values and mission of the Trust
• Expectation that Governors will be available to support Behaviour Panels and PX hearings.

Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

Skills and Personal Qualities:

• Commitment to the mission, vision and values of the Trust essential
• Commitment to the education and welfare of all our children, pupils and students essential
• Commitment to equal opportunities, inclusion and the promotion of diversity essential
• Independence of thought and sound judgment essential
• Ability to work as part of a team essential
• Commitment to seeking and taking account of the views of stakeholders essential
• Willingness to devote time, enthusiasm and effort to Associate responsibilities essential
• Willingness to make and stand by collective decisions as an Association essential
• Ability to evaluate and interpret management information and other data/evidence essential
• Ability to remain impartial and to maintain confidentiality essential

Fairfax Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references. Following the update of KCSIE 2023 Fairfax Multi Academy Trust will now carry out online checks of all appointments. Fairfax Multi Academy Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.