School Governor (community or co-opted)

Governor Role Description

Beacon Local Governing Body: Beal High School, The Forest Academy, BBIH and Busy Beacons Nursery

Role

Governor (community or co\-opted), Beacon Local Governing Body

Responsible to

Chair of the Local Governing Body

Supported by

Governance Professional (Clerk to the Governing Body)

Role type

Voluntary

Term of office

Four years (renewable)

Time commitment

Four LGB meetings a year, plus school and nursery visits, training and occasional panels

Location

Redbridge, East London

About Beacon Multi\-Academy Trust

Beacon Multi\-Academy Trust (BMAT) is a medium\-sized multi\-academy trust in Redbridge, East London, with over 3,500 students and 460 staff. Our mission is to raise standards in education and ensure that every young person reaches their full potential. Our schools are at the heart of the communities they serve, combining high expectations with high\-quality teaching and inclusive practice.

The Trust includes:

• Beal High School is a mixed community comprehensive for students aged 11\-18 and one of the largest secondary schools in England, with over 2,700 students (900 of them in the Sixth Form) and an ASD additionally resourced provision.


• The Forest Academy (TFA) is an 11\-16 secondary school with a co\-located sixth form and an ASD additionally resourced provision.


• BBIH (Beacon Business Innovation Hub) is an alternative provision free school for 12\-19 year olds, offering academic and vocational courses.


• NELTA SCITT is our teacher training provision, offering QTS, PGCE and Teacher Degree Apprenticeship routes.


• Busy Beacons Nursery is a forest\-setting nursery on the Beal High School campus for babies and young children up to school age. It is owned by Beacon Education Services Trading Ltd (BEST), the Trust’s trading company, and the Trust is its Ofsted registered person.

The Board of Trustees is accountable for the Trust as a whole. It is supported by three standing committees (Standards \& Effectiveness, Finance \& Risk, and Pay \& Personnel), with an Appeals Committee convened when required.

We have recently brought our separate Local Governing Bodies together into one combined Local Governing Body, the Beacon LGB, which covers every school in the Trust. The LGB has delegated power from the Board to monitor, evaluate and challenge the performance of our schools at an operational level. A nominated Trustee attends LGB meetings to provide support and challenge, linking the LGB to the Board.

The LGB brings together community, co\-opted, parent and staff governors, specialist governors for SEND and early years, and ex officio members including the Trust’s CEO and CFOO and the leaders of each school. Membership is agreed annually by the Board, informed by a skills audit.

We want our governors to be more closely involved with Busy Beacons Nursery. The LGB will receive regular updates on the nursery, and governors will be encouraged to visit and to offer the same support and challenge to the nursery’s leadership as they do in our schools.

Purpose of the role

Governors act as a critical friend to school leaders. Working as part of a team, you will help make sure that every child and young person at our schools and nursery receives a high\-quality education in a safe, inclusive environment, by monitoring performance, asking searching questions and supporting leaders to keep improving. Governors do not manage the schools or nursery day to day; your role is to provide oversight, challenge and support.

Key responsibilities

Standards and school improvement

• Review pupil progress, projected grades, targets and academic results


• Scrutinise each school’s improvement plan and the quality of teaching


• Review the aims of each school and progress against the Trust’s five\-year strategic plan


• Ensure every learner receives the full statutory curriculum, including religious education and relationships and sex education

• Receive and question the safeguarding report at every meeting


• Monitor provision for students with SEND and the impact of the Trust’s Behaviour and Attendance Policy


• Promote student welfare, equality and diversity, and ensure the schools meet their duties to all learners and staff

• Monitor each school’s budget, including the monthly management accounts and the draft budget for the following year


• Receive health and safety and site maintenance reports and ensure the schools meet relevant legislation

• Ensure parents and carers are kept informed, including through statutory assessments and annual reports


• Review marketing strategy and promote community cohesion


• Apply the Trust’s performance management, complaints and appeals procedures, and sit on panels when required


• Take on a link role where appropriate (for example safeguarding, SEND, early years or health and safety) and report back to the LGB

• Get to know Busy Beacons Nursery and visit the setting by arrangement


• Receive updates on the nursery, including safeguarding, and ask questions about the quality of care and education it provides


• Take an interest in how the nursery meets the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and how children move on to the next stage of their education

• Prepare for, attend and contribute to LGB meetings, reading papers in advance


• Visit the schools and nursery by arrangement and attend events where you are able


• Complete induction and ongoing training, including safeguarding training


• Act in the best interests of students, work as part of a team and support decisions made collectively


• Maintain confidentiality, declare any interests and follow the Trust’s Code of Conduct and the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles)


• Respect the difference between governance and day\-to\-day operational management

You do not need a background in education to be a great governor. We welcome people from all walks of life.

Commitment

Essential

• Commitment to young people and their education


• Time to attend meetings, visits and training

• Strong connections to Redbridge and the local community

Essential

• Ability to read reports and data and ask constructive, challenging questions


• Good communication and teamwork

• Experience in finance, HR, law, marketing, operations, project management or IT

Essential

• Willingness to learn about school governance

• Knowledge of SEND, early years or the education sector


• Previous governance, trustee or board experience

Essential

• Integrity, discretion and respect for confidentiality


• Commitment to safeguarding, equality and inclusion

• You must be aged 18 or over.


• You must not be disqualified from holding office under the Trust’s Articles of Association or scheme of delegation.


• All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and the Trust’s other pre\-appointment checks.


• Your name, term of office and any relevant business and pecuniary interests will be published on the Trust website, in line with statutory requirements.

• A full induction covering governance essentials, role\-specific training and school visits


• Ongoing CPD and support from our Governance Professional throughout your term


• Support from experienced governors and Trustees


• Access to guidance, training and resources through the National Governance Association (NGA)


• The chance to put your skills to good use for young people in your local community

To find out more, arrange an informal conversation or register your interest, please contact our Governance Professional at clerk@beaconacademytrust.co.uk. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Trust website: www.beaconacademytrust.co.uk

School websites: www.bealhighschool.co.uk \| www.theforestacademy.org \| www.bbih.org

*Beacon Multi\-Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects everyone involved in its governance to share this commitment.*

Work Location: In person

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