Trustee/Non-executive Director (Primary Education)

Ivy Education Trust is an eight school Trust made up of five primaries and three secondaries (including two sixth form provisions) based within a 30-minute radius of each other along the Coastline South of Exeter. 

Schools in the Trust range from small village primary schools with under 100 children, to a large split site secondary of 1400 pupils. All schools, bar two, have had successful recent Ofsted inspections including Teignmouth Community School which turned around from inadequate to predominantly 'Good' within 19 months. The final two school’s inspections are anticipated in the next 12 months. 

The Trust has a dedicated School Improvement Committee to support its schools journeys, this may be merged into the Education Standards Committee as the need for the dedicated SIP support decreases. Ivy Education Trust's values of courage, compassion, collaboration, and commitment underpin the work and the broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum aims to develop pupils and open doors to their future success. 

The Trust maintains a strong focus on developing and providing inspirational teaching and leadership through its school-to-school improvement. The Trust currently serves over 3600 pupils and 600 staff.

The Trust is mindful of having a 'compassionate' approach to growth while ensuring a balanced approach to prioritising support to its schools. The Trust has strong links to the Exeter Church of England Diocese and has Articles of Association which allow it to have CoE faith-designated schools or secular community schools within it. At this point there is only one primary school which is part of the Exeter Diocese, but others may join in the future.

The Trust's Requirements

Ivy Education Trust is looking for an experienced 'Educationalist' to join their Trust Board and to sit on the Education Standards Committee. 

The ideal candidate will have knowledge/experience of the primary sector, having worked in a leadership or school improvement role in more than one school. Additionally, a firm understanding of primary education data and the Ofsted inspection process would be an advantage as well as knowledge of the communities the Trust serve. 

The Trust welcomes applications from all backgrounds but would particularly welcome applications from those from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.

Meetings

Trust Board meetings are held five times a year (one per half term). Upcoming meetings will be held 10am-12pm on the following dates: 

- 10/12/2024
- 04/03/2025
- 13/05/2025
- 15/05/2025

Education Standards Committee meetings three times a year. Meetings are held 8.30am-10.30am on the following dates: 

- 25/02/2025 
- 20/05/2025

The Trust also has an annual Governance Meeting from 5-7pm in June for all Trustees and local governors to meet and discuss Trust matters. At present each Trustee has a link school which they are invited to visit (once or twice a year) at a mutually agreeable time to see the impact of trust decisions within the school and provide a conduit for communication and feedback. Trustees are not expected to attend their link school’s local governance committee meetings.

Induction to role

The Trust has a comprehensive training and induction programme which new Trustees will have access too. Successful applicants will also receive access to Governors for Schools' 'The First 100 Days as a Trustee' eLearning.