The Agora Learning Partnership is a multi-academy trust currently comprising nine primary schools located in Hertfordshire. The Trust has an annual operating budget of around £14m and its registered address is in Watford.

In ancient Greece, the word ‘Agora’ was used to describe a public open space used for assemblies and markets. The notion of people coming together and working collaboratively is the inspiration behind how the Trust operates and is central to its ethos. Agora's vision is for carefully planned, Partnership-wide collaboration to be the driving force for school improvement across the Trust, and the nine schools which currently belong to the Partnership benefit greatly from this approach. The Trust also believes strongly in 'local decisions for local children', and the support offered by the Partnership's Central Team is very much personalised to the individual needs of the schools. Agora schools retain their individual identities and the autonomy to deliver a curriculum that reflects their unique communities. The Agora website sets out the vision, ethos and approach of the Trust. 

Having been through a period of consolidation during which a number of new appointments have been made, Agora now has its eyes set on the future. Under the leadership of CEO Rebecca Daulman, a strong school improvement strategy has been developed which will crystallise the Agora approach and drive the further growth and development of the Trust. Agora is proud of its strengths, which were highlighted in the Summary Evaluation of the Trust carried out by Ofsted earlier this year.

The Agora Learning Partnership is governed by a Board of Trustees which oversees the management and administration of the Trust and the academies it operates. The Trust is both a company limited by guarantee and a charity so those who serve on its Board act both as Non-Executive Directors and as Trustees.

The Chair of the Board provides overall strategic direction to the Trust. In particular, they lead the Trustees in their execution of the following three core strategic functions:

• Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
• Holding the executive to account for the educational performance of the Academies and their pupils
• Overseeing the financial performance of the Trust and making sure its money is well spent

A full scheme of delegation can be found here.

The Agora Learning Partnership seeks an exceptional individual to step into the role of Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Applicants could come from a range of backgrounds provided they have operated at the strategic level and support the ethos and values of the Trust. While experience working in the education sector is not a requirement, the ideal candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector in the UK, perhaps informed by experience as a Governor of a school or as a Trustee on a Trust Board. Fundamentally, applicants must be people-oriented leaders with a gift for fostering engagement and collaboration, and getting the best out of diverse groups of people.   

Chair experience is not essential, however candidates should have non-executive experience and demonstrate a clear understanding of the governance role. Candidates should possess outstanding listening, interpersonal and ambassadorial skills, and the ability to form strong, open and constructive working relationships at all levels within the organisation.

A full list of current Trustees and Members can be found here. 

There are five main Board meetings a year, which currently take place online during the working day. Additionally, the Chair will be expected to join at least one of the Board's Committees; the Committees meet online an additional three times per year, also during the working day. The Chair will be expected to be in regular contact with the CEO, and to spend additional time preparing for Board meetings. In addition, there will be ad hoc events, school visits and an annual strategy day. The appointment is for a four-year term. This role is unremunerated; reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. 

Applicants should be based within a reasonable commutable distance of the Trust and its Schools. While the ideal candidate will be based in Hertfordshire, applicants based further afield are very much welcome to apply.

The Agora Learning Partnership welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well. The Agora Learning Partnership is committed to continuous improvement in how representative it is of its local communities, including gender, ethnicity, religion, age, and all other aspects of diversity.