Established in 2013, the Campfire Education Trust (CET) comprises six primary schools across Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes: Bourton Meadow Academy, George Grenville Academy, Lace Hill Academy, Spring Lane Academy, Lumbertubs Academy and Moorland Primary. The Trust has an income of c. £13m per year.

CET’s aim is to establish a dynamic, professional learning community so that it can support and challenge its schools to provide the best education for all its pupils. The Trust’s mindset is underpinned by a collective responsibility to share its expertise, join-up its work and be a part of something bigger, with the understanding that it can only succeed if everyone succeeds. CET is ambitious and has high expectations for the development of every pupil, taking a holistic approach to their education. In practice, this means providing equity of opportunity for all its pupils regardless of their starting points. By removing barriers, accelerating progress and developing the whole child through its wider curriculum, CET ensures that pupils are ready both academically and socially for the next stage of their education.

Each school within CET has its own distinctive character, curriculum and identity in order to meet the local needs of its pupils and communities. CET celebrates this diversity and recognises it is by working together, as one Trust, that it can achieve more than we could as individual schools.

CET is entering a new period in its development. Its sense of what defines it is still evolving, and it recently welcomed a new CEO, Sarah Mitchell, and executive team. In anticipation of considerable expansion, CET is expanding its Board from seven to ten members, and strengthening its infrastructure to ensure this growth is built upon a secure foundation. With so much change afoot, now is an exciting time to join CET.

Trustees are responsible for governing a charitable company and directing how it is managed and run. Trustees must also ensure that the trust complies with all legal and statutory requirements. Trustees should seek the advice of the Board’s governance professional and other professional advice as appropriate.

The Trust Board works closely with their senior executive leaders. Senior executive leaders are responsible for day-to-day operational management of the Trust and its schools, whereas the role of the Board is strategic. As such, trustees are responsible for:

• determining the mission, values and long-term ambitious vision for the Trust
• deciding the principles that guide trust policies and approving key policies
• appointing and appraising the senior executive leader and making pay recommendations
• working with senior leaders to develop a strategy for achieving the vision
• ensuring that stakeholders are involved, consulted and informed as appropriate
• ensuring that all schools in the trust deliver a broad and balanced curriculum so that pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education and adult life
• taking ownership of the Trust’s financial sustainability and ensuring effective resource management across the trust
• agreeing the Trust’s staffing structure and keeping it under review to ensure it supports delivery of the strategy
• ensuring robust risk management policy and procedures are in place and that risk control measures are appropriate and effective

Finance

The Trustee will work collaboratively with the new CFO, and advise and provide scrutiny to the Board as the Trust looks to ensure that its long-term growth is sustainable, impactful, and in line with its vision.

The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of financial management. They could be, for example a CFO, Finance Director, or Partner in a professional services firm. CET is, however, open to applicants from a wide range of backgrounds. Applicants do not need to be financially qualified, but will appreciate the need to be creative and strategic in managing the finances of a publicly-funded organisation. Prior board experience is not required.

Above all, the new Trustee will be passionate about CET's mission to provide equity of opportunity for all its pupils regardless of their starting points.

Legal

Although the Trustee will not provide direct advice on legal matters, they will be able to explain and highlight legal issues to the Board, and act as a critical friend to the executive team. 

The successful candidate could be, for example, Partner in a law firm, or a General Counsel within an organisation, and will have experience in company or employment law. Previous experience with legal issues in an educational setting, and multi-academy-trusts in particular, would be advantageous but is not essential. Prior board experience is not required. 

Organisational Leadership

The successful candidate will ideally have led — either as an executive or a non-executive — public or third sector organisations which are larger and more complex than CET. The Board is open to applicants from a range of sectors, however having a connection to education, young people and social justice would be considered an advantage. Prior board experience is not required, but they will likely have experience of upscaling an organisation. 

A list of current Trustees can be found here.

There are six Board meetings per year, plus three to four committee meetings and a strategy day. Board and committee meetings will be virtual, but the strategy day will be in person. The appointment is for a renewable four-year term. The role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be reimbursed.

Meetings are conducted virtually, and there is no need for candidates to be locally based.