Cumbria Education Trust is a dynamic and ambitious Multi-Academy Trust of ten primary schools and three secondary schools, spread throughout Cumbria. The Trust continues to look for opportunities for growth, driven by its aim of ensuring that young people are provided with the best possible chances to succeed.

Cumbria Education Trust was formed in September 2015, following an invitation to form a Multi Academy Trust from the Department for Education. It is responsible for the education of more than 5,000 young people across Cumbria, and despite having grown quickly, the vision for its young people remains the same - to enable everyone to reach their potential by providing an innovative and inspiring learning experience. Knowing that a first-class education improves the life chances and choices of its young people, Cumbria Education Trust is committed to providing a quality education for all, as part of their 3 - 18 model.

Moving forward, Cumbria Education Trust is dedicated to achieving consistent year-on-year student improvement, with strategic priorities encompassing school enhancement, investment in central services, controlled growth, and strengthened governance. It has a strong central team with all finance and operational functions managed centrally, ensuring that the Trust’s family of schools operate as one organisation. By focusing on these key areas, Cumbria Education Trust aims to create a dynamic and inclusive educational environment that fosters growth and positively impacts students, educators, and communities across Cumbria.

The new Trustees will oversee the day-to-day work of the Trust, as well as sit on the Student Achievement and Curriculum Committee, which holds responsibility for all assessment, curriculum and student matters within the Trust. They will support and challenge the Trust Board and Executive Team, whilst also offering a strategic perspective to the development of the Trust and a professional outlook on governance. They will provide support to the Executive Team around matters of school improvement, including exams, outcomes and data, as well as leadership and management within the schools.

Trustees are responsible for the same three core governance functions performed by the governing body in a maintained school: setting the direction, holding the Chief Executive to account and ensuring financial probity. As charity trustees, they must also ensure that they are complying with charity law requirements.

Duties may include regularly attending meetings, managing conflicts of interest, seeking advice from the Trust’s Executive and Leadership Teams and ensuring that the Trust has appropriate procedures in place.

Cumbria Education Trust is looking for individuals with a senior level background in education who share the Trust’s passion for providing young people with the best possible opportunities to allow them to achieve success. The Trust is interested in strategic-level educational leaders from the primary, secondary, further and higher education sectors or any other child development sector, including local authorities.

The new Trustees will be high-achieving, and possess a nurturing and supportive leadership style. They will understand how to employ effective governance techniques, which enable all schools within the Trust to maintain the same successful operating model.

Above all, applicants should be passionate about the moral purpose of the Trust - providing young people with the best possible chances. As such, Cumbria Education Trust is open to appointing those for whom this would be their first board role.

To find out more about the Board of Trustees, please see here.

This role is unremunerated, and reasonable, pre-agreed travel expenses will be reimbursed. There are five Board meetings and three committee meetings per year. These typically take place at 5pm on weekdays, with all meetings ideally taking place in person, but hybrid is possible. There are also termly meetings which take place at Trust schools and an Annual Governance Conference. Trustees are expected to visit Trust schools at their discretion. The appointment is for a four-year term.

Cumbria Education Trust welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As those from an ethnic minority background are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates would be particularly encouraged. 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.