Education for the 21st Century (E21C) is a values-led organisation, driven by a determination to create welcoming and open schools for the local community, where every person thrives, makes excellent progress, and succeeds. There are currently four secondary schools and four primary schools within the Trust. Four of the primary schools and three of the secondary schools are located in Bromley, South East London and a further secondary is close to Canterbury in Kent.

Its Primary academies offer an excellent education for children in Reception to Year 6. Children aged 4 to 11 receive support and encouragement from a dedicated team of staff. The family of schools also include secondary academies. Secondary schools in the Trust aim to imbue students with the skills necessary to excel in whatever they choose to do.

The Trust is committed to improving outcomes and transforming lives, realising social mobility, and the transformative power of education. It values the difference in all of its schools while seeking to bring them together around a framework that delivers an enriching experience and a great education for the young people within its care. E21C’s primary academies focus on nurturing each child as a young person, not just academically but socially and emotionally too. It encourages each child to develop a lifelong love of learning.

The Trust is ambitious and the Board is passionate about school improvement and becoming a model for other schools and MATs whilst going from strength to strength and making a real difference in young people and the community. With a new CEO and senior management team, it’s an exciting time to join E21C. Its strategy over the next three years reflects its growing capacity but it also reflects the need to improve quickly. In Year 1, it seeks to establish the backbone of the organisation. In Year 2, it hopes to see all schools moving closer to national progress or beyond, as it realises the benefits of collaborative working based upon a common school workflow. In Year 3, as this rapid progress continues, it will begin to add capacity for growth so it can support its mission of transforming lives and its aim of becoming one of the highest performing multi-academy trusts in London and the South East.

Please click here to learn more about E21C's principles.

Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

E21C seeks a Chair of its Finance Audit and Risk Committee. They will act as a critical friend to the management team, particularly the CFO.

Their responsibilities will be as follows:  

• Scrutinise and ensure that the Trust’s finances are appropriately accounted for through budget setting, monitoring, preparation and publication of accounts and overseeing any investment decisions
• Advise the Board of Trustees on internal and external audit, internal controls and risk management
• Oversee, encourage and monitor the effectiveness of the financial and other internal controls of The Trust, on behalf of the Board
• Keep under review the internal controls and risk management systems
• Review the audited annual report and financial statements Give assurance to the Board that the financial operations are being managed and operated
• Ensure the Trust’s compliance with legal duties and responsibilities, including adherence to the Trust’s Memorandum and Articles

Trustee (Legal)

The key duties of Trustee board members are to:

• Ensure that the Trust complies with its governing document, charity law, company law and any other relevant legislation or regulations, pursues its objects as defined in its governing document and applies its resources exclusively in pursuance of its objects
• Contribute actively to the Board of Trustees by giving firm strategic direction to the Trust, setting overall policy, defining goals, setting targets, and evaluating performance against agreed targets, working as an effective team, using the appropriate balance of skills, experience, backgrounds and knowledge to make informed decisions
• Make sure that decision-making processes are informed, rigorous and timely, and that effective delegation, control and risk-assessment, and management systems are set up and monitored
• Exercise a clear, agreed and effective approach to supporting equality, diversity and inclusion throughout the Trust and through their own practice
• Safeguard the good name and values of the Trust and the family of schools under it 
• Ensure the financial stability of the Trust
• Support the Trust through exercising their skill and knowledge as a member of one or more of the Trust's standing committees or project steering committees

The successful candidate will be supported by the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, the Quality of Education Committee, the Pay and Performance Committee, and Local Governing Bodies. Click here for the Trust's Scheme of Delegation. This Scheme of Delegation has been developed to clarify the responsibilities and powers of Trustees and those delegated to the Trust level sub-committees, the Executive Leadership Team and Local Governing Bodies in respect of key aspects of the leadership and management of the Trust and its Academies and to ensure compliance with legal requirements and with the Trust’s Articles of Association.

Members

The Members of an Academy Trust are the guardians of the governance of the Trust. They have both a limited yet distinct role. Members have responsibility for ensuring that the purpose of the Trust is met, determining the Trust’s constitution and governance structure, and appointing and removing Trustees. Members have an overarching oversight role, with their other responsibilities being to appoint the external auditors and to receive the annual accounts and financial statements from the Trustees.

Members play a limited but crucial role in safeguarding academy trust governance. They sit above the Trustees and follow a hands-off approach with their main responsibility being oversight of the Trustees. They should not stray into undertaking the Trustees' role but should assure themselves that the governance of the Trust is effective, that Trustees are acting in accordance with the Trust’s charitable object(s) and that they, the Members, use their powers to step in if governance is failing.

Most notably, Members are responsible for defining the Trust’s charitable object, amending the articles of association, appointing or removing Trustees, appointing the Trust’s auditors and receiving the Trust’s annual audited accounts, and ultimately dissolving the Trust if required.

E21C seeks to fill three positions: a Chair of its Finance Audit and Risk Committee, a Trustee (Legal), and Members who will act as guardians of the governance of the Trust.

Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

E21C seeks a Chair of its Finance Audit and Risk Committee who will bring a strong financial and accounting acumen. They will be able to provide guidance and oversight as The Trust looks towards ensuring its long-term sustainability and resilience.

The successful candidate will have previously held a senior finance position at a strategic level (ideally at director level), sat on committees and will bring exposure to working with or sitting on Boards. They will also be passionate about making a tangible difference in the lives of children living and will share the Trust's commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

The Trust's CFO will be presenting the relevant information before meetings, and the Chair of the Finance Audit and Risk Committee should have the relevant knowledge and financial experience to understand the information being presented. Experience in good governance will be helpful for this role but if the candidate brings a strong finance background without experience as a Chair or Board Member, they will be supported by the Board.

Trustee (Legal)

E21C seeks a new Trustee who can bring senior level experience of law and compliance who can advise and provide scrutiny to the Board as the Trust looks towards ensuring its long-term sustainability and resilience. Although the Trustee will not provide direct advice on legal matters, they will be able to explain and highlight legal and compliance issues to the Board. Trustees will provide advice to the Board on corporate development matters and act as a critical friend to the management team.

Members

Candidates will ideally bring experience in leadership roles whilst also bringing a strategic vision to the Board. They will ideally bring previous governance experience, either from the corporate or charity sectors. It would be desirable, but not essential if candidates also have an educational background. The new Members of EC21 will be committed to the ethos and values of the academy which has a particular focus on providing a holistic education.

Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee

The Finance, Risk and Audit Committee meetings are held four times per year and the Chair will also attend Board meetings four times per year (during the day, mid morning) and an additional strategy day. These are currently held as a hybrid model and it is fairly flexible, but ideally in-person meetings are encouraged in Bromley and Kent. The role is unremunerated but reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed. Training sessions will be administered as and when required and the candidates should be open to occasionally visiting the schools and training sessions.

Trustee (Legal)

Trustees attend four Board meetings per year (during the day, mid morning) and are expected to join one committee (which meet c. four times per year). These are currently held as a hybrid model and it is fairly flexible, but ideally in-person meetings are encouraged in Bromley and Kent. The role is unremunerated but reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed. Training sessions will be administered as and when required and the candidates should be open to occasionally visiting the schools and training sessions.

Members

Members meet two or three times per year and these meetings will either be online or in-person but this is flexible according to Members’ availability. Members will be required to prepare for meetings with readings and provide remote support on occasion. This role is unremunerated.