Halcyon’s mission is to support each student to realise their full potential. It crafts opportunities for its students to be leaders, communicators and risk-takers, equipping them to build a uniquely impactful path for themselves. Pupils’ love of learning shines through at Halcyon. The School achieves this through small class sizes, a rich and diverse curriculum, and an extraordinarily talented and dedicated teaching team who know that getting to know each student will improve engagement and outcomes. Students collaborate with teachers and their peers, achieving ambitious academic goals and confidently meeting high levels of personal growth. Following its last Ofsted inspection, Halcyon has - once again - been rated ‘Outstanding’ in all categories. Halcyon’s founders, who are parents themselves, sought to create an international school that was engaging and academically interdisciplinary: an environment that nurtures the voices of thriving global citizens.

It is Halcyon’s goal to prepare the next generation for the increasingly global future that awaits them. The School’s holistic approach helps create a happy and secure environment, where students feel a sense of belonging, and are therefore more able to take ownership and drive their own demanding and rigorous education. Halcyon has to date grown from 34 students in 2013 to nearly 200 students in its tenth year. It plans to expand its student body to 250 by seeking additional premises, and opening a primary school within the next few years.

Becoming a Trustee on Halcyon's Board provides a distinctive opportunity to be a part of a progressive London school which is on the brink of a significant move and expansion. Trustees can guide continuous educational innovation, ensuring strong academic outcomes and student well-being. As the School embarks on a journey of growth, the Trustee will play a crucial role in evolving and enhancing its successful offerings.

As Halcyon continues its journey of growth, it is an exciting opportunity for a Trustee to join the Board, ensuring it remains true to its mission of bringing out the unique potential of each student. Trustees are responsible for the overall governance of the school, and for ensuring that Halcyon fulfils its duty to its beneficiaries and has a clear vision, mission and strategic direction, in particular:

• Contributing to setting strategic direction, including policies and targets, and evaluating performance in line with set objectives
• Ensuring Halcyon’s financial stability into the future
• Taking responsibility for Halcyon’s corporate behaviour, ensuring compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements
• Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, ensuring Halcyon actively promotes the health and wellbeing of its students

In addition to the above duties, Trustees should be willing to use their specific skills and expertise to support the Board in its decision-making, and will be ambassadors for Halcyon, always acting in the best interests of the school. Trustees should support the school’s values, and actively promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Trustee (Education)

Halcyon prides itself on its student-centred and real world approach to learning, and is looking for a Trustee with a background in the education sector, who brings an entrepreneurial and progressive attitude towards learning. 

Candidates should demonstrate senior expertise within education, having held a leadership or entrepreneurial role within the sector. They can come from a range of educational backgrounds, and Halcyon is open to those with experience in either primary or secondary education. In addition, candidates who are skilled in the delivery of the International Baccalaureate curriculum are especially encouraged to apply. They may be a current or former Headteacher, or Senior Deputy of a successful school, or an Executive Headteacher working across a group of schools. Candidates can also come from the world of tertiary education, such as a senior education leader who has strategic-level experience in the higher education sector.

Ideally candidates will have some prior Board experience. For applicants for whom this will be a first time board position, they will be able to demonstrate a familiarity with good governance by virtue of being a regular board observer or contributor.

Trustee (Finance)

Halcyon London International School is seeking a Trustee who will bring senior finance experience. The new Finance Trustee will leverage their financial expertise, providing a high level of scrutiny, challenge and strategic direction to the Board.

The ideal candidate should be financially qualified, and may have a background in a consulting or accounting firm, or may have held a strategic senior finance role in a commercial organisation. The Finance Trustee will act as a critical sounding board, providing high-level oversight and challenge. In addition to their financial expertise, the successful candidate will have sensitivity to the differences between charity and commercial environments. They will understand the importance of balancing the needs of Halcyon's stakeholders while ensuring that the school remains financially sustainable.

Some Board experience would be welcomed, but for applicants for whom this will be a first time board position, they will be able to demonstrate an understanding of good governance and influencing at board level.

Trustee (Legal)

Halcyon London International School is seeking a new Trustee with a senior legal background, equipped with practical legal expertise to offer guidance, support and constructive challenge to the broader Board. It is an exciting opportunity to join a reflective and analytical Board which is passionate about helping Halcyon's students  thrive and succeed in life.

Candidates should possess a diverse legal skill-set, encompassing a proactive approach to addressing routine issues with a legalistic perspective. They should bring practical legal expertise, potentially gained from in-house roles, reflecting a strong business acumen. Candidates may hold the position of General Counsel in a high-performing commercial organisation or be a Senior Associate or Junior Partner in a prominent law firm, with a penchant for asking questions, taking action and providing a fresh perspective. Additionally, the ideal candidate should balance self-confidence with self-awareness and value collaboration and patience. They should also be a keen listener, attuned to nuances, to contribute effectively to the Halcyon's deliberations.

Ideally candidates will have some prior Board experience. For applicants for whom this will be a first time board position, they will be able to demonstrate a familiarity with good governance by virtue of being a regular board observer or contributor.

Trustees should recognise the strategic, as opposed to operational, nature of the Board, and should be willing to provide advice, guidance and constructive challenge to support the Board in effective decision-making. Above all, the new Trustee will demonstrate enthusiasm and a strong empathy with Halcyon’s mission, alongside a sound understanding of its work and ambitions, and support the belief that independent thinking and reducing competition raise engagement and attainment within education.

A full list of the current Board of Trustees can be found under the "Staff List" section here.

Trustee roles are unremunerated; however reimbursement can be made with advance clearance for reasonable expenses, such as travel to meetings, with regard to Trustees’ duties on behalf of the charity. The term of appointment is normally for a period of three years with the potential for re-appointment for a further three-year term subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.

Time commitment consists of between 4 - 6 Board meetings or retreat days per year, held in or near the School in Westminster (W1H), alongside online committee work. On average a Trustee can estimate the time commitment of one working day per month to prepare for and attend meetings and some school activities.

Halcyon has a strong preference for candidates to be based in the UK, in order to fully engage with the Board; however Halcyon would be open to considering particularly strong candidates based close to the UK (e.g. Brussels, Paris).

Halcyon has a strong preference for candidates to be based in the UK, in order to fully engage with the Board; however Halcyon would be open to considering particularly strong candidates based close to the UK (e.g. Brussels, Paris).

Halcyon London International School 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.