Laidlaw Schools Trust is an extraordinary multi-academy trust in the North East, teaching and inspiring children from nursery to sixth form to become active, responsible and successful global citizens. It was founded in 2008 to provide inspirational education to secondary school pupils in Newcastle. Today, it supports children in Newcastle, Sunderland and Sedgefield to aspire and achieve, and is set to grow further.

Laidlaw Schools Trust is committed to giving every child the opportunity and support to shine. It believes it can achieve the extraordinary by nurturing the heads, hearts and hands of its pupils — developing minds and building character, so that students achieve practical and life skills as well as academic success. The Trust's excellent SATs, GCSE and A level results show the effectiveness and focus on qualifications, and the high standards of teaching and learning across all its schools. However, the trust believes that education encompasses so much more than academic excellence. It is essential that its pupils are also physically healthy, mentally robust, ethically resilient, digitally savvy and have the skills and attributes that “future proof” them for a changing world.

Laidlaw Schools Trust is based in Newcastle upon Tyne and currently has seven schools, serving a very diverse community. It has around 5500 students, 900 staff and over 50 spoken languages. The schools include four schools in Newcastle, two in Sunderland and one in Sedgefield. It is in conversations currently with a number of other schools looking to join the Trust in the next academic year.

The board of trustees manages the business of the Academy Trust and may exercise all the powers of the Trust in compliance with its charitable objects, company and charity law. Trustees scrutinise educational outcomes, financial management and the quality of delivery of the people strategy, providing challenge and advice to fellow Trustees and the executive team as appropriate. 

Whilst the Trust has an excellent financial standing, Trustees will support the Trust's ambitious plans for growth by scrutinising its pace and ensuring that issues of risk and long-term sustainability are considered. These plans include implementing a teacher recruitment and retention strategy, centred around the newly-established Teaching and Leadership Centre as well as closing the learning gap by rolling out a fully-funded nursery provision programme.

In the interests of safeguarding and in accordance with DfE requirements, all trustee appointments will be subject to an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.

Laidlaw Schools Trust seeks three new Trustees: one with a background in estates / property management, particularly in the area of development, one with background in business growth and transformation in the North East region, and one with experience in health or social care, mental health services and family support.

Estates / property management. Laidlaw Schools Trust seeks an individual with a background in senior-level estates or property management to join the Board as Chair of the Estates Committee. The Trustee will support and challenge the CEO in their establishment of a robust asset management plan and business continuity plan, especially on how the Trust can best maintain and develop its portfolio of schools, which consist mostly of Victorian buildings.

As the Trust is now looking to double the number of schools and pupils within the Trust within the next three years, the successful candidate will be able to lead conversations on estates matters, risk management and business continuity. The successful candidate will have executive leadership experience from property, estates or facilities management in a regulated, complex organisation operating on multiple sites. While not necessarily essential, a good working knowledge of health and safety issues is beneficial.

Candidates with experience as a Chartered Surveyor or in education builds / design / construction / architecture would be particularly welcome. They should be strong communicators, highly collaborative and bring the imagination to use the Trust’s resources fully

Business growth & transformation. Laidlaw School Trust seeks a new Trustee with a background in senior-level business growth and transformation from businesses located in the North East region. The successful candidate will be commercially aware and able to advise on careers, support business to school partnerships and provide leadership on new apprenticeship schemes and vocational provision. 

Experience in a leadership role of driving or overseeing digital transformation or working directly with issues related to corporate social responsibility is also welcome. It is expected that the successful candidate will become a member of the Standards Committee. 

Health & social care. Laidlaw School Trust seeks an individual with a background in either health and social care, mental health services and / or family support at a senior-level to drive forward the Trust's critical mission of ensuring that its pupils not only achieve strong academic outcomes but are also physically healthy, mentally robust, ethically resilient, digitally savvy and have the skills and attributes that “future proof” them for a changing world.

In addition to health and social care experience, the successful candidate is likely to have experience of implementing wellbeing programmes, as well as relevant policy and funding routes. Their background may also include health activism and/or experience of food and nutrition. 

As the Trust is now looking to double the number of schools and pupils within the Trust within the next three years, it is beneficial (although not essential) if the successful candidate has prior experience in human resource management or building and maintaining relationships with other trusts and charities in the North East region.  It is expected that the successful candidate will become a member of the Operations Committee.

This role is unremunerated but reasonable pre-agreed travel expenses can be reimbursed. Board Members attend four meetings per year and visit their link school once a term. Annual Board meetings are held in rotation in Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and Sedgefield. It is expected that the successful candidate will join the Committee relevant to their skills, and attend Committee meetings. These take place three to four times per year. The Trust may also require the successful candidate to join another committee of the following: Standards, Operations, Audit, Remuneration and Liaison. The Trust is open to holding virtual meetings but in-person attendance is preferred.