LLSE (Leadership Learning Securing Excellence) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to working in robust partnership with schools and colleges to secure excellence in teaching and leadership.

LLSE has been funded and approved by the Department for Education (DfE) as a provider of NPQs (National Professional Qualifications) since 2011. Originally established as a Kent-based training and skills provider, the charity, now a Community Interest Company (CIC), has the opportunity to expand its services to national school networks, educational organisations, and international partnerships with expert delivery partners.

LLSE is more than just a training provider. It acts as an extension of schools to build capacity for good leadership development, and to establish a culture of aspiration and excellence in CPD best practice. LLSE consistently receives outstanding feedback on its programmes. This quality mark is thus paving the way for a generation of future leaders who not only have the skills to bring out the best in their colleagues and young people, but also have their fingers on the pulse of contemporary and pertinent issues in education and the wider public sector at large.

Based on a strong set of values and with a distinctive mission, LLSE is rooted in a belief that every child and young person can flourish in schools where incredible teachers, leaders and support staff inspire and enable learning. Today, LLSE is seeking additional Directors who bring commercial flair to compliment their existing, committed Board of educationalists, and who will ensure the growth which is planned, will develop and sustain the business for the future and for the young people who most need it.

As it looks to the future, LLSE will continue to compete on the national stage but with the advantage of staying comparatively small and therefore agile in its offer. Growth is a high priority and the focus of the Board and its Directors is to provide high challenge and high support to the Executive as it establishes new and sustainable markets. Here LLSE will lend its expertise in order to make a greater impact on young lives and win market share from competing providers. 

The Board seeks up to two new Directors with expertise in either commercial finance, growth and / or scaling businesses or in business development more broadly. Those with commercial marketing expertise may also be of interest.

The new Directors (Trustees) will come from the commercial world. Of particular interest are business leaders with a background in business development, scaling businesses or business growth. Applicants do not need to be qualified accountants, but must be financially astute. They will offer LLSE strategic guidance on risk, business performance and financial planning. Additionally they will enjoy the process and challenge of supporting the Executive as they carve out new markets and revenue streams.

The following skills are deemed particularly valuable:

• Analysis of new business opportunities
• Development of new business proposals
• Building organisational capacity
• Risk assessment and mitigation
• Successful procurement
• Developing a coherent portfolio of programmes that are consistent with LLSE’s mission and values

LLSE are open to business leaders from any sector for this role, so long as they offer strong commercial acumen. Applicants with no prior Board or non-executive experience are also encouraged to apply. Above all, the successful applicants will subscribe to LLSE’s vision that every child and young person can flourish in schools where incredible teachers, leaders and support staff inspire and enable learning.

A link to the current Board composition can be found here.

• The role is unremunerated but travel expenses are reimbursed
• The appointment is for a three year term which can be renewed for a maximum period of nine years
• Directors are expected to attend four full Board meetings per year, and four sub-committee meetings per year and an annual strategy day
• 50% of the meetings are held virtually and half are held in person
• Full Board meetings typically last 2.5 hours and Committee meetings typically last two hours and are held in the middle of the day with the possibility of moving these to late afternoon.

LLSE welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As those from younger age groups and ethnic minority backgrounds are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates would be particularly encouraged to reflect the diversity of the whole school community. 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.