Middlesex Learning Trust (MLT) is a partnership of highly ambitious and successful schools which delivers the best possible education to over 4000 students across three large and mixed secondary academies: The Compton School, in Barnet; Southgate School, in Enfield; and Stopsley High School, in Luton.

MLT’s key purpose is to deliver the best possible education to its students, to enable them to maximise their achievements, academically, socially and emotionally ready to take their place in society as positive and successful adults. To enable this the Trust is committed to delivering an exceptionally strong, broad and balanced curriculum that is tailored to the needs of students of all abilities and backgrounds. It is the intention of the Trust that MLT will become a centre of excellence that enables students of all abilities and backgrounds to succeed.

MLT aims to continue to develop as an organisation that has an outstanding reputation in the local communities it serves, as well as regionally and nationally. The Trust’s aim over the next five years is to continue to grow at a sustainable pace to include up to seven schools within the Trust. MLT will grow at this realistic rate to ensure that current Trust schools continue to thrive alongside any new schools being enabled to become highly successful. This growth strategy will capitalise on the Trust’s extensive outreach work, teacher training, support for the Early Career Framework and national CPD programmes to allow the Trust to forge effective partnerships with other schools and provide leadership in a self-improving schools system.

As MLT grows, it will need a different operating model within its central team. For example, steps are already being made to centralise the Trust’s HR and IT systems. This step to centralise essential systems is built from the MLT ethos of trust: allowing schools to keep autonomy whilst benefiting from centralised infrastructure.

Above all, Middlesex Academy Trust has the ambition to become one of the most successful Multi Academy Trusts nationally, with some of the country’s very best schools as members. To achieve this, MLT will ensure that its staff are provided with opportunities to grow professionally within a diverse and rich working environment, and that each and every child receives the very best education to give them the best possible life chances for a successful adult life.

Middlesex Learning Trust is a not-for-profit educational charitable company and its Governance structure ensures that it meets its requirements to ensure probity, good governance and outstanding performance.

The Board is comprised of the Trustees. They meet regularly as a Trust Board, which has a number of sub-committees. Board oversight is provided by the Members of the Trust.

Trustees focus on the three core functions of governance:

1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
2. Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the Trust Schools and their students, and the performance management of staff
3. Overseeing and ensuring effective financial performance

Finance

Applicants may bring a strong understanding of financial management, perhaps gained in a large, complex organisation. This candidate may have a background in accounting, or may have been a CFO or Finance Director. Whilst applications from qualified accountants would be welcome, an accounting qualification is not a requirement for the role, as long as applicants bring strategic level business leadership experience. This Trustee will join the Business & Audit Committee.

Education

Candidates may have held strategic-level positions within another school or multi-academy trust setting, or they may come from the world of higher education. This candidate may have experience in a SEND setting, or may come from an Ofsted background. MLT is an inclusive Trust, and as such are particularly interested in seeing applications from non-selective and inclusive practitioners of education. This Trustee will join the Standards and Student Committee.

Digital

Candidates may have held senior leadership positions in an IT or digital setting. This candidate may have been a CIO or Director of Digital, but may equally have come from a variety of digital backgrounds. This person will bring support and challenge as the Trust looks to centralise its IT systems across its schools.

Above all, the successful candidates will be aligned with the Trust's mission to inspire children and young people to excel through education, transform lives and build strong communities. Although prior board experience is welcome, the Trust is open to applications from first-time non-executives.

A list of existing Trustees can be found here.

There are four Board meetings and three Committee meetings per year. Board meetings are held in North Finchley, on weekday evenings. Committee meetings take place online. Additionally, there will be ad hoc communication with the Board and school visits. Reasonable, pre-agreed domestic expenses will be reimbursed. The appointment is for a renewable four-year term.

Candidates will be happy to travel for in-person Board meetings, so will likely be London-based.

Middlesex Learning Trust welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As people from ethnic minority backgrounds are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those individuals 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.