More House School is a specialist day and boarding school for boys aged 8-18. Nationally celebrated as a centre for excellence, and repeatedly graded Outstanding in all areas by Ofsted (most recently for both the school and the boarding provision in March 2023), More House is the largest school of its kind in the UK, and boasts a rich, 83-year history of supporting boys with specific learning and language difficulties, and associated conditions, in realising successes far beyond their expectations, transforming their futures.

Whilst the School's academic results at GCSE, A Level and BTEC are consistently above the national average for all schools, the education experienced by More House students is much broader than exam syllabus prescription. Many of the School's pupils arrive with little self-confidence. As one community, More House builds pupils’ academic, creative, sport and social achievement. A wide curriculum of academic subjects is complemented by an inspiring extra-curricular programme, so that each boy is successful amongst his peers, and learns to recognise that success.

Building More House's students’ self-confidence and independence enables them to transform their lives, achieving remarkable academic success, and pursuing aspirational futures. For the majority this means continuing their education by progressing from the School's Sixth Form to universities, but others will move into industry-based learning or to other further education courses.

The Board of Governors comprises volunteers who serve as Governors of the School, Trustees of the charity and Non-Executive Directors of the not-for-profit, limited company. Those who serve as Governors come from a range of professional backgrounds, providing oversight and strategic direction to the Board.

Governors act as ambassadors and advocates for the School, and must act independently in accordance with charity law. They are responsible for the appointment of the Head Teacher, and for monitoring and supporting their performance and the quality of all aspects of the School's provision. As Trustees of the charity, the Governors are responsible for the charity’s assets.

Governors 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 School and pupils, and the performance management of staff
3. Overseeing the financial performance of the School and ensuring that its money is well spent

Governor (Safeguarding)

The successful candidate will have senior experience of safeguarding, having operated in organisations where particular measures are taken to protect the health and wellbeing of individuals. They should have experience of safeguarding and a keen interest (not necessarily through direct experience) in sustaining and developing knowledge of it in a school context.

Governor (IT & Digital)

The successful candidate will bring a breadth of senior experience in digital strategy / IT, and will be willing to provide advice, insight and challenge to the Board. They may be a CIO, IT Director, Consultant, Advisor, or a Project Manager with oversight of digital projects. They will have an appreciation of wider developments and upcoming changes in digital infrastructure and will be able to apply this to areas integral to the School, including administration, accounts and security, to ensure that the School is well prepared for future developments in technology, and maintains careful oversight of its digital risk.

Governor (Therapeutic Care)

The successful candidate will have a strong background in therapeutic care, ideally having worked with children. Applicants could come from a paediatric background, but could equally be a clinical professional.  Experience working with neurodivergent individuals (especially children) would be beneficial, but is not a requirement for the role.  

Governor (Property & Estates)

Applicants will have experience of operating at a senior level on large projects as an Architect, Surveyor or Developer, or will have strategic-level experience managing estates. This individual does not need to be a chartered surveyor, but will be able to advise the School on its assets, and will be able to provide advice, guidance and appropriate challenge to the Board.

Above all, candidates will believe in the transformative power of education, and will be aligned with More House's mission to lead in transforming the futures of intelligent children who experience specific learning difficulties, developmental language disorders and associated conditions, by empowering them. More House School is open to applications from first-time Board members.

You can read more about the Board here. 

There are four Board meetings per year, which take place at 7pm on Thursdays, and tend to last 2.5 hours. Additionally, Committees tend to meet twice per term, and are hybrid. All Committee meetings are set out at the beginning of the year. Governors are also expected to engage with the school on an ad hoc basis, such as attending school events or visits. The appointment is for an initial three-year term, which can be renewed up to twice, at the discretion of the Board. This role is unremunerated but reasonable, pre-agreed expenses will be reimbursed.

As Board meetings will ideally take place in person, candidates will either be local to Surrey, or willing to travel for meetings.

More House School welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. As women and those from an ethnic minority background are currently under-represented on the Board, applications from those candidates 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 diverse candidates can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.