CEO
Dear Applicant, Thank you for your interest in the post of Chief Executive Officer for The Manor Learning Trust (soon to be re-named the Nene Learning Trust). The Trust currently comprises of three academies – Manor School Sports College, St Peter’s C E Academy and Stanwick Primary Academy; it is expected that three more primary schools will be joining us this year. The Trust’s vision is to provide the best educational experience for our young people in an environment based on values reflecting a Christian ethos, and which also encourages them to be active and responsible citizens in the future. At the same time, we value and recognise that each school has its own unique character which will be retained as the Trust grows. We believe the academies in our Trust ‘shape the future’ for our young people, staff and the communities they serve. We aspire to do this by providing opportunities for good learning and developing life relationships in environments where staff and students feel safe and respected and able to pursue the highest possible progress and academic achievement for all. The Trust seeks to appoint a Chief Executive Officer who is ambitious for the Trust’s development and who will work with the Senior Leaders to realise the Trust’s vision for both itself and all those involved in its academies. Yours faithfully,
Dudley Hughes Chair of the Manor Learning Trust
Who are we? The Manor Learning Trust The Manor Learning Trust is currently a 3 academy Trust with one secondary, one primary and one junior school based in and around the town of Raunds. We currently have some 1200 students on roll and employ 200 teaching and support staff. At the very heart of our ethos is the determination to work together to provide a happy, safe and fulfilling educational experience for all children in our communities. Our aim is to become a centre of excellence, and our guiding values include; respect, inclusion, creativity, community, integrity, togetherness, resilience and aspiration. We are at an exciting stage of our development, and plans are under-way to increase our size, capacity and provision in 2018 by a further 3 schools. This rapid growth represents an exciting opportunity for us to redesign our future and consider what our MAT will need to ensure that it continues to succeed. This will require the Trust to reshape its framework for governance, leadership and performance, as well as further improve the educational outcomes for our students and the professional development of our staff. Our plans include a change of name for the Trust to the Nene Learning Trust. This will more accurately reflect the geographical location of our academies and our commitment to the local communities we serve. For further information please visit the websites of the Trust and each academy.
Manor School Sports College Manor School is a heavily over-subscribed and growing community 11 – 18 secondary academy serving the town of Raunds in East Northamptonshire. We are proud to be part of The Manor Learning Trust and share a clear vision to encourage all our students and staff to work hard, play hard and achieve; leading to ‘Success for All’. By visiting us and making use of the facts and data readily available online, you’ll discover that our students achieve well, levels of attendance and parental support are very good. We are proud of our English provision and outcomes, we promote the STEM subjects with rigour and are unwavering in our support and emphasis on sport and the Arts for which we are locally renowned. Most significantly, at Manor School we know that we are responsible for education in its widest sense. We encourage and support students to be innovative and creative, to set the bar high in order to excel both academically and in developing the personal characteristics and cultural capital required to be outstanding young adults.
St Peter’s C E Academy St Peter’s Church of England Academy is a ‘good’ school; catering for both boys and girls between seven and eleven years of age. It has a very long history, stretching back over three hundred years, beginning its life in the Chantry of St Peter’s Church in 1704. Over recent years, St Peter’s has been on a rapid journey of self-improvement and development with a sharp focus on pupil achievement, staff wellbeing and development and embedding the Christian ethos; which alongside our vision of ‘Unlocking the gates to achievement within the love of the Lord’, has created a vibrant school community. We aspire to continue along this journey, seeking new ways to ignite learning and provide enriched opportunities for all our pupils, allowing them to reach their full potential academically, emotionally and spiritually. The school has received numerous awards for its work including School Games Gold Mark, RE Quality Silver Mark and Active Young Citizens Award.
Stanwick Primary Academy Stanwick Primary Academy is a local village school where there is a caring, welcoming ethos. Our children learn to be both part of a local, national and global community and they develop the skills to help them contribute as citizens. Our vision reflects a passionate devotion to every child’s learning and recognition of their uniqueness. All that we do promotes the development of each child emotionally, morally, physically, socially, spiritually and academically, providing the appropriate learning environment to achieve this. Our staff team is committed to achieving high standards and providing the very best opportunities for the children in our care. Our academy continues to develop in many exciting ways, providing even greater enriching opportunities for our children. Staff, supported by governors, work hard to deliver a rich and challenging curriculum; to prepare children for future education; and to help them acquire the skills and enthusiasm needed to pursue learning for the rest of their lives.
What are we looking for?
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The Manor Learning Trust is going through a period of rapid change and development and the CEO will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the Trust and creating an appropriate framework for governance, leadership and performance. This will involve working with the Directors and Senior Leaders to further develop our vision and better understand what our MAT will need to succeed as it grows. The CEO’s inspirational leadership will develop Trust-wide strategies and policies to create a culture of constant improvement and high levels of professional standards to secure outstanding quality in every aspect of the Trust’s provisions. With new schools joining the Trust, plans are under-way to develop a Central Services Team (CTS). The CEO, supported by the CTS, will work with senior colleagues across the Trust to promote collaborative approaches to provision and support services and create a culture that encourages mutual respect, openness and the sharing of ideas. Securing outstanding opportunities and achievement for all our students is our common purpose. The CEO will be instrumental in creating a learning culture across the MAT that promotes common accountability in all staff for student progress and attainment and secures outcomes for all students that are consistently good or better. This is an exciting time for the MAT; we are ready to move forward and would like to appoint a candidate who will be invigorated by the opportunities and challenges this role provides.
Job Description Post Title
Chief Executive Officer
The Manor Learning Trust (MLT) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Reporting to: The Chair of the Board of Directors of the Manor Learning Trust. Accountable to: The Members of the Manor Learning Trust. Responsible for: The Academy Principals and Central Services Team. Purpose: To ensure that both the MAT as a whole and its individual academies achieve consistently good or better outcomes for all its students To provide through inspirational and motivational leadership, clear strategic direction, and demanding and measurable targets to secure the vision and strategy agreed by the Trust Board To ensure that the MAT’s financial viability is secure, firmly based on accurate analysis, the optimum use of resources and the generation of sufficient surplus funding to meet development needs Lead and manage the Central Services Team to ensure the academies have the resources and support to operate effectively and efficiently and maximise the benefits of shared services and economies of scale Work with Members and Directors in the Trust to ensure that the corporate governance arrangements of the Trust are effective and in line with the requirements of Companies House, including the Annual Report and other statutory returns To act as the lead education professional for the MAT to ensure it has an effective education strategy and vision and act as an ambassador inspiring and empowering others, whilst maintaining a high standard of personal integrity and professional conduct 1. Strategy
Work with the Board and the Trust Central Services Team to develop a strategy and vision for the Trust, with plans and budgets setting out how the Trust and its constituent academies will move forward towards the Trust’s strategic goals each year Work with Members, Directors and Local Governing Bodies to ensure robust governance structures are in place and actively adding value to the work of the MAT and member schools; working with all stakeholders to develop a vision and growth strategy for the MAT, building capacity for opportunities to widen the Trust’s provision for the benefit of local communities, and developing appropriate transitional arrangements for schools new to the MAT Ensure the strategic development plan is underpinned by sound financial advice and business planning in accordance with development priorities and targets to deliver well-resourced provision with the Trust and its member schools to facilitate constant improvement Act as an ambassador to develop strong relationships with sponsors and educational partners to enhance educational provision to create the optimum educational opportunities for all students across the Trust 2. Leadership and Management Lead the Central Services Team and Principals in each academy to ensure the MAT is run efficiently, effectively and in compliance with statutory and regulatory frameworks; ensuring effective systems are in place for the management and monitoring of the Trust while maximising financial resources and exploring opportunities for increasing levels of external funding and securing value for money in all operations
Provide leadership and direct line management to the Central Services Team to ensure academies are fully supported, opportunities for consistency and efficiency across the Trust are maximised Provide motivational and inspirational leadership at all levels, develop an ethos of continuous improvement and actively drive the strategic plan forward ensuring it is fully aligned and fits with the local academy plans Ensure that the Trust’s management and organisational structures are fit for purpose and lead to and support continuous improvement Work with local governing bodies and senior colleagues to build effective teams to support collaborative approaches, foster respect and encourage openness to create a supportive learning culture across the MAT; promote a culture of common accountability in all staff for student performance and attainment To instigate and lead on the transfer of new schools into the Trust to ensure appropriate due diligence and risk assessment is carried out and timely project management is in place to achieve a smooth transition, complying with all appropriate protocols To ensure that new academies joining the Trust have the staffing, governance and curriculum structures in place to achieve the required educational outcomes for their students, within the time and budget parameters set for each academy Oversee performance management practices to ensure staff are motivated and enabled to carry out their respective roles to the highest standard 3. Teaching and Learning and Academy Development To work collaboratively with the Principals in each academy to determine and implement demanding curriculum provision and related assessment that meets statutory requirements and the Trust’s education vision for all students To lead and manage the operation of the MAT through the Principals/Heads of each school so that all students benefit from an outstanding education. Enabling all schools within the MAT to deliver and sustain educational excellence by managing and supporting the implementation of school improvement strategies and demanding outstanding academic progress, achievement and success through the development of confident learners within a culture of inclusiveness Take a strategic lead in supporting the delivery of excellent teaching and learning throughout all member schools through the promotion of high-level professional standards, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation of teaching quality and students’ achievements; challenging educational under-achievement and inspiring children to reach their full potential
4. General
Ensure compliance of the Trust Board, Committees and Local Governing Bodies with the Scheme of Delegation and Terms of Reference and that the Trust Board and member academies have the appropriate statutory policies and oversee their implementation and compliance Ensure the Trust responds effectively and appropriately to new legislation, policy and practice affecting multi academy trusts and member academies To develop and maintain effective relationships with the Department for Education (DFE), Education Funding Agency (EFA), Regional Schools Commissioners (RSCs), Peterborough Diocese and others as appropriate, local authorities, head teachers and governing Bodies of local schools, collaborating with them to secure and extend the reputation, values and vision of the Trust and encourage other schools to join the MAT To ensure that local communities served by the Trust are actively engaged with its work and have confidence in the quality of its provision Ensure everyone employed across the MAT is treated fairly and equitably to include building an excellent collaborative learning culture and supporting all school leaders to develop staff by ensuring access to high quality continuing professional development for all
Maximise opportunities to promote and enhance effective working relationships across all schools in the MAT and other partners, sharing best practice Promote the MAT’s commitment to safeguarding and the welfare of children and young people and ensure that the policies and procedures relating to safeguarding and safer recruitment that are adopted by the Trust Board are fully implemented and followed by all staff As ambassador for the Trust, present a coherent and accurate account of the Trust’s performance to a range of audiences, including Governors, the local community, OFSTED and others
5. Finance and Resources
To act as the Accounting Officer for the MAT, ensuring that its educational and financial performance is effectively managed and it meets all its statutory and regulatory obligations With the support of the Business and Finance Director ensure that the MAT’s long term financial sustainability is secured, so that the plans for the MAT as a whole and for individual schools are soundly based and deliver the required outcomes for students To advise the Trust Board on their agreement of the proposed budgets and plans of the Trust and its constituent academies, and discuss as necessary with the Regional Schools Commissioner, DfE and relevant funding agencies As ex‐officio Director of the Trust the role is to ensure compliance with the Trust’s Memorandum and Articles of Association and associated statutory, regulatory and legal requirements, the requirements of the Trust’s Master and Supplemental Funding Agreements To provide information, reports, objective advice and support to the Board to enable it to meet its responsibilities for securing effective teaching and learning and improved standards of achievement, and for achieving efficiency and value for money
This job description will be reviewed regularly to reflect the plans, growth and development of the Trust.
Person Specification Essential Qualifications
Experience
Thinking Ability
Desirable
Level 7 qualification e.g. Masters level qualification in a related academic area with extensive experience in the relevant specialist areas of work, or a wider range of areas
Or Evidence of the equivalent level of knowledge gained through work experience in complex organisations Proven track record of successful business planning and financial management Proven track record of managing change within a large organisation Significant senior management experience of a large educational establishment or at an executive level in a successful commercial organisation Knowledge and understanding of current educational landscape including issues relating to academies Significant experience of using assessment data to inform decision-making Demonstrable success in school improvement planning and evaluation Experience of statutory assessment and OfSTED inspections Demonstrable success in leading and inspiring teams of people and building effective relationships at all levels within and organisation Successful experience of collaborative working with a wide range of stakeholders, including governors and external agencies A strategic thinker who can analyse and process complex information and date quickly and rigorously in order to make effective decisions Thinks creatively and imaginatively to solve problems and identify opportunities
Experience of curriculum innovation and design to maximise opportunities, progression and outcomes
Thinking Ability (continued)
Personal Effectiveness
General Requirements
Able to develop, articulate and promote a clear vision for the future Able to plan effectively to manage change and ensure future success Has presence and gravitas and able to act as an Ambassador and network effectively for the organisation
Able to communicate effectively at all levels, showing compassion and empathy
Able to be resilient and robust whilst also showing compassion in dealing with issues and is calm under pressure Able to demonstrate sound judgement and prioritise issues / risks effectively Can consult and negotiate effectively to influence others and inspire high levels of performance across the organisation Able to be flexible and modify own behaviour to achieve the required outcomes A genuine commitment to the values and ethos of the Manor Learning Trust and its individual academies Demonstrate a firm commitment to the concept of Multi-Academy Trust and desire to see the Trust flourish and expand in a sustainable manner Applicants must not be disqualified by law from holding directorships and must undergo a DBS check Able to travel to all academies in the Trust within a reasonable timescale Able to work flexibly to attend meetings outside normal business hours as required
What can we offer? We offer the opportunity to:
help shape the future direction of our Trust
create outstanding opportunities and impact positively on the achievements of young people in the communities we serve
lead highly qualified, motivated and talented staff
work in an organisation that values colleagues and where there is a genuine belief in the importance of staff well-being
enjoy 6 weeks’ annual leave
live and work in a semi-rural location that offers competitive house prices, with outstanding leisure and shopping facilities and excellent transport links to all areas of the country
How to apply Please complete an application form in full in black ink or type. CVs are not accepted and should not be submitted as part of the application. Your supporting letter should be no more than 2 sides of A4 and should enhance your application by highlighting the specific skills and experience you could bring to the role; particularly your leadership experience. We would also like you to give us an indication of your philosophy on education and leadership. If you have any questions please contact Sarah Charles, HR Director, in the first instance, on 01933 623921 or email
[email protected]. Please return completed applications to this email address or by post to Manor School Sports College, FAO Sarah Charles, HR Director. The closing date for this post is 9.00am 12 March 2018. Interviews will be held on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 March 2018.
manorlearningtrust.org.uk C/O Manor School Sports College, Mountbatten Way, Raunds, Northants, NN9 6PA 01933 623921
