Shaw Education Trust is a dynamic multi-academy trust that operates a diverse portfolio of some thirty academy schools including secondary, primary, and special. Our mission is to empower students and staff to achieve their fullest potential through innovation, support, and high educational standards. The trust is committed to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and inclusive educational practices. Effective and professional HR strategies and practices are essential enabling factors contributing to the trust’s overall, growth-focused strategic plan.
This is an opportunity to join the board of a highly regarded MAT with highly motivated, professional trustees and to work with an exceptional group of executives and school leaders across the trust. The successful candidate will be a member of the trust board and a statutory director and, in addition to the general duties of a trustee/director, will be the lead adviser to the board on all HR and people-related matters ensuring that our policies and approach reflect best practice and the highest ethical standards and are consistent with the overall strategic direction of the trust. The HR trustee will chair the board’s Nominations and Remuneration sub-committee and will act as informal mentor to the Chief People Officer.
This position offers the opportunity to influence key aspects of governance, leadership development, and workforce management, directly impacting the effectiveness and culture in our academies. In particular to ensure that the board is fully sighted on the issues affecting the following areas of HR activity;
- Strategic HR Leadership: Strategic oversight, challenge and support on critical HR matters such as organisational development, change management, our talent portfolio, and leadership capability.
- Recruitment, Retention and Remuneration: Strategies for attracting and retaining highly skilled educators and support staff.
The role is unremunerated but reasonable expenses will be paid. The time commitment involves pre-reading of board and committee papers and attendance in person at approximately five full day board meetings per annum in the Midlands plus attendance at a similar number of shorter subcommittee meetings, which are usually held remotely. Additional time should be allowed initially for induction and some school visits.
Shaw Education Trust are a thriving mix of diverse and growing schools including Primary, Secondary and Special Schools all working together to improve the lives of young people in our communities. We are sponsored by Shaw Trust a charity organisation that focuses on transforming lives. We’re a growing group of dynamically awesome academies providing education to children of all ages and abilities. Staff across our team of schools are dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to be successful, whatever their starting point in life.
Our schools span from Birmingham to Bury, meaning that we can support students from all walks of life, no matter their background or socioeconomic status. In doing this, we are able to help ensure all children are able to access a high standard of education, with all being treated equally.
We also encourage collaboration within and between our academies, creating a community of professionals who share a wide range of valuable experience and specialist knowledge. This is supported through our creation of a network of ‘hubs’ across our schools, covering all teaching subjects and operational areas. Our regular hub meetings enable staff members to stay up-to-date with latest guidance and skills, as well as collaborate and practice share with others from different school settings.
Shaw Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment, click here to review Safeguarding and Pupil Protection Policy https://www.shaw-education.org.uk/our-trust/key-information
This position is subject to appropriate vetting procedures including an online checks and criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions.
All shortlisted candidates will undergo an online search as part of Trust safer recruitment.
We reserve the right to appoint before the closing date as we review applications on an on-going basis and interviews may be arranged as suitable candidates are identified. Therefore, we encourage early applications.
We are an Equal Opportunities employer and will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment.
In accordance with our safer recruitment policy CV’s alone will not be accepted.
Successful candidates will be subject to a fully Enhanced DBS check along with other relevant employment checks.