Our Trustees come from all walks of life and all backgrounds. This diversity is a crucial component of the success of the Group, as our Trustees bring a wide range of perspectives into our academies.

To be a BOA Group Trustee, you need to be willing and able to dedicate some time to the role and you need to be a good team player.

You can expect up to four Trust Board meetings per year – these are usually on a weekday morning and last for around 2 hours. We have adopted a flexible approach with some meetings conducted in person at one of the BOA Group academies and other meetings conducted virtually. Trustees should also visit the academies within the Trust at least three times a year so they can see first-hand how they operate and have the opportunity to speak to pupils and staff.

Trustees with expertise in specific areas may be asked to join committees which report back to the main board. This may include academic standards, finance and general purposes or staff nominations and remunerations.

Being a Trustee can be highly rewarding and an opportunity to gain an insight into the workings of an academy, and to play a part in improving outcomes for pupils and students.

A Trustee should expect to serve for a minimum of one four-year term with the opportunity to extend this for a second term. 

In addition to those duties and responsibilities performed by all trustees, the chair is generally considered to lead on:

• Instigating and facilitating discussions on the strategic development of the MAT;
• Ensuring that the board has agreed strategic priorities.
• Holding the chief executive to account for the effective management and delivery of the MAT’s strategic aims and objectives, where appropriate.
• Constructively supporting and appraising the performance of the chief executive officer.
• Building and maintaining close relations between the MAT’s various constituencies, including members and stakeholder groups to promote the effective operation of the MAT’s activities.
• Upholding the values of the MAT by example, and to ensure that the organisation promotes equality and diversity for all its stakeholders.
• Facilitating effective board meetings, liaising with the governance professional and chief executive officer where appropriate, with the drafting of agendas and supporting papers for trustee meetings and ensuring that the business is covered efficiently and effectively.
• Encouraging all trustees to contribute their skills, experience and opinions in order to ensure adequate challenge and robust scrutiny.
• Creating a board environment with strong working relationships where challenge and scrutiny are welcomed.
• Attending and chairing, committees, local governing bodies and other ad hoc meetings of the main board.
• Liaising with the governance professional to lead on the planning, setting and chairing of trustee meetings and general meetings, where appropriate.
• Ensuring, in liaison with the governance professional, that appropriate procedures, processes and controls are in place and followed.
• Participating in any board induction, training and evaluation identified as an individual trustee and as part of the board or committee.
• Maintaining the trustees’ commitment to board diversity, renewal and succession planning, in line with the MAT’s articles of association and current good practice.
• Undertaking to ensure the effectiveness of the governance structure through skills audits, inspections and internal and external governance reviews, taking remedial action where necessary with an expectation of high standards across the board.
• Acting between full meetings of the board in authorising action to be taken intra vires, e.g. banking transactions and legal documents in accordance with the scheme of delegation. 

The following characteristics, knowledge and experience (or commitment to gain them) would be advantageous to the role of chair:

• High level of understanding and interest in the issues of education and MATs and a commitment to the values and principles of the MAT.
• Strong business and financial acumen with experience of committee work.
• Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills with proven leadership skills.
• Strong organisational skills and an ability to understand complex strategic issues, analyse and resolve difficult problems.
• Sound, independent judgement, common sense and diplomacy, exercising high standards of personal integrity and probity.
• Politically astute, with the ability to grasp relevant issues and understand relationships between interested parties.
• A clear understanding, and acceptance, of the legal duties, liabilities and responsibilities of trustees, demonstrated through a sound knowledge of governance.
• Resilience with sufficient time and commitment to fulfil the role.

Trustees will be expected to build strong relationships with other members of the Trust Board, governors and company members as well as the Chief Executive, central-office Group Staff and the Principals and wider senior leadership team of the academies.

The BOA Group employs an experienced governance professional who supports the governors and trustees. The governance professional is able to offer advice and support alongside a formal suite of training provided by Group staff and local authorities.

Working with other local schools and a network of performing arts industry partners, schools and training providers across the country, Trustees are able to seek advice, share best practice and meet with counterparts from across the sector.

The BOA Group is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

The BOA Group is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Members of the Trust Board will be asked to completed a declaration of interests on an annual basis. This should include relationships with existing staff or students, employment, directorships or other voluntary positions which may restrict the ability to offer impartial challenge to senior leaders.

Please note, Trustees are also company directors and will be registered with Companies House. Trustees must be free from any restrictions to operate in this capacity.