Chief Executive Officer Application Pack 1
Aspire Multi-Academy Trust Welcome Message from the Chair of the Academy Trust: Peter Golightly Dear Applicant, Thank you very much for requesting the details for the post of Chief Executive Officer. Aspire is a Nottinghamshire primary school-focussed Multi-Academy Trust (MAT), currently with four Academies, soon to grow to five by July. Founded in February 2014 with East Bridgford St. Peter s and Archbishop Cranmer (Aslockton) Church of England Academies it is expanding over the next three months with three new Academies Sir John Sherbrooke Junior (Calverton), Kirkby Woodhouse Primary and Gunthorpe Church of England Primary. The MAT was founded on, and is guided by, a strong Christian ethos based on its six Guiding Principles and its core purposes of life in all its fullness, and profound personal development. We are passionate about the journey our children will take whilst in our care, at the heart of which is a dedicated teaching and non-teaching workforce. Together, our aim is to provide shared skills and shared opportunities for professional development of staff and experiences for children. At the very forefront of our drive for improved educational standards is the determination to work together in partnership to enable Aspire s Academies to offer the very best educational experience to all of the children in our local communities. The developing MAT has the potential to become a hub of excellence, a reflective leader of learning, a provider of education for 4 to 11 year olds that enables children to develop their skills and meet their full potential. Three of the Academies are Church schools and this unique organisation has the full backing and support of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. Aspire would like to appoint an ambitious and energetic Chief Executive Officer, who will work alongside the Leadership Teams of the schools and the MAT Board, developing and maintaining the strong core ethos in line with the vision of the Board. For an informal, confidential discussion regarding any queries, please contact: Grace Rowley at Academicis on T: 01223-907973, M: 07901-585959 or E: growley@academicis.co.uk. School visits can be arranged. We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, Peter Golightly Chair of Aspire MAT Board 2
Contents About the Aspire Multi-Academy Trust Page 4 & 5 Aspire s Academies Page 6 Job Description Pages 8 to 10 Person Specification Page 12 & 13 How to Apply Page 14 Application Form See separate Application and Monitoring Form Recruitment Monitoring Form See separate Application and Monitoring Form Safeguarding Statement See separate Application and Monitoring Form 3
ASPIRE S AIMS To maximise the opportunities for all our children, ensuring they succeed and thrive in our Academies and that we raise their aspirations and tackle unfairness and disadvantage. To provide strong support for our Headteachers and their staff to focus on teaching and learning. To provide an environment in which all our colleagues, as well as members of the wider community, take pride. To ensure our take care ethos, based on core Christian values, is embedded in everything we do and is reflected in all aspects of the curriculum offered. To focus on the academic development of our children within a curriculum framework that also pays close attention to their personal development. To develop pupils abilities to make informed choices, solve problems and make decisions. ASPIRE S OUTCOMES We set ourselves high standards: and expect for all our children to make consistently good or better progress across all year groups, so that most pupils are at age-related expectations and many will exceed this; and all our lessons should show a strong context for learning, be graded good or outstanding and ensure that all pupils are fully engaged and are applying their skills appropriately; so all our Academies should be well-led and governed; for all our Academies to be self-improving organisations that strive for ever higher standards; and expect all our Academies should be judged good or better in both Ofsted Section 5 inspections and SIAMS Section 48 inspections. ETHOS AND GUIDING PRINCIPLES All Academies within Aspire share a common vision and ethos and work together under a set of shared guiding principles. Although these are based on Christian principles, Aspire is open to Church and non-church schools which are prepared to share the same ethos. The Guiding Principles shared by each Academy within Aspire are: Together in achievement. Each Academy is a take care school, where we take care of our self, each other, the world and our work. We work hard to maximise the learning and growing of all our pupils, in a take care environment. Every child has the right to learn and grow in a caring school where they feel safe and happy and which provides equal opportunity for all. Striving to be the best we can be. For children for all. 4
ABOUT THE ASPIRE MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST The Aspire MAT was formed in February 2014 when two maintained schools, East Bridgford St. Peter s and Archbishop Cranmer (Aslockton), both Church of England Schools with long-standing Outstanding Ofsted ratings, converted to Academies. The two Academies are currently led by an Executive Headteacher. The MAT will expand to include five Academies when three schools academise between April and July 2017. Two are non-church schools Sir John Sherbrooke Junior School (Calverton) and Kirkby Woodhouse Primary School. The third is a C of E school, Gunthorpe Primary School. The MAT is appointing a Chief Executive Officer to succeed the Executive Headteacher. The CEO will continue to seek to grow with other Academies which wish to be part of a forward-looking, primary school focussed MAT with a foundation of shared principles and ethos, high standards and values, and strong leadership all developed through its member Academies being partners and sharing in the development and future of the MAT. HOW THE ASPIRE MULTI-ACADEMY TRUST WORKS The Aspire MAT is run by an Executive Board (Board of Directors) which is accountable to the Department for Education, and run according to a scheme of delegation which defines the responsibilities and decision making undertaken by the Executive Board, and its Committees, the Chief Executive Officer, Academy Headteachers or Heads of School, and the Local Governing Bodies (LGBs). Aspire has a strong Christian ethos, but does not restrict its members to Church of England schools. Each Academy has its own LGB who represent the local community, drawing from parents, staff and other skills-based representatives. Each LGB recommends its composition which is approved by the Aspire Executive Board. The local Academy Headteacher, together with the LGB, is responsible for managing the Academy s local budget, staff appointments and its day to day running. The Aspire Executive Board will have input into senior staff appointments, the level being dependant on the status of the Academy. The Aspire Board is appointed on a skills and needs basis and looks to recruit, whenever possible, from LGBs. External appointments to the Board will be made when appropriate. 5
ASPIRE S FUNDING Aspire believes that, whenever possible, LGBs should control their local budget and spend their own funds on their Academy. Within a MAT, many services are sourced centrally. This enables all Academies to benefit from the purchasing power, large-scale negotiated contracts and experience of the MAT. The central costs for the MAT are covered by a charge of 5% of the revenue budget allocation for each Academy. This covers items such as central contracts for services, leadership and administration. This is continually re-assessed as the Trust expands. SPONSORED ACADEMIES Aspire has been approved to be an Academy Sponsor which will enable schools requiring improvement support, where results have been challenging, to join the MAT. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE OF ASPIRE 6
Our Academies The Aspire Academies offer a friendly, vibrant, busy and challenging place for learners with a take care approach to all aspects of school life. All of our Academies seek to go beyond expectations in all we do. We understand the importance of teaching and the foundation skills all children need. It is a journey of commitment and confidence, of participation and hard work, of creativity and learning, of success and support, of attainment and value and of encouragement, set within a vibrant and evolving inclusive culture of opportunity and achievement. Further information on our current Academies is below. Please do take the time to read through the school websites, which offer further insight into how we live and breath our ethos, values and vision. School Name Number on Roll Age Range Ofsted Rating Website SIAMS Inspection East Bridgford St. Peter s Church of England Academy 273 4 to 11 years Outstanding 2011 www.eastbridgfordstpeters.co.uk Outstanding 2012 Archbishop Cranmer Church of England Academy 147 4 to 11 years Outstanding 2009 www.archbishopcranmer.co.uk Outstanding 2015 (Aslockton) Kirkby Woodhouse Primary School 389 3 to 11 years Good 2014 www.kirkbywoodhouse.notts.sch.uk N/A Gunthorpe Church of England Primary School 73 3 to 11 years Good 2013 www.gunthorpeschool.co.uk Good 2014 Sir John Sherbrooke Junior School (Calverton) 170 7 to 11 years Good 2013 www.sirjohnsherbrooke.co.uk N/A The five academies across Nottinghamshire that will be part of Aspire are from a diverse range of locations and communities, including small and medium sized rural villages, a former mining village and a small market town. These communities possess a variety of demographic and social features that help to make up the mixed nature of Aspire, which is bound together by its shared, common ethos. 7
CEO: Job Description 8
CEO: Job Description Job Title Salary Closing Date Chief Executive Officer 70,000 to 80,000 per annum (with potential enhancement for an exceptional candidate) Monday 24th April 2017, noon Accountable To The Academy Trust Board Reporting To The Chair of the Board of Directors. In addition the CEO will be required to report to the members and other key stakeholders, including the DfE and the Regional Schools Commissioner. The Chief Executive Officer will be an outstanding strategic leader who is able to articulate the vision, values and ethos for the Aspire Multi-Academy Trust and will inspire and empower others to share in achieving them. The CEO will come from a successful school leadership position and will take responsibility for the performance of all Academies within the Trust. 1. Overall 2. Strategic RESPONSIBILITIES To provide strategic leadership and direction of the Trust and its Academies within the vision and strategy agreed by the Trust Board, to ensure that children consistently achieve good or better outcomes. To ensure that the Trust s financial viability is secure, firmly based on accurate analysis and is able to meet the Trust s and its Academies needs. To be the lead education professional for Academies in the Trust, ensuring an effective strategy for building educational and leadership capacity ahead of need. Act as an ambassador for the Trust to promote the Aspire MAT, its ethos and values across Nottinghamshire, the DfE and its Regional Schools Commissioner, and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. Provide overall leadership and direction to the Trust and its Academies within the vision and strategy agreed by the Trust Board. Support the Trust Board in the formulation and development of strategy and ensure that all decisions made by the Board are recorded and implemented. Hold Local Governing Bodies and school leaders to account for maintaining and further developing the vision and values of the Trust and their own individual ethos within it. Develop a robust strategy, and take all necessary steps, to expand the Aspire MAT, at a progressive and sustainable rate, from primary schools (Church and non- Church) in Nottinghamshire. Continue the growth of Aspire with both Church and non-church schools and develop and implement an income-generating capacity in the Trust by utilising the expertise and resources available within and outside the Trust. In conjunction with the Finance/Business Manager, take responsibility for the annual business plan and key documents such as the Trust s long term strategic plan, self-evaluation and improvement plans for the Academies. Lead the growth and development of the Trust, including due diligence and preparing schools for conversion. Together with the Trust Board and Finance/Business Manager, ensure proactive, robust and appropriate risk mitigation and management for the Trust and that the risk strategy is aligned to local academy risk strategies. Develop and maintain effective relationships with key partners/stakeholders: the Regional School Commissioner (RSC), Department for Education (DfE), Education Funding Agency (EFA), the Local Authorities, Trade Unions, Church of England in Nottingham, local teaching schools, Trust Directors, school leaders and the Local Governing Bodies. As Chief Accounting Officer for the Trust, provide holistic and strategic vision and planning for generating additional income streams. Maintain an outward facing role on behalf of the Trust to further its external relationships, future growth and development and support within the Aspire Multi- Academy Trust. 9
CEO: Job Description RESPONSIBILITIES 3. Leadership and Management 4. Faith and Ethos 5. Teaching and Learning/School Improvement Provide motivational and inspirational leadership at all levels of the organisation. Be an inspirational leader, committed to the highest achievement in all areas of the Trust s work, and develop an ethos of continuous improvement. To actively drive the strategy priorities, ensuring that the Trust s strategic plan is fully aligned and fits with the local academy plans. Lead and manage all operations through the agreed organisational structure and accountability matrix, and through the development, implementation and review of Trust-level policies to ensure life in all its fullness for all involved with the Trust. Ensure that the Trust s management and organisational structures are fit for purpose and lead to and support continuous improvement. Lead the forums of the Principals/Headteachers and the Chairs of Local Governing Bodies to ensure effective communication is developed and maintained. A passion to drive and develop the strong distinctive Christian ethos of Aspire. Work with the board of directors, local governing bodies and staff in the Academies to define and deliver the Trust s Christian ethos, through values-led and motivational leadership, clear direction and measurable targets. Be accountable for all aspects of teaching and learning and standards across the Trust, setting high professional standards and ensuring the Trust s education vision is understood and embraced. Be responsible for developing and leading the framework and systems for school improvement across the Trust, providing quality assurance and accountability. Provide strategic direction and leadership for teaching and learning across the Academies, ensuring these enable individual Academies to be supported on their own improvement journeys. Develop and lead a Trust wide improvement service committed to working with individual school leaders and support them in ensuring that the requirements of each academy s performance are identified and analysed, appropriately costed and prioritised and actions are developed and secured. This to include negotiating the commissioning of external support from a range of providers or individuals through Academy to Academy support and/or external support from a range of quality assured sources. Undertake the role of School Challenge Advisor when needed. 6. Resources/ Change Management Hold the Trust s local Academies to account to ensure that in each the learning environment, resources and facilities are best used to enable children to experience life in all its fullness. Be accountable for large scale asset management across the estates of schools, including overseeing major capital projects. Work closely with the Diocesan Director of Education and Local Authorities in relation to school creation and expansion. Be responsible for meeting the demands of changing legislation and practice and new initiatives. Lead, oversee and advise on the allocation of resources across the Trust. In line with the agreed Trust Models of Delegation, select, train, develop, empower and motivate the senior staff of the Trust. Appoint associate consultants as appropriate and support local Academy Principals/Headteachers in recruitment and staff development. 10
CEO: Job Description RESPONSIBILITIES 7. Finance Procurement 8. Safeguarding and Compliance As Accounting Officer for the Trust, ensure that it works to the standards set out in the Academies Financial Handbook. Work closely with the Finance/Business Manager to ensure long-term financial sustainability, by establishing and confirming the effective monitoring of proper financial systems. That appropriate action is recommended to address problems identified, and to ensure that the Directors receive accurate and timely financial reports. Through the most appropriate agreed roles within the Trust structure, to negotiate and agree optimum price with various service providers in order to achieve economies of scale, and to adopt the appropriate procurement processes. Ensure that the Trust and all schools within the Trust meet their safeguarding responsibilities in line with current legislation. Be the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the Trust initially. Ensure that the Trust meets legislative and statutory requirements, including Health and Safety and those required by Companies House, the Charity Commissioners, Data Protection, and the master and supplementary Funding Agreements. Ensure the effective capture of all data to meet statutory and legislative structures. Embed across the Trust clear quality assurance systems that drive consistency and improvement in performance. 11
CEO: Person Specification 12
CEO: Person Specification Key Criteria Essential Desirable Professional Qualifications Experience Faith and Ethos Skills, Knowledge and Understanding Degree and recognised professional teaching qualification relevant to the role. A record of recent and relevant continuing professional development. At least five years proven track record of successful headship. Demonstrable success in achieving rapid and sustained school improvement. Experience of successful working with governing bodies. Evidence of strategic planning and budgetary management. Clear understanding of the current educational landscape. Successful track record of human and financial resource management. Actively promote and develop the Christian based ethos of Aspire Further develop the ethos, a model for excellence, across the Trust schools. Lead by example, encompassing the future vision of the Trust, by providing: A climate of participation. A culture of opportunity and ambition. A take care school where we take care of ourselves, each other, the world and with our work. Profound personal development opportunities for all. Comprehensive knowledge and experience of Ofsted s Schools Inspection Criteria and processes. Ability to communicate a vision of outstanding teaching and learning through inspiration and empowerment. Understanding of the statutory educational framework, current education issues in relation to Academies, Company and Charity Law; also knowledge of relevant policies, legislation and codes of practice across education. Clear understanding and knowledge of the role of governance in an Academy and Trust. Strategic planning, monitoring and review of progress against plans in terms of standards, performance and finances, taking decisive action as necessary. Understanding and knowledge of SIAMS framework. Post-graduate educational/ leadership or management qualification. Headship within a Trust environment. Headship experience in a school with a Christian character and ethos. Worked across a range of school types and sizes. Successfully led significant organisational change. Experience of successful CEO or Board role in a Trust setting environment or educational setting. Experience of developing PR and marketing strategies. Understanding of issues specifically relating to Academies. Knowledge and experience of working with RAISE online and new data dashboard. 13
CEO: Person Specification Key Criteria Essential Desirable Skills, Knowledge and Understanding Other Personal Qualities Financial project costing and budgetary management. Resource management: estimating securing and monitoring resources. Ability to advise on funding and grant opportunities for the Academy Trust. Ability and commitment to working flexibly and collaboratively as part of a team, whilst taking a leading role when required. Ability to plan strategically based on use of data, targets and bench marking. Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends when necessary. Belief in and commitment to the overarching values of the Trust and ability to articulate vision to a wide range of audiences. Highly effective and credible leader, who inspires the respect and support of others and has an open and approachable interpersonal style. Commitment to the highest of standards in all areas of school life. Strong leadership skills including adaptability and communication skills. The ability to be able to build a positive organisational culture, encourage reflection, delegate responsibility, build teams, strive for continuous improvements and inspire staff. Excellent relationship management, able to build effective working relationships at all levels, reinforcing partnerships. A strategic thinker who can establish and develop systems and processes to grow and mature the Trust. A team player with strong empowerment skills. Strong leadership skills. Adaptable and flexible. Excellent and adaptable communication skills. Advocacy, facilitation and negotiation skills. Demonstrates energy, dynamism, vision and resilience. Ability to develop a high profile and be a strong visible presence for the Trust. Excellent interpersonal skills. Current driving licence and access to a vehicle. Referencing and Eligibility: All appointments are subject to satisfactory references, eligibility to work in the UK. The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and expects all staff to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS will be required for this role. 14
How to apply Please complete the separate application and monitoring form. In addition you are asked to provide a personal statement of no more than 1500 words detailing: Why the post attracts you. What specific skills do you believe you have to offer the role that are distinct from, and additional to, headship. If you would like further information, or to arrange a school visit, please contact Grace Rowley at Academicis on: T: 01223-907973 M: 07901-585959 E: growley@academicis.co.uk All applications are to be sent to Grace Rowley no later than noon on Monday 24th April 2017. We reserve the right to research applicants on social media platforms and the internet, and the Trust Board may take this into consideration during the recruitment process. 15