Non Executive Board Member

Oak National Academy is an independent public body, funded by the Department for Education. We help improve the quality of curriculum teachers teach and pupils access, and lower teacher workload from lesson planning. We achieve this by providing free access to thousands of teacher-made, fully-sequenced teaching resources, aligned to the national curriculum, and inspiration and advice for schools on how to design their own curriculum.

We are looking for new members to join our Board as Non-Executive Directors. The role will require a commitment of up to 20 days per year (with some in-person meetings in London). Remuneration at the rate of £316 per day.

Specifically, we are looking to recruit:

• A permanent Board member with education and curriculum expertise
• A permanent Board member with digital and technology expertise

Board members will also join one of the Board’s sub-committees

The new Board members will work to support the Chair to develop our strategy and support and hold the executive team to account for its delivery. This includes supporting Oak National Academy to achieve its objective of advancing the education of learners of all ages (and those supporting them), improving pupil outcomes and closing the disadvantage gap.

Responsibilities

• Work effectively with Board members to develop a successful strategy which ensures Oak has a positive impact and achieves its objectives.
• Monitor performance against agreed targets and provide support, advice and challenge to the executive team on their delivery.
• Ensure the Board and Committees operate within the limits of its authority, including in accordance with the Nolan Principles and the code of conduct for board members of public bodies, and abiding to conditions relating to the use of public funds. This includes being seen as politically impartial and consideration of conflicts of interest.
• Ensure high standards of corporate governance are observed at all times.
• Participate in and/or chair committees of the Board, as required by the Chair.

Knowledge, skills, and experience

• The ability to make strategic, evidenced based decisions by drawing on and applying the latest information or research.
• Exceptional communication skills to support the ability to build effective relationships at senior level and/or between organisations.
• The ability to drive forward the work of an organisation at non-executive level, with a successful track record in the public, voluntary or private sectors of ensuring that strategic objectives are achieved.
• Experience and knowledge that will contribute to the Oak National Academy Board.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate a proven track record of experience in one of the following areas:

• Expertise in evidence-based curriculum and/or pedagogy
• Teaching and school leadership
• Digital/Technology

• We are also looking for generalist skills in the following areas:
• Strategic thinking
• Governance
• Leadership
• Financial literacy
• Risk management
• Diligence
• Integrity/ethics
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