Volunteer Chair

The Auriga Academy Trust aims to provide outstanding special needs provision for the local community in South West London. The Trust works in a supportive partnership with local special schools with each school maintaining its unique identity and ethos. Through the Trust the schools work collaboratively together to ensure maximum benefit for all students through shared best practice, resources and economies of scale. We are seeking a like-minded individual to be our new Chair of Trustees, providing effective leadership of our organisation.

About The Auriga Academy Trust

Our goal is to continually improve the quality of provision and experience to enhance outcomes for the pupils in our schools; to secure, develop and retain the dedicated and innovative workforce needed within our schools to ensure that our pupils can continue to flourish and learn; and to develop current and new partnerships to provide further opportunities for pupils, staff and stakeholders and to ensure that Auriga initiates creating capacity.

What will you be doing?

The new Chair will be responsible for:

· Ensuring the Board and CEO have a clear vision and strategy for the trust

· Leading the Board and ensuring strategy is implemented and monitored, with support from the Vice Chair and the governance professional

· Championing high standards of governance and continuous improvement

· Setting and agreeing the Board meeting agenda with support from the senior executive leader and the governance professional

· Line management of the senior executive

· The performance review of the governance professional in their governance role within the trust

· Setting expectations for professional standards of governance, creating the right conditions to support the Board’s discussions and decision-making

·  Ensuring that Trustees and committee members are committed and effective in their roles

· Where required, representing the Trust in its dealings with external partners and being an advocate for the Trust

· Regularly communicating with Committee Chairs including Chairs of LGBs providing a link to the Trust Board

· This role is mainly office-based

What are we looking for?

Candidates for the role of Chair should be able to demonstrate the following skills and attributes:

· Commitment to the trust and its mission.

· Personal integrity.

· Good understanding of the environment in which the trust is operating (education or Charity). 

· Good understanding of the role and legal responsibilities of the Board and Trustees.

· Strong relationship-building and communication skills.

· Negotiation and diplomacy skills with the ability to have courageous conversations.

· Ability to think strategically and objectively, take the long view and prioritise

· Capacity to process information quickly and understand relevant data, drawing valid conclusions with a considered approach to risk. 

· Ability to Chair meetings well, encouraging debate and facilitating decision-making. 

· Ability to build and get the best out of a team while addressing any skills or experience gaps. 

· Ability and willingness to delegate and trust others.

What difference will you make?

The new Chair of the Board will profoundly impact The Auriga Academy Trust by providing visionary strategic leadership, ensuring high standards of governance and accountability, and positioning the Trust as a center of excellence and innovation in special needs education. They will foster strong community engagement, promote sustainable and ethical practices, and enhance supportive partnerships with local special schools, all while respecting each school's unique identity and ethos. Through these efforts, the Chair will help the Trust achieve its mission of providing outstanding special needs education to its community. 

Commitment:

Initially a time commitment of 7 to 15 hours per week which will then reduce to 3-7 hours a week. 

The Chair of Trustees is expected to attend a minimum of 6 Board meetings per academic year, either during the day or evening, predominantly in person. Additionally, the Chair will sit on and attend or lead at least 3 committee meetings annually. Preparation for and active participation in these meetings are essential. The Chair will also engage in network meetings alongside the Vice Chair.