Do you want to make a difference in your community? Do you want to develop your own professional skills?
By volunteering as a Gosforth Group Trustee or Local Advisory Group representative, you can do both.
We are a dynamic Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) which aims to educate, support and nurture all of our students so they can achieve their potential and fulfil their ambitious aspirations.
We currently have four schools in the MAT – Gosforth Academy, Gosforth Junior High Academy, Jesmond Park Academy and North Gosforth – and we are responsible for the education and personal development of over 5500 young people.
With two new schools opening in September 2021, we’re looking for new people to join us and play an important role in leading our academies.
By joining our team, you’ll help set the strategic vision and direction for the organisation and our schools, help to approve and monitor the budgets, and hold the senior leadership teams to account by providing strategic management, challenge and accountability.
Why join Gosforth Group governance?
Our volunteers tell us that the benefits of being a Trustee or LAG representative are immense. Using and developing your skills in a board-level environment you’ll:
- Be able to make a valuable contribution to children’s education, opportunities and futures
- Get the chance to make a real difference to young people and to give something back to your local community
- Find the role hugely rewarding, yet challenging, joining the largest volunteer workforce in the country with over a quarter of a million volunteers governing state funded schools in England
Our Trustees and LAG representatives come from all walks of life; they might be parents, staff, members of the local community or business, or might simply have an interest in education.
We have a strong existing team, so we’re looking for people who offer a diversity of knowledge, skills, and experience to ensure balance across our academies.
You’ll work in partnership with academy staff with the aim of providing the highest possible standards of education and to help all children reach their potential.
Governance can be a rewarding, enjoyable and stimulating experience and can give you an opportunity to contribute your skills and develop new ones.
What will be expected of me?
Governance is a voluntary role and therefore not paid. The average time commitment is five to eight hours per month, although it will vary depending on the needs of the academy and the role. This includes meetings, background reading and school visits. Like magistrates or members of a jury, those involved in school governance have a right to reasonable time off work for their public duties, although this may be unpaid.
Trustees and LAG representatives have a term of office - this is normally four years. Many people choose to serve multiple terms, however as a volunteer you can resign before your term is finished if your circumstances change.
How to get involved?
If you are interested and would like to find out more, please visit our website to learn more about who we are and then contact our Chair of Trustees, George Snaith using the 'contact us' link at the bottom of the page.