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Become a Governor
At Uplands Academy, we are proud to be part of MARK Education Trust, where strong governance plays a key role in supporting our school's success and the opportunities we provide for our students.
MARK Education Trust's board of trustees is the accountable body for the trust and is responsible for ensuring the trust meets its charitable purpose of advancing education for public good.
Trustees undertake three core strategic functions:
- Ensuring there is clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction.
- Holding executive leaders to account for the educational performance of the organisation, its students, and the performance management of staff.
- Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.
Our governors and trustees work closely with school and trust leaders to provide strategic oversight, challenge and support, helping to ensure that every student benefits from a high-quality education and a positive school experience.
Current Governance Opportunities
We are currently looking to strengthen our governance community across MARK Education Trust and would welcome interest from individuals with professional expertise, particularly in:
- Finance
- Audit and Risk
- Cyber Security
These are strategic, voluntary roles that provide an opportunity to use your professional knowledge and experience to help shape the future direction of education across our trust.
While governance roles are not involved in the day-to-day operation of schools, they play a vital role in supporting long-term success, ensuring accountability and helping our schools deliver the very best outcomes for young people.
Why Become a Governor or Trustee?
Becoming a governor or trustee is a rewarding way to:
- Make a meaningful difference to young people's lives.
- Support the continued success of your local schools and communities.
- Develop your own experience in leadership, strategy and governance.
- Work alongside experienced professionals from a range of sectors.
- Contribute to the future success of MARK Education Trust.
Join Us
We welcome interest from people of all backgrounds and professional sectors. No previous governance experience is required, as training and support will be provided. The most important qualities are a commitment to education, a willingness to contribute and a desire to make a positive impact.
Please note that governance positions are voluntary and unpaid.
Interested in learning more?
To find out more about governance within MARK Education Trust, please visit the trust's governance pages: MARK Education Trust Governance
You can also contact our Trust Governance Manager, Cheryl Adams, for an informal conversation: cadams@markeducationtrust.org
We would also be grateful if you could share this opportunity within your professional networks, particularly on LinkedIn, to help us reach individuals who could make a real impact.
The trust board has established a Local Governing Committee (LGC) for Uplands Academy that includes members of the local community, as well as elected parent and staff governors. The LGC is delegated by the trust to monitor key aspects of the school’s performance in more detail. This includes:
- Considering strategies to improve the quality of education and outcomes for all students, but especially disadvantaged students and those with Special Educational Needs.
- Ensuring that students and staff are safe and happy, with a specific focus on improving behaviour and attendance.
- Engaging with stakeholders to ensure that parents, staff, students and the wider school community are informed and work collectively for the good of the school.
The trust is always interested to hear from prospective candidates who would like to contribute to the important work of the LGC.
There are no formal qualifications needed, however, the one essential requirement is an interest in, and commitment to, the education of the students. Local governors need not be experts in the field of education but will need the necessary skills, character and time to contribute.
Skills that would be advantageous to have are the ability to build relationships with a range of people, to be able to work as part of a team, to be able to question, be discreet, open minded & fair and to make connections between different types of information.
A local governor serves for a term of four years. The Local Governing Committee meets four times a year and meetings take place at 4-6pm. Local governors are expected to carry out regular monitoring visits to the school to meet with staff and students to discuss developments in certain key areas.
In addition, local governors may be asked to convene a panels, relating to a complaint or an exclusion. There is also an expectation that local governors will commit to completing relevant training and CPD, particularly in the area of safeguarding and child protection.
Governors must be prepared to adopt the Nolan principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty and leadership.
The role of a local governor is voluntary and therefore is not paid.