Haberdashers' Academies Trust South stems from the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers' vision to provide opportunities for all children to be educated. Beginning with a £20,000 charitable fund in 1689, the Trust has been educating children ever since, and is now a multi-academy trust consisting of nine schools – five primary and four secondary – based in south London and Kent.

Today, the Trust's vision is of excellent outcomes for all children and young people so they can be successful in their next steps and future lives. It is also focused on being regarded as a great employer, retaining and developing the best staff, as well as being the Trust of choice and a welcome presence in the communities which it serves. Its vision is built from values of aspiration and achievement, personal responsibility, self-discipline and mutual respect; it is forward-looking and values innovation, but always within the context of providing excellent education.

Haberdashers’ Hatcham College is a co-educational secondary school located in the New Cross area of South East London. Established in 1876, a founding member of Haberdashers' Academies Trust South since 2005, it embodies a rich culture of tradition whilst ensuring that pupils are fully prepared for the future.

In addition to its academic programs, Haberdashers’ Hatcham College provides a range of extracurricular activities, including sports teams, music and drama clubs, and various other societies and interest groups. The College’s music specialism has an impact on every student and all are given the opportunity to benefit from the school’s vibrant music tradition. The school also has strong links with the local community and provides opportunities for students to engage in volunteering and community service projects. It is truly a diverse school of over 1,300 students that celebrates a wide range of backgrounds, heritages, religions, languages, ethnic groups and social-economic circumstances.

The Chair is responsible for ensuring the effective functioning of the Local Governing Body (LGB) in its role of overseeing the quality of provision in the school and the outcomes the children achieve. More specifically, this includes providing the LGB with clear leadership and direction, keeping it focused on its core functions.

The Chair encourages the LGB to work together as an effective team, building their skills, knowledge and experience. They will need to ensure that everyone is actively contributing relevant skills and experience and participating constructively in meetings, as well as consider annually the composition and effectiveness of the LGB and make recommendations to the Trust Board for its development.

Furthermore, the Chair has a role in setting high expectations for professional standards of governance within the Board. They may be expected to represent the LGB at the Trust Board on formal occasions and at key meetings.

The new Chair may bring experience from any sector, whether in an executive or non-executive role. The successful candidate will most importantly have good knowledge of South London and understand the issues which matter to the Academy's local community. They will be able to represent a diverse range of stakeholders and act as a conduit between the Academy and the overall Trust.

Given their role in leading the Board effectively, providing challenge, scrutiny and support to the performance of the executive team as appropriate, some kind of prior board experience will be helpful. They may bring experience from the education sector, but this is not a requirement for the role. 

The LGB is currently undergoing a period of recruitment, after the previous Chair came in and strengthened membership. As such, there are existing parent and co-opted governors, some with educationalist backgrounds, but new co-opted governors are being recruited in order to expand the skills and experience on the Board. Haberdashers’ Hatcham College is keen to diversify its board to ensure that it represents the communities in which it serves so it is always looking to appoint candidates from the local community and especially diverse backgrounds.

Sir Robin Bosher, Chair (retiring)
Darren Pearce
James Richardson
Joanna Abeyie
Sarah Mitchell
Taschan Anthrobus
Zinat Fatama

A parent governor vacancy is in the process of being filled through election.

This role is unremunerated but reasonable, agreed travel expenses can be reimbursed. There are four Board meetings per year, with the opportunity to attend more if additional responsibilities are taken on. The current cycle of local Board meetings are two hours long and take place 4-6pm or 5-7pm on a weeknight. The meetings are face to face.

The Chair will need to prepare for and attend meetings as well as an annual conference and training events. There will be approximately three keep-in-touch and two review and support meetings. All Governors are expected to attend the school at least 2-3 times per year and to participate in exclusion reviews, staffing and complaint hearings when required. Chairs are also invited to the formal accountability meetings between the CEO and the Principal.

Haberdashers’ Hatcham College actively encourages equality and diversity and it looks to recruit across age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, disability and background. It is keen to improve the diversity of the Board and ensure that it is representative of the communities it supports. Therefore, applications from under-represented groups and especially ethnic minority backgrounds, would be particularly encouraged. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process. In line with the Equality Act 2010, however, the organisation may employ positive action where candidates from underrepresented groups can demonstrate their ability to perform the role equally well.