The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT) is one of the largest multi-academy trusts in the South & East of England with 45 Primary, Secondary and Special Academies in the TKAT Family. Its ultimate aim is to ensure it drives educational standards through the provision of outstanding teaching, leadership and learning for all.

Located in the Borough of Bexley, London, Welling School is an 11-18 co-educational school serving around 1,600 students. The School aims to ensure it prepares students academically and personally for the world in which they will live and work. Students are celebrated for the unique contribution they make, whether that is academic or otherwise. Welling School's ambition is for its students to have high aspirations, model habits of excellence, and to be open-minded, principled and caring members of society. At its core, Welling School's purpose is to ensure students make outstanding progress and are well-equipped for the career or university of their choice as well as a productive adult life.

Looking to the future, Welling School will continue to sit right at the heart of its community, offering an environment in which children are safe, supported and respected. Although academic results are important to the School, the emphasis will continue to be on pupils' holistic development, with the School helping them to find the path that is right for them.

Welling School is part of TKAT, a Multi-Academy Trust. The Trust is a charity and its Board of Trustees must ensure that it complies with its charitable objects which relate to the provision of education in its schools. As such it is the Trust Board that is accountable for the performance of the Academies in the Trust, and in turn, it is held to account by the Department for Education.

The Trust has chosen to appoint committees for each of its Academies and these are known as Local Governing Bodies (LGBs). The LGB’s responsibilities are set out in a Scheme of Delegation which is available here.

The specific tasks and responsibilities of Local Governing Bodies can be summarised as follows:

• Represent the Academy’s local community and stakeholders by ensuring that the Academy’s policies and practice meet the community’s needs
• Ensure that the Academy’s long-term vision reflects the needs of its community beyond current postholders and is in line with TKAT’s vision and values
• Support Directors of Education to improve Academy outcomes
• Support the Headteacher to ensure staffing is efficient and effective

The Trust is open to candidates coming from a range of different backgrounds. The role would suit someone who has operated at a strategic-level in their executive career, who understands the difference between governance and management, and has the interpersonal skills and confidence required to lead the Board. Welling School is very much a community school, and it would be helpful if the appointed candidate had some understanding of the Borough of Bexley and / or inner city school contexts in general.

Above all, the appointed individual must embody the School's values ('Be Ambitious, Be Kind, Be Active') and be a champion for its high quality, aspirational educational programme.

Previous Chair or school Governor experience is welcome, but not essential. There will be a transition period of a few months to ease the new Chair into the position.

Further information on existing Board members can be found at https://www.wellingschool-tkat.org/page/?title=Governing+Body&pid=1044.

The Chair will be appointed on a four year term, which is renewable. There are six Board meetings per year plus four meetings of the Pay Committee. Meetings are generally hybrid in format, though it is expected that the Chair will attend as many in-person as possible. These take place on-site at the School. Occasional school visits and attendance at regular and ad hoc events is expected and encouraged. This is a pro bono role, however reasonable travel expenses are covered for attendance at meetings.

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TKAT welcomes applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. 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. TKAT is committed to continuous improvement in how representative it is of its local communities, including gender, ethnicity, religion, age, and all other aspects of diversity.