Chair of the Trust Board - AT

About This Role Lead Our Board of Trustees Help Every Child Achieve The Diamond Learning Partnership Trust (DLPT) is seeking an experienced Trustee to become the next Chair of our Board and help lead the Trust through the next stage of its development. DLPT is a growing academy trust of 15 schools across northern Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. We educate more than 4,000 children and young people, supported by around 700 staff. Our schools span early years through to post-16 education, and all our schools are now judged Good, with our most recent inspection reporting a strong standard across all areas. About The Trust At DLPT, our vision is simple and ambitious: Every Child Achieves. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background, starting point or circumstances. Through collaboration, strong leadership and a commitment to continuous improvement, we work together to improve outcomes and life chances for all children. Our schools benefit from strong local leadership within a clear Trust framework, combining school-level autonomy with collective responsibility for success across the Trust. The Importance of the Chair The Chair has a vital role in providing strategic leadership to the Board and ensuring the Trust is governed effectively, ethically and in the best interests of the children and communities it serves. The Chair sets the tone for the Board, supports Trustees to make their fullest contribution and ensures that discussion is focused, inclusive and appropriately challenging. A particularly important responsibility is developing a strong and constructive relationship with the Chief Executive Officer. This relationship must be built on trust, openness and mutual respect, while maintaining clear accountability and the distinction between strategic governance and executive leadership. The Chair will provide support and challenge to the CEO, ensuring the Board remains focused on the Trust's strategic priorities and its commitment to ensuring that Every Child Achieves. Building on Strong Foundations DLPT has benefited enormously from the commitment, leadership and stewardship of its last two Chairs. Their work has helped the Trust grow, strengthen its governance and remain focused on improving opportunities for children and young people. We are seeking a new Chair who will build on these strong foundations while helping the Board and Trust respond confidently to the opportunities and challenges ahead. The existing Chair will remain a member of the Board, providing continuity, experience and support during the transition. The Role As Chair, You Will

• Provide confident and inclusive leadership to the Board
• Ensure the Board remains focused on the Trust's vision, values and strategic priorities
• Build a strong, supportive and appropriately challenging relationship with the CEO
• Ensure Trustees understand their responsibilities and contribute effectively to the work of the Board
• Promote open discussion, constructive challenge and effective decision-making
• Support the recruitment, induction and development of Trustees
• Work with the CEO and Governance Professional to ensure meetings are purposeful, strategic and well organised
• Represent the Board and Trust appropriately with Members, schools, partners and other stakeholders
• Help oversee the Trust's continued development, sustainability and future growth Who We Are Looking For We are looking for someone with previous experience as a Trustee or non-executive board member who understands the responsibilities of strategic governance. You do not need to have chaired a Trust Board before. We recognise that this may be the right opportunity for an experienced Trustee who is ready to take the next step into chairing. We Are Seeking Someone Who Can
• Lead collaboratively and bring people together around a shared purpose
• Build a trusted and professional relationship with the CEO
• Offer support while asking appropriately challenging questions
• Listen carefully, exercise sound judgement and facilitate balanced discussion
• Understand the distinction between strategic governance and operational leadership
• Communicate clearly and manage differing views constructively
• Maintain the highest standards of integrity, accountability and public service
• Share our commitment to ensuring every child achieves Experience of education is welcome but is not essential. What matters most is previous board-level experience, strong leadership skills, sound judgement and a genuine commitment to children and young people. Induction and Support The successful candidate will receive a comprehensive induction and ongoing support to help them fulfil the role confidently and effectively. This Will Include
• A structured handover from the existing Chair
• Continued access to the experience and knowledge of the existing Chair as a member of the Board
• A full introduction to the Trust's schools, leaders, governance arrangements and strategic priorities
• Relevant training and professional development
• Support from the Trust's Governance Professional, CEO and wider executive team
• Opportunities to visit schools and understand the experiences of pupils, staff and communities across the Trust Time Commitment The Chair attends and leads the Trust's four Board meetings each year, which are held through a mixture of online and in-person meetings. The Role Also Requires Additional Time To
• Meet regularly with the CEO
• Agree Board agendas and priorities with the CEO and Governance Professional
• Maintain appropriate contact with Trustees and Members
• Support Trustee induction, development and succession planning
• Attend occasional school visits, strategy sessions and Trust events
• Respond to significant or urgent matters when required The role is voluntary, but it provides a significant opportunity to contribute to the strategic leadership of a complex and ambitious organisation. The Impact You Will Make As Chair, you will help ensure that the Board provides the leadership, oversight and accountability needed for the Trust to succeed. You Will
• Help shape the future direction of the Trust and its schools
• Support and challenge the CEO in delivering the Trust's strategy
• Promote effective, inclusive and transparent governance
• Help ensure the Trust remains sustainable, ambitious and focused on continuous improvement
• Make a meaningful contribution to the lives of more than 4,000 children and young people Challenges and Opportunities The next Chair will join DLPT at an important point in its development. The Trust is responding to financial pressures, changing pupil numbers and increasing complexity across education. At the same time, we have clear ambitions for targeted growth, stronger provision and further improvement across our schools. The Chair will play a central role in helping the Board navigate these challenges, take advantage of new opportunities and maintain an unwavering focus on our vision that Every Child Achieves. How To Apply If you are an experienced Trustee or non-executive board member who is ready to lead a committed and ambitious Board, we would welcome an initial conversation. Please contact Jonathan Lewis, Chief Executive Officer, at pa@diamondlearningtrust.com for an informal discussion. Shortlisted candidates will meet with Members, the CEO, the existing Chair and members of the Board as part of the appointment process. Useful Information
• Trust website: The Diamond Learning Partnership Trust
• Get Information About Schools: DLPT Schools Information
• Financial position: DLPT Financial Benchmarking Lead Our Board Build on strong foundations, support and challenge our leadership, and help ensure that Every Child Achieves.