Become a school governor

East Midlands Academy Trust has a number of governor vacancies within our family of schools across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes. 

Apply here

If you are looking for a rewarding opportunity to become involved in your local community and have a passion for learning and making a difference to the lives of children, then we would love to hear from you.

We’re looking for people with a commitment to the education sector who are available to attend meetings around six times a year to work with the academies within our Trust. 

Governors perform an important strategic role monitoring the performance of the school, ensuring safeguarding is robust and helping to develop meaningful relationships with the community. 

We can offer you full support through our Executive Team which includes a Head of Governance who is available to respond to queries and concerns. We will provide governor training and would encourage you to network with others across the family of EMAT academies to support the governance role.

We also need people with:

  • Good listening skills
  • Good communication skills
  • Time to attend occasional school activities and to carry out monitoring visits during the day
  • A commitment to self-development

We are particularly keen to hear from people from BAME backgrounds, people with a disability and younger people, who are currently under-represented on school governing bodies across the country. We are not necessarily looking for education experts; we also need lay people to bring their life experiences to the role.

Being part of a governing board offers an experience to build a team, develop leadership skills and obtain other useful skills for the workplace and beyond.  Our boards are supported by a professional clerk and the Executive Team of East Midlands Academy Trust.

If you are interested and would like to find out more please contact Paul Osborne via 07585 125275 or paul.osborne@emat.uk or complete the online form below.

Apply here

We look forward to hearing from you!

  • Hear from one of our governors

    Jenny Nimmo, joint chair of the Northampton International Academy Local Advisory Board

    Why did you want to be a governor?

    I benefited from an education that afforded me a vibrant pathway to adulthood, a number of opportunities in and out of the classroom, and the chance to realise my potential. For me, becoming a Governor has afforded the opportunity to give back into the education system by becoming an advocate of the young people who attend the Academy, current and future. Governance is a multi dimensional role which covers a varied portfolio, but ultimately it is incredibly rewarding.  I am also a serving Principal, so the opportunity to further serve the community by working with Academy, Trust, and Governing colleagues to ensure that all students receive the educational opportunities they deserve, and improve individual life chances is highly satisfying. 

    What’s the best thing about being a governor?

     Knowing that you are working with likeminded colleagues to drive forward Academy Improvement for the benefit of the young people in our care so they are safeguarded, and have the optimum opportunities in, and beyond the classroom. When you see what you have been discussing as a Governor in practice on your visits to the Academy, it resonates a real sense  of purpose. 

    What skills have you learnt since becoming a governor?

    I have enhanced my understanding of how a multi academy trust operates in terms of compliance and across structures. As a serving Principal, I have also developed a deeper understanding of the extended community that I serve. By being elected as a Governor I have learnt more about how each Governor works as both part of a team, and individually to lead key areas in the Academy and report back to the Board on developments.  I have also developed my understanding and application of how compliance, evaluating performance, and accountability feature as part of a Governance Team. 

    Would you recommend the role of school governor to others?

    Absolutely.  For a Governing Body to thrive a range of people who have different skillsets and experiences are needed, you do not have to have an education background, rather a dedication to the young people at a given academy, an eye for detail, an ability to offer differing skillsets, and time to dedicate to the role. 

    What are the three key skills you think are needed to be a good governor?

    • Approaching Governance as being an advocate for the young people at all times and being responsive to their needs 
    • Active participation in meetings, and setting aside time to visit the school/academy and read literature 
    • A firm commitment to continually driving up educational and pastoral standards across the Academy/School 
Get in Touch

To get in touch with Northampton International Academy please click on the link below, or call us on 01604 212811

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