Local Governor Recruitment

• Develop a strong understanding of OHCAT’s vision, ethos, and operations, and how local governance contributes to the Trust’s overarching strategy.
• Become familiar with OHCAT’s policies and how they are implemented locally.
• Represent OHCAT with positivity and professionalism.
• Commit to ongoing training and development to grow both personally and professionally.
• Approach challenges with a solution-focused mindset, learning from experience and sharing insights.
• Operate within the Scheme of Delegation and other governance frameworks, including the Code of Conduct.
• Embody the values of OHCAT in your actions and communication.

• A chance to make a real difference in the lives of children and young people with SEND.
• Opportunities for leadership development and personal growth.
• Enhanced understanding of education, SEND, and school governance.
• Valuable experience to support your CV, career progression and ongoing training opportunities.
• The opportunity to collaborate with passionate and dedicated individuals across the Trust.

To maximise the impact of this role and ensure effective governance, governors are well-supported through comprehensive induction, ongoing training, and mentoring provided by the governance team, with additional support to:

• Take on a link governor role aligned to your skills and interests and in line with the needs of the LGB.

• Attend all scheduled meetings (daytime or evening) and come fully prepared by reviewing relevant materials in advance.
• Visit the Academy at least once per term to deepen your understanding and support triangulation of information discussed at meetings.
• Attend link governor forums (online) once per term.
• Share constructive feedback through the link governor visit form, highlighting areas of success and areas where additional support may be required.
• Respond promptly to communications and requests for information.
• Participate in the annual Governance Conference.
• Complete all statutory requirements in the autumn term, including but not limited to, Annual Safeguarding Training, Reading and acknowledging KCSIE, updating annual declarations of interest, agreeing to the code of conduct, skills audit.
• Engage in training and development opportunities identified by the governance team to strengthen skills and address the needs of the Local Governing Body (LGB).
• Reflect on your own performance and contribute to the collective improvement of the LGB.
• Attend celebration events, such as sports days, award ceremonies, and concerts, where possible.

The Trust exists to support, enable, and champion the talents, skills and rights of the most complex and vulnerable people in our society in order that we can release their potential, promote their wellbeing and transform their lives.

If you have a genuine interest for the well-being and education of pupils and students with diverse learning needs being, a local governor is the role for you.

Being a local governor is a rewarding and impactful experience. Here are some reasons our local governors play such a vital role in our Academies:

Inclusivity Advocacy: Our local governors ensure that our Academies are inclusive and cater to the diverse needs of all of our learners.

Understanding and Addressing Challenges: Our local governors contribute to developing policies and strategies that specifically address the challenges faced by our learners. This might include ensuring appropriate resources, support staff, and facilities are in place to accommodate diverse learning needs.

Promoting Positive Mental Health and Wellbeing: Our learners sometimes face additional challenges related to mental health. Our local governors contribute to policies and practices that promote positive mental health and well-being, creating a supportive environment for all.

Collaboration with Stakeholders: Collaboration with parents, staff, and other stakeholders is vital. Local governors aim to foster strong relationships between the academies and the local community to maximise opportunities for our pupils and students.

Celebrating Diversity and Achievements: Our local governors actively promote a culture of celebrating diversity and recognising the achievements and successes of our learners.

By taking on this role you:

• Commit to attending meetings of the local governing body and any committees/forums to which you are appointed.
• Aspire to ensure every pupil and student benefits from exceptional provision that effects life changing outcomes.
• Will share skills and expertise within the Trust.

No, you don’t. It is useful to be aware of current education issues and have an interest in education. To help you understand education and the local governor role the Trust provides training to support you in your development and effectiveness as a local governor. Additionally, the experienced and knowledgeable governance team is here to help.

All local governors must complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check before starting. A section S128 check (A direction from the Secretary of State prohibiting unsuitable individuals from participating in the management of a School/Academy) will also be required, along with a Right to Work in the UK check. In addition, we will require two references.

Governance is a voluntary role and therefore it is not paid. The Trust does have a Trustees and Local Governors Expenses Policy as the Trust considers that paying Trustee and local governor expenses is important to ensuring all members of the community are afforded equal opportunity to serve as a Trustee or local governor.

The following criteria must be met to serve as a local governor. You:

• are aged 18 or over.
• are not the subject of a bankruptcy restriction order, an interim bankruptcy restriction order, a debt relief restriction order or an interim debt relief restriction order.
• have not had your estate sequestrated and the sequestration order has not been discharged, annulled or reduced.
• have not been declared bankrupt, and your estate has not been seized from your possession for the benefit of any creditors and the declaration or seizure has been discharged, annulled or reduced.
• are not subject to a disqualification order or a disqualification undertaking under either the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 or the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002, or a disqualification order under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 2002.
• are not subject to an order made under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (failure to pay under county court administration order).
• have not been removed from the office of trustee for a charity: by an order made by the Charity Commission or Commissioners or High Court on grounds of any misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity, for which you were responsible or to which you were privy, or to which your conduct contributed to or facilitated; or under Section 34 of the Charities and Trustees Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 from being concerned in the management or control of any body.
• have not been removed from office as an elected governor within the last five years.
• are not disqualified from acting as a local governor/Trustee and have not been convicted of any offence which falls under section 178 of the Charities Act 2011, or any re-enactment or modification of that provision, or by any provision in the Companies Act 2006.
• are not included in the list of people considered by the Secretary of State as unsuitable to work with children or young people.
• have not been found to be unsuitable by the Secretary of State under the provisions of the funding agreement.
• have not been subject to a direction of the Secretary of State under section 142 of the Education Act 2002 or section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008.
• are not barred from any regulated activity relating to children.
• have not been disqualified from working with children or from registration for childminding or providing day care.
• are not disqualified from being an independent school proprietor, teacher or employee by the Secretary of State.
• have not been convicted of any criminal offence, excluding any that have been spent under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (and as amended) and excluding any offence for which the maximum sentence is a fine or a lesser sentence.
• have not received a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) in the UK or elsewhere, for a period greater than three months (without the option of a fine) in the five years ending with the date preceding the date of appointment as a local governor or since becoming a local governor. *
• have not received a prison sentence of 2.5 years or more in the 20 years ending with the date preceding the date of appointment as a local governor. *
• have not at any time received a prison sentence of five years or more. *
• have not been convicted and / or fined for causing a nuisance or disturbance on school or educational premises during the five years ending with the date immediately preceding appointment or since appointment as a local governor.
• understand that you will be disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office if you do not make an application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for an enhanced disclosure level DBS certificate, through the Trust, and you do not show the original to the Governance Manager.
• understand that if in the opinion of either the Chair of the Trust or the CEO the DBS certificate discloses any information which indicates any unsuitability to work with children and young people, you will be disqualified.

*any conviction by or before a court outside the UK, of an offence which under UK law would not have constituted an offence will be disregarded.

You will be appointed for 3 years. 

This varies from LGB to LGB and ranges from 4 to 8 meetings per academic year. Meeting dates are agreed at the beginning of the academic year. 

This can vary depending on the LGB; however, most start between 3.30pm and 6.30pm and usually last for 2 hours.

Please complete the ‘Expression of Interest’ form outlining why you would like to be an OHCAT local governor, the skills and experiences you will bring and your location preference. Upon receipt, one of the governance team will be in contact to discuss further. We look forward to hearing from you.