Chair of Governors

Chair of Governors

Location: Ark Acton Academy, Gunnersbury Lane, London W3 8EY

Closing date: 16/05/2025

Interviews: May/June 2025

About the Role:

This is an exciting time to join us as Chair of Governors on the local governing body for Ark Acton Academy, North-West London. You will join a close-knit community of enthusiastic governors, teachers, senior leaders, pupils and parents, with guidance and support from the central team of experts at Ark Schools.

The Chair must provide the local governing body with a clear lead and direction, ensuring that the governors work as an effective team and understand their own roles. The ideal candidate will have some experience in school governance (although this is not essential) or alternatively will have demonstrated leadership skills in a board or committee setting.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Demonstrate alignment to the mission and values of Ark Acton Academy
• Work closely with the Regional Director and Principal to promote and maintain high standards of educational achievement by offering support, challenge and encouragement
• Ensure that the local governing body monitors the delivery of the vision, ethos and strategic direction for the school
• Utilise your personal and professional skills, experience, and knowledge to lead the governing body ensuring considered and sound discussion are held
• Delegate tasks across the local governing body so that all members contribute, and feel that their individual skills, knowledge, and experience are well-used, and that the overall workload is shared
• Ensure that the local governing body monitors and reviews the financial performance of the school and effective use of the school's resources;
• Support the vision and ethos of Ark Schools and work collaboratively
• Approach the role within the delegated responsibilities as outlined in Ark's Decision-Making Framework

Key Requirements:

• An engaging style, providing ideas and solutions
• A willingness to commit the required time and effort
• Team focused with strong leadership skills
• High levels of integrity
• An ability to challenge appropriately

As Chair you should expect to commit up to two days per month to the role in term time but this is not necessarily time in school.

Local Governing Body

Ark governors are drawn from a range of backgrounds and bring their skills, life experience and work experience to the local governing body (LGB). Governors take on a link role and develop expertise in areas such as Safeguarding, Careers and Destinations, Finance and SEND. Ark provides general and specialist training to support governors, Chairs and future Chairs.

The LGB meets four times a year.

How to Apply:

We want our local governing body to include members with a broad range of experience, backgrounds and skills that not only reflect the community we serve but contribute to our long-term goals and add real value to our strategic decision making. We welcome applications from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds and all appointments are made on merit following a fair and transparent process.

If you would like a confidential, informal discussion about the role please contact Sakina Marzban ().

If you would like to be considered for the position, please send an up-to-date CV with a covering letter explaining why you believe you would be suitable for the role via the button below. The closing date for applications is Friday 16th May 2025 and interviews will be held in May/June.

It is anticipated that the successful candidate will be appointed as Chair with effect from September 2025.

All Ark Chairs and governors are required to adhere to the Ark governors' Code of Conduct, undergo an enhanced disclosure DBS check and make an annual Declaration of Interest. This may require you to withdraw from specific discussions where you, a partner or close relative or associate stands to gain or where you are so close to a matter being discussed that it will be difficult for you to be impartial.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark's safer recruitment process, please click this link .