Trustee and School Governor

Concord College is a highly academic independent international school in England for day and boarding students. We welcome students from all over the world and the local area into our vibrant and varied community, which shares a culture of excellence and joyful learning infused throughout with our core values of rigour, kindness and creativity.

Concord College is run by the Bell Concord Educational Trust (‘the Trust’), an independent, not-for-profit charity.  

We are seeking candidates to join the Board of Trustees of the Bell Concord Educational Trust.  Candidates will have a passion for education and bring good business acumen, ideally with experience of finance at a strategic level.  They will bring independence of thought, an international outlook, good communication skills, and the drive to support the development of our organisation.  This is an exciting time to join the Board at Concord College.  In a strong financial position, we are entering the next phase of development with significant investment across our campus. 

As a Trustee and Governor you will bring your wealth of experience and knowledge to contribute to the successful running of Concord College and the Bell Concord Educational Trust.

The role of the Trustees is to hold ultimate control of and responsibility for the management of the Trust, including ensuring the Trust acts in accordance with the Trust’s Constitution; educating, safeguarding, and promoting the wellbeing of pupils; ensuring compliance with the inspection regime; and managing the Trust’s activities in furtherance of its charitable objects in the context of its dual regulation by the Charity Commission and Companies House.

Being a Trustee and Governor is a "hands off" role; decisions made by the Board influence the whole College, but Trustees are not responsible for, or involved in, the day-to-day running of the College.

While Trustees have personal responsibility for their views, they share collective responsibility for decisions taken by the Board acting together. The role is voluntary and therefore unpaid, however you may claim expenses for such things as travel.

Trustees and Governors have collective responsibilities to:

• set a clear vision, mission and strategic plan for the Trust and Concord College and ensure that the necessary structures are in place to deliver those as part of the strategic management of the Trust (Strategic Responsibility);
• ensure the performance of the Trust and Concord College (Performance Responsibility);
• ensure that the Trust complies with all legal and regulatory requirements (Compliance Responsibility);
• ensure robust and assured procedures, training and proper oversight are in place to ensure that everyone who comes into contact with Concord College is safe, in particular pupils, employees, staff, contractors and volunteers (Safeguarding Responsibility);
• act as guardians of the Trust’s assets, both tangible and intangible, taking all due care over their security, deployment and proper application (Responsibility to Protect the Assets);
• and ensure that the Trust’s governance is of the highest possible standard (Governance Responsibility).

To achieve these responsibilities you will also:

• Know and support the aims of Concord College and ensure that these are achieved.
• Attend Board meetings, Committee meetings and any other Governor events and training.
• Provide support and challenge for the Principal, the Bursar and senior leaders.
• Promote and develop the College in order for it to grow and maintain its relevance in society.
• Attend and provide support at key College activities and events, including carrying out visits to the College throughout the academic year.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality about all sensitive/confidential information received in the course of the Governors’ responsibilities to the College, and in accordance with the Conflicts of Interest Policy.

New Trustees receive a full induction to brief them on current issues and the College’s operations, and will have access to training events designed to support them in their role as a Governor of a school.

There are approximately five meetings per year for a Trustee Governor to attend. Meeting dates are diarised well in advance and there will be opportunities for some virtual attendance when required.

We would be delighted to hear from anyone who has the commitment and time to attend and carry out this role, an interest in education, and that can relate to the College’s values of Rigour, Kindness and Creativity.

An information pack is available from the Clerk to the Trustees, Matthew Hodge.

Concord College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  Child protection screening is undertaken which includes checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.