NEAT is looking for people to join our Trust Board of Directors. We're open to hear from any candidates who are motivated to contribute to the enhancement of education in our schools, whether that be with years of education experience, or with new insights and innovative thinking about how schools can and should support our learners. This is an exciting opportunity to influence and impact the educational experience and outcomes of children in east Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Hartlepool. At the heart of our trust is the aim to nurture, educate, achieve and transform the lives of all young people within the communities we serve across the North East. We are a mixed Multi-Academy Trust, with eight schools (6 primary, 2 secondary) and a mix of community and Church of England schools. We are a fully inclusive, working with a range of stakeholders to ensure the best outcomes and destinations for our pupils. We also have a national research school, which aims to build and strengthen networks of schools throughout the region and help them access effective education research and implement it in everyday practice. As a governance volunteer, our Directors have the opportunity to use and develop their skills in: · building relationships and networks · teamwork · communication and influencing · problem solving and using data · scrutiny and assurance in an educational setting · specialist areas such as Careers, Health & Safety, Special Educational Needs (SEND), or Safeguarding We're especially keen to support people who may not have much experience on a Board, and those from underrepresented groups. If you have a passion for supporting pupils and some relevant skills or experience, we're keen to hear from you. Our Directors work closely with our school governors and school leaders and have direct impact in the community through: · decision making in the best interests of pupils to improve their education, wellbeing and future prospects and raise community aspirations · shaping policies and strategic direction, allowing schools to focus on delivering high-quality educational experiences · stakeholder engagement to ensure that the voices of staff, parents, pupils and other stakeholders are heard Directors have a four-year term of office. They attend around ten meetings each year, which are usually held late afternoon/early evening during term-time. Directors are also invited into schools to understand more about the local context, opportunities and challenges. Directors also participate in decision-making panels (for complaints, appointments, and appeals) for the Trust. The average time commitment for our Directors is 1-2 days per month. Not right for you? If being a Non-Executive Director with NEAT doesn't seem like the right opportunity for you right now, or you want to get further experience within a trust or school context, we are also looking for people to join our school governing committees to support a specific schools. We are interested to hear from people who may want to be Governors, or those who may be interested in exploring leadership as a Chair or Vice Chair of a governing body. Follow the ' Apply Now ' button to go to our information page and express an interest. NEAT takes safeguarding seriously, and all governance volunteers are required to undertake a vetting process (including DBS check) during appointment to best safeguard our pupils and schools. Interested in finding out more and take us up on this free development opportunity? Click ' Apply Now ' to find out more and express an interest and we'll get in touch.