The Bicester School
Oxfordshire
Salary:
PO6, Points 40–43 (£49,764 – £52,805 FTE, pending cost of living award
Job type:
Part Time, Permanent
Apply by:
9 October 2025
Job overview
Location: Preferably UTC Reading, but could be any of the Trust's locations (with flexibility to travel across Trust sites and ability to work from home, as agreed by the line manager)
Hours: 0.6 FTE, Term Time Only
Activate Learning Education Trust (ALET) is seeking a highly skilled and committed individual to join our central team as Head of Governance and Compliance. This is a pivotal leadership role responsible for ensuring the Trust meets all regulatory requirements and maintains the highest standards of governance across our schools.
About the Role
As Head of Governance and Compliance, you will:
* Lead the development and implementation of the Trust's governance framework.
* Act as Governance Professional and Company Secretary to the Trust Board.
* Provide strategic advice and support to the CEO, Chair of Trustees, and Board Committees.
* Ensure compliance with statutory regulations including DfE, ESFA, Charity Commission, and Companies House.
* Support Local Governing Committees and oversee governor induction, training, and CPD.
* Manage governance documentation, policies, and registers.
* Play a key role in supporting the Trust's strategic growth and development.
About You
We are looking for someone who:
* Has experience in governance or compliance, ideally within the education sector.
* Holds relevant qualifications in governance and leadership.
* Demonstrates integrity, independence, and a commitment to public service values.
* Is confident in providing strategic advice and managing sensitive matters.
* Has excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
* Is passionate about supporting educational outcomes through strong governance.
Why Join ALET?
This is a purpose-driven role within the education sector, where your work will directly support the governance and leadership that enables high-quality learning experiences for young people. At ALET, our strong people culture is our key strategic driver - we believe that investing in our people is the foundation of our success. We are guided by our Attributes: being resilient, enterprising, confident, aware, professional - and we seek individuals who embody these values in their work.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package including:
* Membership of a competitive pension scheme (LGPS or TPS) with generous employer contributions and life cover.
* Two annual wellbeing days and access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
* Flu vaccination vouchers.
* Free tea and coffee at all sites.
* Salary sacrifice scheme.
* Enhanced sick pay, maternity/paternity/shared parental leave, and special leave schemes.
* Flexible working options including hybrid and compressed hours.
* Generous annual leave entitlement.
* Free parking and electric charging points at selected sites.
* Access to CPD, e-learning, and career development pathways.
* Opportunities to collaborate across our six schools and central team.
To apply, please visit our recruitment page:
and complete the application form.
Once completed, kindly return the form to by Thursday, 9 October 2025.
Interviews: Week commencing 13 October 2025.
Safeguarding Statement
Activate Learning Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Employment will be conditional upon receipt of at least two acceptable references (one from your current or most recent employer) and evidence of the formal qualifications required for the role.
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About The Bicester School
The Bicester School
Queen's Avenue, Bicester
Oxfordshire
OX26 2NS
United Kingdom
We are an 11-18 School, graded as Good in all categories by Ofsted in 2014 and again in June 2018 with rising GCSE results and an increasingly academic curriculum offer. On the 1st August 2015, we became an Academy, joining the Activate Learning Group, a well-respected provider of specialist UTC and 6th form education in the Oxfordshire region. We have very good teaching facilities, an excellent programme of CPD and are able to offer candidates the opportunity to teach across the 11-18 age range in a disciplined, orderly and supportive environment.
The Bicester School is a Partner school in the Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Alliance (OTSA). Teaching Schools are part of the government's drive to give schools more freedom and to enable headteachers to take increasing responsibility for managing the education system. The Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Alliance is a partnership of Oxfordshire schools, Oxfordshire County Council, The University of Oxford, The University of Reading, Oxford Brookes University and other significant educational organisations. Our vision is that by bringing together the strengths of all OTSA partners we have a unique opportunity to develop a sustainable culture of aspiration, collaboration and excellence leading to a world class education for all young people in Oxfordshire. The Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Alliance is working in the following key areas; Initial Teacher Training, Research and Development, School to School Support, CPD and Leadership Development, Succession Planning and Talent Management, Special Educational Needs and Disability, NQT Induction and Professional Learning Networks. Strategic Partner schools take responsibility for delivery of a specific area of work within at least one key area in which they have particular expertise, while Partner schools contribute to, or participate in, at least one of these areas. At The Bicester School we use OTSA for our NQT training and SCITT trainees.
We are also a partner school with the Buckinghamshire Partnership who also run SCITT programmes. Please see our Letter to Applicants below for further information on both providors.
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