As a growing family of successful schools, we are committed to being a strong trust and recognise the vital role of strategic governance. We are seeking governors who will be committed to our shared values of respect, integrity, collaboration and excellence and will place children and young people at the heart of all decision-making. The role is very rewarding, as it offers the opportunity to have a real positive impact on the children, families and communities we serve. It also comes with great responsibility, and as such we require individuals who have the necessary skills, experience and personal attributes, and who are excited to contribute to strategic decision-making for the benefit of pupils in Stour Vale member schools.

Our member schools have pupils and staff from a diverse range of backgrounds and we are a truly inclusive trust. We believe it is important for our local governing bodies to reflect that diversity. We rely on governors to bring a variety of skills and experience to the local governing body, but there is no expectation that any one governor will have all the skills. However, we consider the following to be essential for the role:

• good analytical skills;
• an ability to think strategically and objectively;
• an understanding that, alongside the responsibility to challenge, comes the responsibility to support;
• independence and flexibility in thinking;
• a willingness to meet the minimum time requirement;
• an understanding and acceptance of the duties and responsibilities of local governing bodies as committees of the Board of Trustees; and
• an ability to work effectively as a member of a team and to take decisions for the benefit of pupils within Stour Vale.

 Governors will be expected to demonstrate the following personal attributes:

• a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people;
• excellent interpersonal skills when interacting with staff or other stakeholders;
• a commitment to excellence and high expectations of self and others;
• values people and the contribution of all stakeholders;
• non-judgmental and supportive;
• a commitment to Stour Vale’s vision, ethos and values, including secure autonomy, and to working within all Trust and school policies and procedures; and
• a desire for equality of opportunity and diversity.

We currently have co-opted governor vacancies at our primary and secondary schools located in West Bromwich, Oldbury, Stourbridge and Halesowen.

Our local governing bodies meet six times per year (once every half term) for two hours. Meetings are held in-person, usually during the evening, in school. Governors who are appointed to a committee (e.g. pay committee) are asked to attend up to two additional meetings during the academic year, which are usually held in the daytime and last for up to two hours. On occasion governors may also be asked to serve on panels to hear, for example, grievances, complaints or pupil discipline matters.

Documents for local governing body meetings are distributed one week in advance of meetings. Governors are expected to review these in order to provide appropriate challenge and support during the meetings.

As well as attending meetings, governors must complete safeguarding training, declare any business interests and/or related party transactions, and agree to abide by the governor code of conduct annually.

We have a comprehensive governor induction programme and provide access to ongoing training throughout the year so that governors are supported to make an effective contribution to the work of the local governing body and can meet their responsibilities with confidence throughout their term of office.

The term of office for governors is four years.

Governors are volunteers and as such receive no remuneration for undertaking their role.

All governor appointments are subject to the receipt of a satisfactory enhanced DBS check with barred list check. As part of our safer recruitment process, prospective governors are required to complete an application form and provide the names of two people whom we may contact to request a reference.

If you would like to discuss our governor vacancies, please email info@svat.org.uk or telephone 0121 585 5385.