Trustee/Non-executive Director (education leadership) - Furness Education Trust, Cumbria

Furness Education Trust (FET) is a seven-school trust based in Barrow-in-Furness. The trust originally grew out of Furness Academy and now includes two secondary schools and five primary schools. All academies in the trust are rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding,’ except for Walney School, which joined the trust in January 2025 with a ‘Requires Improvement’ judgement. Walney School was previously part of another multi-academy trust (MAT), and when that MAT closed, the Department for Education (DfE) asked FET to take over the school due to the trust's capacity to provide support.

Furness Education Trust is seeking two experienced educational professionals with expertise in primary and/or secondary education to join its board. Both appointees will serve on the Quality of Education & Standards Committee, with the expectation that one may take on the role of committee chair following the planned departure of the current chair. The trust is looking for individuals who can provide both support and challenge to ensure the highest standards across all its academies.

Ideal candidates will have senior leadership experience across multiple schools, whether within a multi-academy trust, a local authority, or as part of a school improvement initiative. This may include executive leadership roles, school improvement expertise, or consultancy work with a proven track record of driving educational excellence. While familiarity with the Ofsted inspection framework is beneficial, formal inspector training is not required.