Parent-Governor

21st October 2024

Dear Parent/Carer

The Trust Board of RAISE Education Trust (RET) is responsible for both the conduct of the schools in the Trust and for promoting high standards. The Trust comprises of Members, Trustees and Local
Governors of the Local Academy Committee (LAC). All Members, Trustees and Governors are unpaid
volunteers who support the strategic direction of the Trust and the schools. They are not involved in the day to day running of the schools. The Trust Board carries out its role by setting the vision for each school and ensuring the school works efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision. It does this by building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community, by both supporting and constructively challenging the school, and by ensuring accountability and compliance. LACs support the Board’s responsibilities.

Wildern School’s Local Academy Committee has one parent governor vacancy to be filled at the start of the Autumn term, 2024. To be eligible to apply for this vacancy and be elected or appointed the applicant must be a parent, or an individual exercising parental responsibility, of a registered pupil at the School at the time when the person is elected or appointed. [Article 54].
Before you decide to stand, or indeed nominate someone, you may want to know a bit more about what is involved. Parent governors are there to highlight how governing board decisions impact the school from a parental perspective, you are not there to speak on behalf of the parent body, bring their individual issues to meetings or solve their problems. Your role is no different from other governors on the LAC who act as an advisory committee for the Trust Board. The LAC works with the leadership team of each school to review pupil data, performance and progress and changes to the curriculum offer that best meets pupils’ needs and national expectations. The LAC will monitor school’s compliance with trust policies and provide feedback to support their development. Applicants need not be experts in the field of education, but do need an interest in the school and in the welfare of our children, as well as the time and willingness to get involved. Applicants also need what is known as ‘soft skills’, the ability to be able to build relationships with a range of people, to be able to work as a team, to be able to question, support and challenge, and to make connections between different types of information. All those on the Trust Board and LAC are expected to be able to read straightforward reports and data on school standards. If you are someone with the relevant interest and experience, we would like to hear from you. Meetings are held once each half term and the term of office is four years.

In accordance with legislation for safeguarding children your appointment is subject to an enhanced CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check.

If you would like to apply please download an application form from the Wildern School website on the
Recruitment page and return to

Annette Towgood, Governance Professional to the Trust Board, WildernSchool, Wildern Lane, SO30 4EJ or a.towgood@raiseeducationtrust.org by midday Monday 4th November 2024.

If the number of applications exceeds the number of vacancies an election process will be held and the information you provide on your application form will be used as a personal statement to support the election process.

Yours faithfully
K Griffin
Katie Griffin
Chair to the Trust Board