Cockburn MAT schools are looking for governors

Cockburn Multi-academy Trust (Cockburn MAT) are looking for committed people to join as Trustees and Governors.

Cockburn Multi-academy Trust is made up of three secondary schools, one primary school and one infant school in our community. At present there are Cockburn School, Cockburn John Charles Academy, Middleton Primary School, Cockburn Haigh Road Academy and the new free school Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy which opened in September 2021.

The Trust was formed in 2016 and has continually grown since. They have an excellent reputation in Leeds and beyond and are in a privileged position to be able to give considerable support to an increasing number of schools within the city of Leeds and across the region.

The Vision of Cockburn MAT is every child deserves an exceptional education.  Their vision is to create a group of exceptional schools that radically improve students’ life chances. They seek to widen their students’ aspirations; to reach destinations that are attainable and fulfilling. They work to raise attainment and provide exceptional teaching and learning for all of their students through high expectations of academic success and behaviour.

The Cockburn MAT Board Trustees have overall responsibility and ultimate decision-making authority for all work of Cockburn MAT including the establishing and running of the schools. The Local Governing Body operates at a strategic level and are not involved in the day-to-day running of a school. They are responsible for both the conduct of the school and for the promotion of high standards.

Governors must ensure that the school works efficiently and effectively towards achieving the Vision, and that the school provides a high-quality education for its pupils. Governors have to build a thorough knowledge of the school and its community. They must support and constructively challenge the school.

Governors already in place at the schools say that the benefits of being a governor are immense. Being a governor develops professional skills and experience such as strategic planning, chairing, financial planning, and team working, all of which are valued by employers and can assist their own career development. ‘Soft skills’ are also important – the ability to be able to build relationships with a range of people, to be able to work as part of a team, to be able to question, and to make connections between different types of information.

Being a governor helps to build relationships and networks in the local area while most importantly supporting children and young people in the community.

If readers would like to become Governors and Trustees they do not need to be experts in the field of education. What they do need is an interest in the schools and in the welfare of the pupils, together with the time and willingness to get involved.

For further information please contact Sharon Burns, Chief Operating Officer, on info@cockburnmat.org
in the first instance.