Ark Schools Risk & Audit Committee

Ark Schools Risk & Audit Committee

The Ark Schools Risk & Audit Committee is looking to recruit an experienced professional with a commercial skill set to join in a non-executive capacity.

About Ark Schools

Ark is a charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Now 20 years old, Ark runs 39 schools, reaching 30,000 children through a network of primary, secondary, and all-through schools across Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth. We only work in communities where we can make the biggest difference and we achieve impressive results across the network. Our 2023 exam results were our best and saw our students perform better than, or in line with, the national average at every age and stage.

As part of our mission, we also share what we learn in our classrooms to have an impact across the whole system. Our programmes are tackling some of the challenging problems facing young people.

Our Trustee Board and Committees work in tandem with our central team and Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) to realise progress towards our mission. 

About the role:

Ark Schools is looking to recruit a Risk and Audit Committee member to support the strategic oversight of the trust’s finance and governance delivery. Our Risk and Audit Committee undertakes in-depth scrutiny of our financial and operational delivery, working in partnership with the Chief Operating Officer. 

All Ark Schools Committee members bring the following attributes:

• Clear alignment with the vision and ethos of Ark Schools (essential)
• Commitment to Ark Schools’ principles including high aspirations, closing the attainment gap, depth for breadth and knowing every child (essential)
• Board or director level experience (essential)
• Balance of operational experience, strategic oversight, and knowledge of emerging policy debates in relation to required skill set (essential)
• Sound, independent judgement and ability to think creatively (essential)
• Working knowledge of primary or secondary level education (desirable)
• Knowledge of/links to industry, commerce, or higher education to further Ark Schools’ overall mission (desirable)

The role of the Risk and Audit Committee is pivotal to the effective oversight of finance and governance across the trust.

Committee members are appointed for a four-year term of office. The average time commitment for this role is approximately 1.5 days per quarter.

At Ark, we are committed to attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse workforce, with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We want to be an attractive and inclusive place to work.  We also want to reflect the communities where we operate.

Our Vision and Mission:

Ark Schools is a multi-academy trust, and our mission is to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education, and real choices in life. We’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country and work in the communities where we can make the biggest difference to children’s lives. All our schools are non-selective and have their own distinctive character, reflecting their local community. Our Trustee Board and Committees work in tandem with our central team and Local Governing Bodies (LGBs) to realise progress towards our mission and commitment to transform lives through education.

Ark Schools works in four areas across the UK – London, Birmingham, Portsmouth, and Hastings – supporting 30,000 pupils in 39 schools.

Our Governance Structure:

As a multi-academy trust, Ark Schools is one legal entity - a charitable company regulated by the Department for Education (DfE). We have a Master Funding Agreement with the Department for Education and a Supplemental Funding Agreement for each individual school.  

The Ark Schools Board approves and monitors the implementation and impact of network-wide educational and financial plans including the annual operating plan and budget.  

The Ark executive and central team, together with regional education and finance directors, provide support to all our schools. Local governing bodies at each school provide strategic input into individual school plans, monitor alignment of school processes and reporting with overall strategy and policies, and embed the school’s ethos and values. They have no legal liability or final approval of policies or core documents.   

More information about our governance arrangements can be found on the Ark Schools Decision Making Framework.

Our Committee Member Attributes

Overall Committee purpose:

The Risk and Audit Committee undertake in-depth scrutiny of Ark Schools’ financial and operational delivery, working in close partnership with the Chief Operating Officer. They are responsible for overseeing the audit regime, internal controls, budgeting process and annual accounts. They own the Ark Schools risk strategy at Board level, including undertaking detailed due diligence of new schools joining or being launched by the network. Committee members also work with the Executive team outside meetings to review policies and project work on behalf of the Board.

As well as these governance responsibilities, Board and Committee members act as strong advocates for Ark Schools and uphold our commitment to bring value and support to the wider education sector. 

Ark Schools Risk and Audit Committee Member Attributes:

Ark Schools is looking to recruit a member of the Risk and Audit Committee to support the strategic oversight of the trust’s finance and governance delivery. Our Committee Members play a vital role in setting the strategic direction of Ark Schools and ensuring that we deliver for the students and communities we serve.

All Ark Schools Committee members bring the following attributes:

• Clear alignment with the vision and ethos of Ark Schools (essential)
• Commitment to Ark Schools principles including high aspirations, closing the attainment gap, depth for breadth and knowing every child (essential)
• Board or Director level experience (essential)
• Balance of operational experience, strategic oversight, and knowledge of emerging policy debates in relation to required skill set (essential)
• Willingness to actively participate in discussions concerning needs of Ark’s beneficiaries, staff and the Trustee Board and Committees (essential)
• Sound, independent judgement and ability to think creatively (essential)
• Working knowledge of primary or secondary level education (desirable)
• Knowledge of/links to industry, commerce, or higher education to further Ark’s overall mission (desirable)

In addition to the attributes for all Committee members, we are seeking an individual who can bring an expert and strategic skill set around commercial matters with experience of working at director level.

Commitment and Conduct:

Committee members are appointed for a four-year term of office. The average time commitment for this role is approximately 1.5 days per quarter, encompassing the following activities:

• Four three-hour Risk and Audit Committee meetings each academic year, including review of all relevant papers and policies in advance of meetings.  Meetings are usually held in London.
• Meetings or calls with Executive leadership in between meetings in relation to specific policies and projects
• School visits  
• Training

We welcome broader engagement and there are opportunities to attend a variety of events and school visits throughout the year. 

All Committee members are required to adhere to the Ark Code of Conduct and commit to working collaboratively, effectively and with positivity to ensure the success of the charity, and upholding the seven principles of public life: selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership. 

Trustees must meet the Charity Commission and company law eligibility criteria and undergo an enhanced disclosure DBS check and make an annual Declaration of Interest. This may require you to withdraw from specific discussions where you, a partner or close relative or associate stands to gain or where you are so close to a matter being discussed that it will be difficult for you to be impartial.  

Appointment process:

All Committee members are appointed by the Ark Board, our parent charity in their role as sole-member of Ark Schools, on the recommendation of the Ark Schools Board. They will be provided with a structured induction and ongoing one-to-one support. The appointment process will involve the following stages:

• Interview with Chief Operating Officer to explore the role and the candidate’s suitability
• Meeting with Risk and Audit Committee Chair and Chief Executive Officer
• Completion of all relevant checks before final appointment, including an enhanced DBS check

If you would like to be considered for this position, please send an up to date CV with a covering letter explaining why you believe you would be suitable for the role by email via the button below. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 8^th May 2024.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link. 

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.