St Christopher School (www.stchris.co.uk)

Location: Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire
Term of Office: 4 years
Voluntary role, but reasonable expenses will be reimbursed.

We currently have seven Governors with a broad range of expertise across Education, Finance, Safeguarding, Health & Safety and Technology.  We are seeking at least two new Governors to join our Board and help shape the strategic direction of St Chris.

We are looking for individuals who can demonstrate:

• Strategic thinking and sound judgement
• A commitment to education and improving outcomes for young people
• Integrity, discretion and high ethical standards
• The ability to analyse complex information and make informed decisions
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion
• An understanding of collective responsibility and confidentiality
• A willingness to dedicate sufficient time to the role

While applications from all suitably qualified individuals are encouraged, we are particularly keen to strengthen the Board’s expertise in legal services, education, SEND and fundraising.

As a Governor, you will join the Board and have the opportunity to contribute to:

• Shaping the long-term strategic direction of the School
• Supporting educational innovation and excellence
• Strengthening financial sustainability and resilience
• Ensuring effective governance and regulatory compliance
• Supporting the School’s commitment to inclusion, wellbeing and safeguarding
• Enhancing the School’s reputation and profile
• Preserving and developing the distinctive St Chris ethos.

Governors serve as Trustees of the School’s charitable trust and Directors of the School’s company.

Commitment

• Our Full Governing Board meet termly in person at the school during the day.
• We also have four sub-committees (Academic, Pastoral & Education; Safeguarding & Boarding; Finance & Resources; and Marketing, Recruitment & Retention) that each meet termly via MS Teams from 6.00-7.30 pm.  It is expected that Governors will join one or two sub-committees, dependent on their skills and experience.
• In addition, it is encouraged that Governors support key events in School (eg. Open Days, Career Days, Morning Talks, visit Departments).
• Full induction will be provided and new Governors will be asked to undertake an AGBIS online training course to help support their role.

For further information and to apply please contact Toni Warner (Head’s PA and Clerk to the Governors) with your CV via e: [email protected] or telephone 01462 650901.  We warmly welcome tours and informal conversations.

The Purcell School is seeking to appoint new Governors to join its Board.

About us: The Purcell School occupies a distinctive and internationally recognised place in specialist music education. It educates young musicians of exceptional potential within a close, ambitious and supportive boarding and day school community. Music is not an "add-on" at Purcell - it is the key driver of the School’s life, purpose and rhythm. Students combine intensive musical training with a full academic education in an environment that recognises both the demands and the rewards of developing exceptional talent.

The School is a charity and operates on a not-for-profit basis. Its purpose is educational and charitable: to support young musicians and help ensure that exceptional musical potential can be nurtured, including where families would not otherwise be able to access specialist provision. Governors therefore have an important role in supporting the School’s charitable purpose, financial sustainability and long-term ability to support current and future students.

This is a particularly important time for the independent school sector. Financial resilience, affordability, fundraising, careful stewardship of resources and the sustainability of specialist music education are central issues for Purcell. We are therefore especially interested in hearing from individuals who can bring relevant professional experience, sound judgement and practical insight to the Board’s work.

Governors act as charity trustees and company directors. Their role is strategic and non-executive: to provide appropriate oversight, informed perspective and constructive support to the Principal, Bursar and Executive Team. The School benefits from an experienced and well-established leadership team, and Governors are expected to respect the distinction between governance and management. The role is not to direct day to day operations or to take over the leadership of strategy, but to support the School in remaining well governed, financially secure and true to its charitable purpose.

The existing Board brings considerable experience from senior fields including music, finance, law, medicine and education. New Governors would join a committed and highly capable group, contributing complementary skills and perspectives in support of the School’s charitable purpose.

About the role: We would be pleased to hear from individuals with a strong interest in music, education and young people, together with the discretion, humility and collaborative spirit needed to contribute effectively to a specialist school community. Good governance at Purcell depends on collective responsibility, careful listening, proportionate discussion and the sharing of relevant experience. It is not an operational role, nor one suited to those seeking individual influence; rather, it is an opportunity to support the School, its students and its charitable purpose.

Appointments are subject to the School’s usual governance recruitment process, including discussion with the Chair of Governors and Principal, and, where appropriate for candidates with finance, commercial, estates, HR or other business support expertise, the Bursar. The process also includes review by the Nominations Committee, approval by the full Governing Body, completion of declarations of interest, and the required safeguarding and regulatory checks. The process is intended to be careful and mutual, allowing both the candidate and the School to consider whether the role is the right fit before any formal appointment is made.

The School is committed to equality of opportunity and welcomes interest from candidates of all backgrounds.

How to apply:

Expressions of interest, together with a brief CV or professional profile, should be sent to:
Adam Wroblewski
Bursar and Clerk to the Governors
The Purcell School
Aldenham Road, Bushey, Hertfordshire WD23 2TS
[email protected]