Trustee

Are you passionate about education and improving opportunities for children?

We are looking for Trustees with finance or HR experience to join our Board. This voluntary role offers the chance to use your expertise to help guide Aspire's future and have a lasting impact on the lives of our learners.

Aspire Academies Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) currently consisting of six thriving primary schools across Hemel Hempstead and Watford with aspirations to expand. We support over 2,500 pupils and employ more than 350 dedicated staff members. We are currently seeking new Trustees to join our Board.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is a strategic, non-operational governance role. Trustees work collectively to ensure the Trust delivers the best outcomes for children, by focusing on:

• Setting the vision, ethos, and strategic direction of the Trust
• Holding executive leaders to account for educational and operational performance
• Overseeing the financial performance of the Trust, ensuring public funds are used effectively

As a Trustee, you help ensure Aspire does the right things, for the right people, in the right way. Governance ensures – management does.

WHAT WE OFFER

• The opportunity to develop your strategic thinking and leadership skills
• Access to free, high-quality training in governance and education
• A sense of personal fulfilment from making a positive impact on the lives of children
• Supportive collaboration with a professional, experienced Board of Trustees

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We welcome applications from individuals who bring:

• Enthusiasm, commitment, and a willingness to learn
• We are especially looking for someone to sit on our Finance, Audit, Risk and Operations committee so experience within this area is desirable
• We are also looking for someone with experience in Human Resources to sit on our People and Culture committee so experience in this area is also a desirable

You do not need prior experience in the education sector—just the energy and capacity to contribute meaningfully.

We are keen for our Board to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve across Hemel Hempstead and Watford. We warmly encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented backgrounds and with a wide range of lived experiences.

PRACTICAL DETAILS

This is a voluntary, unpaid position . The Board meets regularly throughout the school year (currently every half-term plus termly committee meetings), with some during working hours and some early mornings and evening meetings. Most meetings are held virtually minimising the need to travel, although there will be around one per term which takes place within one of our schools and you will be invited to a face-to-face induction meeting to meet the team. Trustees are expected to:

• Attend meetings
• Read and comment on reports, papers and policies in advance of meetings
• Support and challenge the executive team in line with Aspire’s vision and values
• Visit link schools annually

Interested?

Please submit an application by following the link by 31st October 2026.  Aspire Academies Trust Trustee Application Form 2026/2027 – Fill in form

Following shortlisting, applicants will be invited to interview so you can find out more about us and we can find out more about you with representatives from the Board.

We’d love to hear from you. For more information or an informal conversation about the role, please contact: Cherry Russel-Hogg, Governance Professional – [email protected] or call 07908671699

Safeguarding Statement:

Aspire Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointment to this post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check as well as other pre-appointment checks, including an online check, as outlined in Keeping Children Safe in Education (September 2026).

Equal Opportunities:

To help us meet our high standards and aspirations of a fully diverse and inclusive workplace, we strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply and to join us.