Directors

Shape the future of local education

Volunteer as a Non-Executive Director/ Trustee
and contribute to ensuring a better future for young people in the North East.

Express your interest

Why become a Director?

Make a difference, develop new skills

Directors help lead our Trust, hold leaders to account and support school improvement.

As a volunteer, you can:

– Influence the strategic direction of the Trust
– Build professional and personal skills
– Gain insight into leadership and education
– Give back to your local community

Download the recruitment pack

What do Directors do?

Your role as a Non-Executive Director/ Trustee

Strategic Leadership

The Board and CEO collaborate to develop and realise the vision, values and strategic direction of the Trust in line with our charitable objects

Engagement

Provide strategic oversight of relationships with the Trust’s stakeholders, acting as an ambassador for the Trust and its schools

Accountability and Assurance

Hold the CEO to account for the operations and performance of the Trust

View the role description

Other elements of the role

Serve on one or more of the Board’s Committees
Act as Link Director for a specific theme (Careers, Health and Safety, SEND or Safeguarding)
Participate in ad-hoc panels such as appeals, complaints or Headteacher appointment panels
Form a part of any working groups

View Link Director descriptions

NEAT 2024-25 Strategic Priorities

The NEAT Vision is: One Trust, working with partners to grow potential.

To meet this vision, our strategic priorities for 2024-25 are:

The Trust operates more effectively through improved systems, processes, partnerships and communications.
School performance is improving and capacity to continue to improve is growing.
Key stakeholder representation better reflects the pupils and communities that we serve.
Effective opportunities fevelop our students’ readiness for the world of work.
Improved performance and reputation leads to further growth opportunities.

Who can be a Director?

You don’t need to have a background in education to become a Non-Executive Director/Trustee. This role is for you if:

You are passionate about ensuring young people in the North East get the best education experience possible
You can bring a fresh perspective to the challenges faced by young people in a dynamic, ever-changing world
You have knowledge or passion to tackle poverty and break down barriers to social mobility
You are committed to work with a team of passionate individuals to create a better future for young people

Express your interest

Testimonials

Hear from our Directors

Knowing the individual primary schools in the past (as a deputy head at one of the NEAT schools, and then as a School Improvement Consultant working across many of the primary schools to improve Literacy standards), I was very familiar with the backgrounds, hardwork and commitment of the schools not only to their children but to their local communities, and hoped to be able to continue to help to make a collective difference years down the line, in a governance role within NEAT Academy Trust.

As a governance volunteer, you get to support and challenge all of the schools at a strategic level, making decisions collectively to improve the life chances of all of the young people to enable them to flourish for the future.

Being a governance volunteer makes me feel proud, responsible and enthused.

– Nichola Brannen

My decision to engage in governance volunteering stems naturally from my academic and professional commitment to social, governance, and environmental accountability, and my desire to help shape policy and practice. As a board member, I have served on the Trust’s Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee, contributing my expertise in governance and accountability. This role has enabled me to apply my academic knowledge and critical thinking skills in a practical setting to inform decision-making and promote effective, equitable outcomes within the Trust.

Being a governance volunteer has enabled me to apply my expertise to enhance the effectiveness and accountability of the Trust. Serving on the board has also provided valuable opportunities to develop additional skills in strategic planning, control, and financial oversight. Most importantly, it has allowed me to contribute to shaping educational outcomes for the children in the Trust and to promote social equity for
both staff and students.

Being a governance volunteer makes me feel resourceful, empathetic and purposeful.

– Mercy Denedo

Having grown up in and gone to school in Walker, where all of our schools were located when I joined NEAT in 2017, I saw an opportunity to ensure the children and young people in our schools were represented at Board meetings, and in decision-making. I also have a unique perspective as someone who is an artist and choreographer, and it was important to me that there was an advocate for the arts, and their enormous educational and wellbeing benefits, at governance level.

I know that I am contributing my time, expertise and skills to making a better future for children and young people in the North East which is the primary benefit and a privilege. We also have a board that is made up of very different perspectives and ways of thinking, and I enjoy our discussions which sometimes challenge my thinking, and which I ultimately learn from.

Being a governance volunteer makes me feel energised, curious and fierce.

– Nadia Iftkhar

When I first moved to Newcastle in 2011, I lived in Walker, and I worked in a HR role for schools, which gave me a real appreciation for the important role that education plays in shaping young people’s futures. That experience, combined with my focus on developing early careers talent in my current role, inspired me to become a governance volunteer.

Being a governance volunteer offers a range of personal and professional benefits. It’s a chance to give back to the community by helping shape the direction of the school and ensuring young people receive the best possible education. It also enhances leadership and team work abilities, while offering satisfaction of making a meaningful difference in children’s lives.

Being a governance volunteer makes me feel proud, purposeful and connected.

– Heidi Khoshtaghaza

I am lucky in the amount of travel I have within my current job and the different organisations I see up and down the country. I’ve been in the North East for 30 years now and there is nowhere like it. The people are amazing and the culture is second to none. However, I get frustrated with the levels of inequality and this helps me to give something back to help reduce the divides that I see. In addition, I always take the opportunity to set the record straight the misconceptions that people elsewhere have about our amazing region.

Being a governance volunteer gives me the insight I wouldn’t otherwise have and allows me to tell the stories as they really are. The role gives me a sense of pride as well as being able to take a longer term view of our organisation.

Being a governance volunteer makes me feel proud, humble and responsible.

– Steve Leggetter

Having spent 15 years working abroad and away from the North East I wanted to be able to help support the communities where I live, being part of NEAT allows me to bring my commercial experience into NEAT and other charity organisations.

Being a governance volunteer allows me to share my global commercial experience within our schools to help ensure the future of our young citizens.

Being a governance volunteer makes me feel responsible, value-adding and inspired.

– Andrew Lister

Tom began his career teaching science and has held a range of roles in schools and the charity sector with a particular focus on using research evidence. Tom currently leads the strategy for school improvement for a Trust of schools. Tom has previously held a variety of different governance roles.

Pupils inspired Tom to become a governance volunteer, which Tom feels deepens his professional expertise.

– Tom Martell

As a member of the PTA at my daughter’s school when my daughter was young, I could see how important volunteers are within a school community. I wanted to use my experience and knowledge of businesses in the region to good effect in a voluntary capacity. Being a governor of a primary school and more recently, a trustee with NEAT, allows me to share my knowledge and experience and bring a different perspective.

Being a governance volunteer introduces you to many different people from multiple industry sectors. As a governance volunteer, I continue to learn and develop my own personal leadership and people skills and have had the opportunity to work with excellent professionals in education and other sectors too. I know that I have gained a much deeper understanding and appreciation of the key and complex challenges currently being faced in education.

Being a governance volunteer makes me feel proud, included and valued.

– Sue Ormerod

I wanted to become a governance volunteer to give something back. I feel the role enables me to support schools across the Trust through bringing my strategic leadership experience to the table. I’m passionate about ensuring all pupils have access to high-quality education, and I believe strong, informed governance is vital to achieving that across NEAT. This role gives me the opportunity to give back, challenge constructively, and contribute to sustainable school improvement at scale. I am enjoying every second of working within our communities and hope to be doing so for a long time to come!

There are huge benefits to being involved as a governance volunteer. I am passionate about the North East and the communities we serve, and being in a position to support, guide and make a positive impact on children and young people in the region is the most important one. Other benefits include professional development; being able to have Board-level experience which challenges strategic thinking and governance skills, while giving insight into areas I am less familiar with such as finance. Working with the Board also allows me to give back with purpose, using my skills to make a tangible impact on pupils’ lives and outcomes.

Being a governance volunteer makes me feel proud, purposeful and energised.

– Amanda Seward

What’s it really like?

Click the video to hear the story of one of our Non-Executive Directors.

Click the button below to go to our YouTube page where you can find more videos like this.

Find out more

What support will I get?

Do I need experience in education?

You don’t need experience in education to be a non-executive director/ trustee. We need a team of inidivuals with a wide range of different skills, and experiences as well of those who have community insights. Other valuable expertise includes HR, finance, legal, project management, data, equality and diverisity, and more.

How long is the term of office?

Initially 4 years, which is renewable.

How much time does it take?

You can expect to commit around 1-2 days per month on the role, which includes attending and preparing for meetings and visiting schools.

When do the meetings take place?

Meetings take place in-person at our offices in North Shields (with hybrid/online options available).
The typical start time is 6pm.
There are 8-12 meetings per year, which includes both Board meetings and Committee meetings.

Will I receive training?

Once appointed, you will meet with the Clerk of the Board and receive an onboarding and induction programme.

You will also receive further support from the Board Chair and the other members of the Board.

You will have access to regular training and development throughout your time as a volunteer.

Can I claim expenses?

You are entitled to claim reasonable expenses, such as travel and childcare costs.

Where do I find out more?

You can access lots of information on our website or recruitment pack.
You can also contact us at the Governance Support Team via governance@neatat.org.uk or 0191 228 4090.