Governor (Community)

Governor (Community) - Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust (BFMAT)

Become a Governor

We are recruiting volunteer Governors for King Edward VI College in Nuneaton and Gateway College in Leicester, both Colleges are part of the Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust (BFMAT), which is sponsored by Coventry University.

This is a rewarding opportunity to use your skills, experience and insight to help shape the future of post-16 education and support young people in our communities.

As a Governor, you will:

• Provide strategic oversight and constructive challenge
• Support and monitor educational performance and outcomes
• Contribute to financial oversight and risk management 
• Champion high standards of teaching, learning and student experience

Governors work collaboratively with Senior Leaders and the Trust Board to ensure strong accountability and that the College delivers on its vision and strategic priorities.

We are particularly interested in individuals with experience in: Finance, HR, Education, Law, Estates, Strategic Leadership, Business or Community Leadership.

You do not need prior governance or education experience as a full induction and ongoing training will be provided.

The role involves attending around six meetings per year (a mixture of online and in-person and usually in the evening), reading papers in advance, and occasionally visiting the College or attending events. Collectively, this equates to a commitment of around 1-2 hours per month, with flexibility to contribute more if willing and available. In return, you will make a real difference to learners’ lives, develop your leadership skills, gain valuable governance experience, grow your professional network, and support your local community.

BFMAT actively encourages applications from a wide range of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to reflect the communities it serves.

Please forward your CV and a covering letter to Victoria Wilkes, Senior Governance Officer, victoria.wilkes@ke6n.ac.uk  by midday on 15 April 2026. 

With reference to the Role Description, the covering letter should outline your motivation for becoming a Governor, the skills and experience you would bring to the role and how you feel you could contribute to the work of the BFMAT. If you have a preference for becoming a Governor at either Gateway College or King Edward VI College, please indicate this in your covering letter.  

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Victoria Wilkes. Interviews are expected to be held in mid-May.

Community Governor Role Description

1. What is Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust?

Better Futures Multi-Academy Trust (BFMAT) was founded in 2019. The Trust specialises in the teaching and support of 16–19-year olds. It is focussed on developing students to have the confidence, skills and agency to shape both their own future and the communities they are part of. 

The Trust is comprised of three sixth form Colleges; King Edward VI College in Nuneaton; Bilborough College in Nottingham; and Gateway College in Leicester. Across the three Colleges, there are currently in excess of 5,000 students. 

Collectively, the three Colleges provide a wide range of academic and vocational subjects. Most students study Level 3 A Level or BTEC courses. Level 3 T Levels, alongside Level 2 and Level 1 pathways, are also offered within the Trust. Expert advice and guidance is given to support our students in choosing the right subjects and pathways to enable them to achieve and develop lifelong skills and attitudes, whatever their starting point. Students are actively involved in co-creation and development of the curriculum.

BFMAT is sponsored by Coventry University; a unique relationship in the sixth form sector. The relationship helps shape how we achieve our objectives, the activities we engage in and the experiences we offer to students and staff. The connection with a leading Higer Education provider offers a range of benefits, for students and staff, that enables us to provide an enhanced educational experience. 

All three Colleges have been inspected within the last three years and all graded ‘Good’. Most students progress to Higher Education and once there achieve high degree classifications.

2. How is BFMAT Governed? 

BFMAT is governed through a structured framework to ensure strong strategic oversight and accountability. At the highest level, the Trust has Members, who are the guardians of the MAT’s constitution. Members have limited but important powers, including appointing or removing Trustees and ensuring the Trust stays true to its charitable objectives. 

Below the Members, the Board of Trustees is responsible for the overall strategic direction, financial oversight, and educational performance of all Colleges within the Trust. Trustees set policies, approve budgets, monitor risk, and ensure regulatory compliance. 

The Board has delegated certain responsibilities to Committees, including Local Governing Bodies (LGBs). Each of the three Colleges in the Trust operates an LGB. Membership of LGBs includes appointed Community Governors and elected Student, Staff and Parent Governors. The College Principal is also a Governor. LGBs play an important role in providing focussed scrutiny and support at local level, helping to ensure that the College maintains high-quality educational standards and meets the needs of its community. This layered governance framework enables the MAT to combine central strategic control with local insight that informs Trust-wide decision making to maintain consistency, drive improvement, and ensure effective leadership across all its Colleges. 

3. What are the key responsibilities of Community Governors? 

 Working within the Trust’s Scheme of Delegation, the core responsibilities of LGB Governors include: 

• Overseeing the development and delivery of the College’s strategic plan within the framework and priorities set by the Trust, ensuring local needs and context inform the College’s direction and upholding the vision and values set by the Trust. 
• Developing an understanding of the College’s strengths and areas for improvement. Holding Executive Leaders to account for delivering high-quality inclusive educational outcomes, providing constructive support and, where appropriate, robust challenge as a critical friend. 
• Monitoring the College’s key performance indicators including financial performance and value for money, ensuring that resources are used efficiently and aligned with Trust priorities. 
• Providing effective safeguarding oversight by reviewing the College’s safeguarding arrangements and ensuring full statutory compliance, promoting a strong culture of safety and adherence to Trust safeguarding procedures.

4. What are the personal and professional benefits of being a Community Governor?  

Personal Benefits: 

• Sense of purpose and contribution: Governors play a meaningful role in improving education and supporting young people to thrive. Helping to shape local provision can provide a real sense of personal fulfilment.
• Improved confidence: Engaging in discussion, scrutiny, and decision‑making strengthens personal confidence and judgment.
• Broader perspective: Exposure to different viewpoints, community needs, and strategic issues widens personal understanding of how organisations work.
• Community connection: Governors help ensure the local voice is heard within the Trust, building strong relationships with the College and its key stakeholders including students, staff, parents/ guardians and the wider community.
• Personal satisfaction: Knowing your time and expertise directly help shape the quality of education and life chances of young people can be extremely rewarding.

 Professional Benefits: 

• Strategic leadership experience: Governors work on long‑term planning, risk management, and performance oversight; transferable skills valued in many professional sectors.
• Strengthened governance and compliance skills: Understanding statutory duties, safeguarding, finance, and accountability is beneficial for many professional roles.
• Improved communication and influencing skills: The role involves presenting ideas clearly, listening, and offering challenge in a constructive way.
• Experience working with Executive Leaders: Governors regularly engage with Principals, CEOs, and senior leaders, gaining insight into high‑level leadership. 
• Enhanced CV and career development: Governance experience is attractive to employers   and can support career progression into leadership or board roles.
• Opportunities for training and development: BFMAT provides high‑quality professional training on governance, finance, safeguarding and strategy, supporting professional development. 

 5.         What are the Trust’s Expectations of its Community Governors?   

• Commit to an initial four-year term of office.
• Attend approximately five LGB meetings per academic year (typically 5-7pm). Meetings are held either in person at the respective College or online via Microsoft Teams, providing flexibility  to enable strong attendance; a pre-requisite for effective governance and informed decision making. Governors are also expected to engage, where possible, in Governor links, learning walks, open days and cross‑Trust Committees. Collectively, this equates to a commitment of around 1-2 hours per month, with flexibility to contribute more if willing and available.
• Read and consider agenda and briefing papers in advance.  Ask questions in meetings in a reasonable and objective manner upholding the Nolan Principles. Do not allow prejudice to  impinge on the debate and decision-making process. Challenge in an appropriate and  constructive way that supports improvement and strengthens decision-making. 
• Attend the annual Trust Strategy event at Coventry University which normally takes place in the summer term.
• Engage in required training, including safeguarding, to enhance your skills and knowledge, demonstrating commitment to the role.
• Work within a framework of collective decision making in the best interests of the LGB and Trust.
• Confirm eligibility to serve as a Governor by certifying you are not disqualified for any reason. The role is subject to a satisfactory disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (known as a DBS check).
• The role is voluntary. Travel expenses are reimbursed in line with the Trust’s policy.  

This role is advertised as part of TPP's Free Giving Back Services. This volunteer advertisement copy has been supplied to TPP and applicants apply direct to the organisation. Please contact the organisation directly if you have any questions about this volunteer role.