Trustee

Stour Vale Academy Trust is looking for a Trustee to support the strategic development of its thirteen member schools and one day nursery.

Who we are

Since its founding in 2017, Stour Vale Academy Trust has held children and young people at the very heart of all that we do.

We are a multi-academy trust of thirteen member schools and one day nursery located in Dudley, Sandwell and Worcestershire.

Our multi-academy trust developed from collaboration between schools, the significant positive impact of which convinced three schools, two secondary and one primary, that together we would have much greater capacity to improve continuously. Over time, Stour Vale has steadily grown. We began as a cross-phase multi-academy trust and as we have grown, both secondary and primary schools have joined us. As a successful family of schools, delivering high-quality education for the communities we serve, Stour Vale values its diversity. Each school brings its own distinct character, community, history and identity. We celebrate the uniqueness of member schools, recognising that there is a great deal to learn from education in different contexts. This is also the reason why we remain outward-looking, committed to learning from research and excellent practice across the education system.

We intend to continue to grow because we believe that, over time, growth will increase the collective capacity of our family of schools to improve continuously and to provide excellent education and care.

About the role

Trustees at Stour Vale Academy Trust play a critical strategic role in ensuring the Trust delivers high-quality, inclusive education. Working collectively as a Board, Trustees are responsible for setting the Trust’s vision and long-term strategy, holding executive leaders to account for educational performance and operational effectiveness, and ensuring that public funds are used responsibly and in line with statutory requirements.

The role involves contributing to board discussions, serving on one or more committees, and engaging with key areas such as education standards, finance, risk, people, estates, safeguarding and organisational development. Trustees are expected to provide appropriate challenge and support, bringing external perspective, professional expertise and sound judgement to complex decisions.

Trustees act in the best interests of the Trust as a whole rather than any individual school, and are ambassadors for its values and ethos. While previous governance experience is welcome, it is not essential; Stour Vale values trustees who are committed, curious and willing to learn. This is a voluntary role, typically requiring attendance at board and committee meetings, along with preparation time, and offers a meaningful opportunity to influence educational outcomes and contribute to strong, effective governance.

Who we are looking for

Our Board comprises members from varied backgrounds, including education and the public sector, as well as our CEO, Rachel Salter. We are recruiting a new Trustee to the Board who will provide strategic support and help address some of our skill gaps.

We are looking for an individual who is prepared to give up their time to support and advocate, and to use their knowledge and skills to help the executive team and staff maintain Stour Vale’s values and sustain the organisation for future generations.

Most importantly, we want our new Trustee to believe in and align with Stour Vale’s values, and to understand that the role is strategic.

We are open to sector backgrounds, provided you can demonstrate a good understanding of strategic development. However, we are particularly interested to hear from those with skills and experience in:

• Legal
• Finance
• People management and HR

Please click 'Redirect to recruiter’ to be redirected to the Peridot Partners website, where you can find full details of the candidate profile and register your interest to apply.

Applications for this role close at 9 a.m. Monday 2nd February 2026