Trustee

Join Us as a (Volunteer) Trustee at Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (OHCAT)

Founded in 1983, Orchard Hill College (OHC) is an Outstanding post-16 specialist college operating across nine centres in London, supporting over 460 students with a wide range of learning needs. In 2013, OHC established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (OHCAT) to extend its expertise to specialist schools. Today, OHCAT comprises 13 special schools across London, Surrey, Sussex, and Berkshire.

Together, OHC and OHCAT form Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (OHC&AT) – a family of specialist education providers supporting learners from nursery through to further education. Our students have diverse and complex needs, including autism, speech and language difficulties, social, emotional and mental health challenges, profound and multiple learning disabilities, and physical disabilities.

Are you passionate about inclusive education and making a meaningful impact? Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (OHCAT) is seeking dedicated and skilled individuals to join our Board of Trustees. This is a unique opportunity to contribute to a dynamic organisation that transforms the lives of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

We welcome applications from individuals who share our commitment to inclusive education and strong governance. We are particularly keen to hear from:

• Finance Professionals – a qualified finance professional with deep expertise in financial management and strategic oversight.
• Education Professionals – Senior leaders with expertise in teaching and learning, curriculum development, and whole-organisation improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Help shape strategic direction and monitor performance.
• Ensure accountability and regulatory compliance.
• Champion the needs of children and young people with SEND.
• Support continuous improvement across our College and Trust.

We’re looking for individuals with significant operational and strategic experience in education or finance, as these areas are central to our strategic direction and operational oversight.

Beyond qualifications, we value your time, commitment, and ability to engage meaningfully – whether preparing for meetings, reading papers, attending events, or visiting our academies and college sites.

We welcome applications from individuals across all backgrounds and industries. If you're a seasoned leader with a track record of driving impact in complex organisations, we’re particularly keen to hear from you. Your experience and insight will be invaluable in shaping governance at the highest level.

Why Join Us? Governance at OHC&AT is not just a statutory responsibility – it’s a vital part of our mission to transform lives. As a Trustee, you will help ensure our organisation is well-led, well-managed, and accountable, creating safe, inclusive, and thriving environments for our pupils, students, and staff.

You’ll be part of a governance team guided by four key principles:

• Collaboration – Working together to improve.
• Integrity – Doing what’s right.
• Impact-Driven – Focusing on what matters.
• Culture and Values – Living our values every day.

Our core values – Confident, Respectful, Equitable, Advocacy, Teamworking, Enabling - are at the heart of everything we do.

Discover why OHC&AT is not only a rewarding place to work, but also a truly inspiring organisation for Trustees to give their time to - visit our ‘Work for us’ page to hear from our Chief Executive Officer, John Prior, and watch uplifting messages from students and parents about the incredible impact our staff make every day.

Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.

How to Apply:

To learn more or express your interest, please send your CV and a covering letter to:

Caroline Davies, Director of Governance via: [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you and exploring how you can help us transform lives through outstanding governance

Closing Date: 12th October 2025

Interviews will take place on: 5th November 2025

Safeguarding Statement:

Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.

In line with the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education, the Trust reserves the right to request and review references prior to interview as part of our safer recruitment process. Any concerns raised will be followed up with the applicant before a recruitment decision is made.