ESSENTIAL CRITERIA

We are looking for candidates who are:

• Able to provide strategic leadership for the entire Trust, shaping the vision and culture with a clear understanding of SEND challenges and opportunities.
• Passionate about education and the well-being of students with special educational needs.
• Approve policies that reflect the specific needs of special education provision, including safeguarding, behaviour, accessibility, and inclusion policies.
• Ensure robust risk management, particularly in safeguarding and wellbeing for vulnerable pupils.
• Attend Trust and Committee meetings, actively contributing with specialist SEND insight.

While all Trustees share strategic responsibility across the Trust, we are specifically seeking a Trustee with expertise in autism and special education to strengthen the governance of our specialist school, SGS Pegasus. Your professional knowledge and experience will play a vital role in enabling the Trust Board to:

• Advocate for inclusive education that addresses the specific needs of students with autism and complex special educational needs, ensuring that policies and practices align with leading SEN and autism standards.
• Follow the National Governance Association’s 4S principles: Safeguarding, Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), Standards, and Stakeholder engagement.
• Work closely with Local School Boards, particularly that of Pegasus, to promote meaningful engagement with stakeholders such as families, specialist staff, and external partners.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the school’s SEN provisions, therapy programs, and transition arrangements, helping to drive ongoing improvements suited to this specialist context.
• Assist the Trust Leadership Team in making strategic decisions concerning specialist staffing, resource management, and safeguarding of vulnerable pupils.