Head of School Governance

Ark; Welwyn Garden City, Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational charity in the UK is seeking a motivated Head of Governance to strengthen governance across its schools. The role involves advising on compliance, leading governor recruitment, and ensuring the governance model aligns with trust-wide policies. Ideal candidates will have a strong understanding of governance frameworks and be motivated by delivering quality support to educational leaders. This position operates under a hybrid model, requiring some travel and presence in schools.

Benefits

Hybrid working arrangements

27 days annual leave

Access to professional learning

Pension scheme contribution

Qualifications

• Strong working knowledge of governance frameworks in education.
• Demonstrable understanding of school governance structures.
• Proven ability to interpret relevant legislation.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on admissions and exclusions.
• Lead specialist governance areas ensuring compliance.
• Monitor governance performance and report to trust-wide assurance.

Skills

Governance frameworks

Capacity-building

Compliance understanding

Education

Degree level education or equivalent experience

Job description

About The Role

The Head of Governance will report into Director of Governance and Risk. This role is currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Wed and Thu) in the office (Occasional travel to Ark schools, including attending LGBs, in London, Birmingham, Portsmouth and Hastings will be required).

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, so early submissions are advised.

Ark is seeking a highly motivated and experienced governance professional to join our central team as Head of Schools Governance. This is an important and interesting role responsible for running, shaping and strengthening governance across the trust, with a particular focus on innovation, development, and specialist governance. Working closely with the Director of Governance and Risk, this role ensures the operational rigour of governance and compliance models across the trust. The role holds oversight of key governance processes—including admissions, complaints handling, and permanent exclusions—ensuring alignment with trust-wide policies and standards.

The role also includes leading the trust’s local governance structures, including LGB governor recruitment and development strategy, helping to build a diverse, skilled, and engaged governance community. The successful candidate will support the implementation of new governance models, looking at how we can make the best use of this expert and dedicated group of volunteers, and play a central role in evaluating the impact of local governance. This includes shared responsibility for governance pilots and innovation, including looking at ways we can develop stronger links between our schools and the communities they serve.

In addition, we are looking for the Head of School Governance to look at ways we can innovate, including looking at new technologies to seek ways we can increase impact and reduce the administration burden on our schools and governors, be that through virtual clerking, streamlining complaint management, AI recording of meetings focusing on actions and better time management of meetings.

Above all, the successful candidate will be motivated by providing an outstanding quality of governance support and service to schools across Ark—bringing a practical, hands‑on approach and a genuine commitment to helping school leaders navigate challenges and deliver the best outcomes for their communities.

The successful candidate, while based in our central head office, will be expected to travel throughout our network, on scheduled visits and attend a number of local governing bodies throughout the year.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to all schools regarding admissions, exclusions
• Act as the lead for specialist governance areas, including permanent exclusions, admissions, and complaints handling, ensuring consistency and compliance across all academies
• Design and deliver a comprehensive programme of governor development, with a focus on coaching, capacity‑building, and succession planning
• Provide line management to members of the governance team, as required by the structure and operational needs of school governance
• Monitor and report on governance and compliance performance, contributing to trust‑wide assurance and improvement processes
• Act as a key point of contact between the central governance team and local governance bodies, with additional responsibilities for Birmingham schools

Key Requirements

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience
• Strong working knowledge of governance frameworks in education, including statutory and regulatory requirements for academy trusts
• Demonstrable understanding of school governance structures, including schemes of delegation, Articles of Association, and compliance obligations
• Proven ability to interpret and apply relevant legislation, including the Companies Act 2006, Academy Trust Handbook, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
• Right to work in the UK
• This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check

Benefits

• In addition to our current hybrid working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
• Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work‑life balance and personal commitments
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3 years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high‑quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face‑to‑face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest‑free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

About Us

Ark is an education charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Our network of 39 schools reaches traditionally underserved communities in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth. We educate 30,000 pupils and have nearly 3,000 teaching staff across our network. We also incubate and scale innovative ventures, which we roll out beyond our network of schools for the benefit of teachers, pupils and the education system as a whole. Current Ventures include Ark Curriculum Plus, which equips teachers with the subject expertise needed to ensure students succeed, and Ark Start, a growing chain of nurseries offering affordable, high‑quality early years education.

Recently, Ark moved to new offices at EdCity – a unique not‑for‑profit development in West London, in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham council. EdCity is designed to bring mission‑aligned organisations together to focus on improving the lives of children, especially through education. It offers leased offices, a range of venues for training and events, and an innovation hub for the education sector to connect, collaborate and learn together.

Diversity and Inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click this link.

Safeguarding Statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non‑disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend on the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on‑going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.

For any questions, please contact [e-mail]