Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) is seeking new Trustees to join our Board and contribute to the work of our Education and Standards Committee.
We are looking for an experienced educationalist — someone who understands school improvement, curriculum, pedagogy and the realities of leading schools in the English system. You may be a former headteacher, senior leader, MAT executive, school improvement professional or someone with deep expertise in teaching and learning. Whatever your background, you will be committed to using your insight to strengthen the governance of a values‑driven, ambitious multi‑academy trust.
Our Board plays a vital role in helping our schools flourish: guiding strategic direction, holding the executive to account and ensuring that children across our communities receive an excellent education. We are seeking Trustees who share this mission and have the expertise, judgement and capacity to uphold the highest standards of governance.
This is a strategic, non‑executive role requiring around six to eight days per year. In return, you will gain meaningful Board‑level experience, influence at scale and the opportunity to shape education across Derbyshire.
Who we are
DDAT is a Trust rooted in collaboration. Our schools are not carbon copies of one another; leaders are empowered to shape provision around the needs of their communities, supported by a central team with expertise in finance, HR, operations and school improvement.
As a Diocesan Trust, our values — Inclusivity, Integrity, Community, Excellence and Courage — guide everything we do. These values unite our church and community schools and underpin our vision: to nurture and empower every person to reach their fullest potential.
We are seeking Trustees who will champion these values and contribute to our inclusive culture. Individuals with the foresight to guide a growing Trust, offering strategic insight, constructive challenge and a commitment to ensuring every child receives the very best education. As we evolve, we welcome those who will help shape our future with integrity, ambition and a deep sense of service.
About the role
As a Trustee at DDAT, you will hold a strategic, non‑executive role — providing oversight, support and challenge to the executive team and ensuring the Trust delivers excellent education rooted in our Christian values.
Trustees collectively set the Trust’s vision and strategic direction, monitor performance and standards, safeguard public funds and ensure ethical, compliant operation in line with our charitable objectives.
As an educationalist on the Education and Standards Committee, you will:
- Bring deep insight into teaching, learning, curriculum and school improvement
- Support the Board in understanding performance trends, risks and opportunities
- Provide constructive challenge to ensure every school is supported to deliver high‑quality education
- Help ensure strategic decisions are grounded in the lived experience of pupils, staff and leaders
- Contribute to discussions on standards, inclusion, behaviour, attendance and leadership development
- Strengthen the Board’s ability to scrutinise educational outcomes and improvement strategies
This is not an operational role. Trustees do not run schools or the Trust day‑to‑day; they provide strategic challenge, high‑level scrutiny and assurance. You will work closely with Trustees with expertise in finance, teaching and learning, school leadership and MAT leadership, as well as the CEO and executive team.
In return, you will gain significant non‑executive experience and contribute to a Trust that is growing in influence — shaping the life chances of young people across Derbyshire. Whether you are experienced in governance or stepping into your first Board role, this is an opportunity to use your insight, values and voice to influence education at scale.
Who we are looking for
We are seeking Trustees who bring professional expertise in education — ideally with experience of school leadership, school improvement, curriculum development or MAT‑level educational strategy. You may have led a school, worked as a senior leader, contributed to system leadership or supported improvement across multiple settings.
We also welcome individuals with additional expertise in audit and risk, HR, legal practice or operations leadership, though this is not essential for the educationalist role.
We value Trustees who are curious, humble and values‑driven. You do not need prior trustee experience; our Governance Team will provide induction, training and ongoing support. You must, however, be able to contribute with clarity, independence and care — reading papers, preparing questions and engaging constructively in meetings. Understanding the distinction between strategic and operational leadership is essential.
We particularly welcome expressions of interest from individuals who reflect the diversity of our communities and can help ensure our governance reflects the pupils we serve. We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, and want our Board to be a place where diverse voices shape better decisions and outcomes.
If you believe in the power of education to transform lives and want to support a values‑led, growing Trust at the heart of Derbyshire’s educational landscape, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Time commitment
The Board meets six times per academic year, and most sub‑committees meet three times annually. Meetings are typically held in Derby, with virtual attendance supported where appropriate. We also hold an annual Trustee Development Day and encourage occasional school visits to keep governance grounded in real pupil and staff experience.
With Board meetings, committee participation, monitoring visits and ad‑hoc engagement, the total commitment is modest — around six to eight days per year — but the impact is significant.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Shaun Eden | shaun@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 509128
Welcome from our CEO
Dear prospective Trustee,
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Trustee for Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT).
Your potential contribution comes at an exciting and significant time for our Trust. Since our establishment in 2014, DDAT has grown into a diverse family of Church and community schools that work collaboratively to deliver excellent educational provision and strong governance across Derbyshire. As we continue to grow — welcoming new schools, strengthening our geographic hubs, and planning for potential capital developments — the role of our Board in providing strategic leadership and robust oversight has never been more important.
Over recent years, DDAT has invested in major improvements across our schools, including a unified management information system for our primaries and the implementation of new finance and HR platforms. These developments have created greater consistency, improved efficiencies, and enhanced the support we can offer to our academies. With further systems and initiatives on the horizon alongside work to embrace educational reforms, the Trust is entering a new phase of strategic development, and we are seeking Trustees who can help guide and champion this next stage of our journey.
Our vision is clear: to build a better future for all across our academies, enabling our young people to positively impact their communities. We do this by:
- Providing children with excellent educational provision
- Rapidly improving underperforming schools
- Strengthening school‑to‑school support
- Building meaningful, outward‑facing partnerships
- Raising aspirations and tackling disadvantage so that no pupil is ever failed by their school
DDAT academies — both Church and non‑Church — share a commitment to delivering an inspirational and holistic education that enables every child and member of staff to thrive. While our Christian foundation shapes our values and ethos, our schools are at the service of their communities; many non‑Church schools have chosen to join DDAT because they see those values reflected in our work.
At DDAT, we want all children and young people to “experience life in all its fullness” (John 10:10). Whether or not one comes from a faith perspective, this aspiration unites us in our ambition to provide opportunity, equity, and excellence for every pupil.
Becoming a Trustee offers a meaningful opportunity to influence the educational landscape, support school leaders, and help shape the long‑term strategic direction of a growing and values‑driven Trust. If you share our vision and feel you can contribute your expertise, insight, and commitment to our Board, we warmly encourage you to apply.
I look forward to the possibility of working together in service of our schools and communities.
Yours faithfully,
Sarah Clark
Chief Executive Officer
Derby Diocesan Academy Trust
About Derby Diocesan Academies Trust
Derby Diocesan Academy Trust (DDAT) is a growing family of 33 schools across Derbyshire and Derby City, united by Christian values of service, hope and aspiration. Formed in 2014 and strengthened by a 2024 merger, the Trust now provides inclusive, high‑quality education for over 9,000 pupils in 32 primary schools and one secondary school, Derby Cathedral School, which includes an expanding sixth form.
We are a trust that believes in local distinctiveness and shared accountability. Our schools are not carbon copies of one another; they are embedded in their communities, with freedom to shape their curriculum and culture in ways that respond to their context. At the same time, they are supported by a central infrastructure that provides expert leadership in finance, HR, IT, operations and school improvement. This structure allows school leaders to focus on what matters most: teaching and learning, pupil experience and staff development.
What sets DDAT apart is our collaborative ethos. We are not just a collection of schools; we are a connected community, committed to sharing expertise and learning from one another. Our School Improvement Team includes former headteachers, HMI and curriculum specialists, and we use robust internal data and external validation to ensure we are continuously improving. Our impact is demonstrable: the longer a school is with us, the stronger the outcomes. Our five-year data shows schools improving by more than a full progress point in Reading, Writing and Maths over time and we are proud to have supported several schools out of ‘Inadequate’ status into strong, ‘Good’ provision.
Derby Cathedral School, our flagship secondary, represents our ambition in this phase. Opened in 2018 and moved into a new purpose-built site in 2021, it welcomed its first Year 12 cohort in 2023 and is rapidly developing its curriculum, sixth form offer and character education programme. The school embodies our FAITH values: Fellowship, Aspiration, Integrity, Tenacity and Humility, and serves a richly diverse student body in the heart of Derby City.
We are now preparing for our next stage of growth and evolution, including a deepening commitment to the secondary phase. We know that to do this well, our governance must include expert voices with credibility, rigour and a passion for the transformative power of education.
Learn more about DDAT
Accessibility information
We understand that different members of the community have different access needs and have made some modifications to the way we do business to accommodate people from diverse communities and abilities.
We offer the following amenities (please remove any that are not applicable to your role):
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Interviews can be held in meeting rooms that support hearing loops
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- A sign language interpreter can be accessed for interview
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Shaun Eden | shaun@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 509128
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Job Description and Person Specification and Application Form.
To formally apply, please submit the above application form and a supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: DDAT—Education Trustee” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Shaun Eden | shaun@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 509128
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If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
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Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 14th September 2026
We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact those who have applied.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and DDAT are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
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