Interim Trust-Wide Local Committee Chair Bath & Wells Diocesan Academies Trust

Bath & Wells Diocesan Academies Trust is seeking an Interim Trust‑Wide Local Committee (TLC) Chair to support us when schools need additional governance capacity or expertise.

This flexible, hourly‑paid role helps us maintain strong local governance, provide stability during periods of change and ensure our TLCs remain aligned with our Trust’s vision, ethos and strategic priorities.

You will work with us to chair meetings, support headteachers, lead statutory panels and help build long‑term governance strength across our schools. Your leadership will play a key role in helping us deliver excellent education and uphold our Christian values across the Trust family.

Who we are

We are Bath & Wells Diocesan Academies Trust (BWMAT), a family of schools committed to delivering an excellent education for every child, shaped by our Christian ethos and rooted in John 10:10: “That they may have life, life in all its fullness.”

Our TLCs are central to how we connect each school to its community, support leaders and ensure governance reflects our values, working together across our Trust to strengthen leadership, improve outcomes and build collaborative, supportive relationships.

Strong governance is essential to how we grow, develop and serve our communities, and the Interim TLC Chair plays an important part in this work.

About the role

As Interim TLC Chair, you will work with us to provide governance leadership where we need additional capacity or expertise. You will help us maintain effective oversight, support school leaders and ensure TLCs remain aligned with our Trust’s ethos and strategic direction.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading governance: Chair TLC meetings and ensure statutory responsibilities are met.
• Supporting school improvement: Contribute to self‑evaluation and school development planning.
• Building relationships: Work closely with headteachers, TLC members and Trust leaders.
• Panels and investigations: Lead complaints, suspension and exclusion panels when required.

Your leadership will help us strengthen governance and build sustainable capacity across our Trust.

Who we are looking for

We are looking for someone who can work with us to provide confident, steady governance leadership across multiple schools.

You will bring experience in school or academy governance and be comfortable supporting senior leaders, volunteers and diverse stakeholders. You will understand the role of TLCs within a MAT structure and be able to maintain impartiality, discretion and professionalism.

We are seeking someone who can help us build capacity, strengthen practice and support school improvement.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Governance experience: Experience as a governor, clerk or governance professional.
• Communication and relationships: Ability to build positive relationships and communicate clearly.
• Challenge and support: Confidence in offering constructive challenge aligned with our values.
• Organisation and preparation: Ability to plan agendas, manage deadlines and organise TLC business.
• Commitment to learning: Willingness to develop skills and adapt to change.
• Safeguarding commitment: Understanding of safeguarding responsibilities and commitment to protecting children.

Time commitment

This is an hourly‑paid, flexible role.

Time commitments include:

• Preparation and attendance at termly TLC meetings.
• Participation in exclusion, suspension and complaints panels.
• Attendance at Trust‑wide Leading the Way sessions.
• Regular contact with headteachers.
• Occasional attendance at school events.