Join Dixons Academies Trust as a Trustee to contribute your expertise to a sector-leading organisation making a difference to the lives of learners across the north of England.
Dixons Academies Trust is appointing new Trustees to support our continued growth across Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. As a values‑led, high‑performing organisation, we are committed to improving life chances for children and young people in the North.
Our Trustees play a critical role in shaping strategy, strengthening governance and ensuring that every academy delivers on our mission to improve life chances.
We are seeking individuals with expertise in primary education, SEND, audit & risk and finance. Each Trustee will bring professional insight, constructive challenge and a deep commitment to our values of work hard, be good and kind and mastery, autonomy and purpose. These appointments will strengthen our Board and support our ambition to educate 20,000 students across the North.
About the roles
Trustees at Dixons Academies Trust play a pivotal role in shaping the future of one of the most values‑driven, high‑performing and fast‑growing educational organisations in the North of England. As a member of our Board, you will help ensure that our mission remains central to every strategic decision, every investment and every aspect of our culture.
This is a governance role with significant influence and responsibility. Trustees oversee the performance, safety, financial health and long‑term resilience of our academies across Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. You will scrutinise outcomes, challenge leaders constructively and ensure that our values are lived out consistently across every school.
As part of the Board, you will support and hold the executive team to account, ensuring that leadership is ambitious, ethical and aligned with our mission. You will help shape Trust‑wide priorities, oversee improvement strategies and ensure that our aligned autonomy model continues to balance consistency with innovation.
This role requires strategic thinking, sound judgement and a deep commitment to public service. You do not need experience in a multi‑academy trust; we welcome leaders from education, business, public services, charities and regulated sectors who can bring insight, rigour and values‑led challenge.
Who we are looking for
Primary Education Trustee
We are seeking a Trustee with deep expertise in primary education to support our Primary academies. You will understand high‑quality Primary pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment and school improvement.
You will bring insight into how Primary schools build strong culture — warm, strict, purposeful — and how routines, relationships and high expectations drive attainment and character.
You will help the Board evaluate Primary performance, understand barriers, and support leaders to embed powerful knowledge and consistent teaching practice.
We are looking for someone who can interpret data intelligently, ask incisive questions and provide constructive challenge that strengthens leadership. Experience of leading or overseeing improvement at scale, particularly in diverse communities, is desirable.
Above all, you will be motivated by improving life chances and ensuring that every child receives an ambitious, joyful and inclusive Primary education.
SEND Trustee
We are seeking a Trustee with strong expertise in SEND strategy, statutory frameworks and inclusive practice. You will understand the graduated response, high‑quality classroom provision for SEND learners and the leadership required to embed SEND as a whole‑school responsibility.
You will help the Board scrutinise SEND performance, evaluate provision and ensure compliance with statutory duties. You will bring insight into how academies can design inclusive cultures, deliver ambitious curriculum for all learners and build staff capability through training and coaching.
Experience of leading SEND across multiple schools, working with external agencies or overseeing complex casework is desirable. You will be confident providing challenge that strengthens safeguarding, inclusion and outcomes for vulnerable learners.
Your motivation will be ensuring that every child — regardless of need — feels known, valued and able to succeed.
Audit and Risk Trustee
We are seeking a Trustee with expertise in risk management, internal controls, compliance and organisational assurance. You will understand the regulatory frameworks governing multi‑academy trusts and the importance of robust oversight in a growing organisation.
You will help the Board identify, monitor and mitigate risk across finance, operations, safeguarding, estates and educational performance. You will bring clarity to complex information, support strong internal audit processes and ensure that systems remain resilient as the Trust expands.
Experience in regulated sectors, public services or multi‑site organisations is desirable. You will be comfortable providing constructive challenge, strengthening decision‑making and ensuring that governance remains rigorous, transparent and aligned with our mission.
Your work will help ensure that Dixons remains safe, compliant and well‑governed — enabling our academies to focus on improving life chances.
Finance Trustee
We are seeking a Finance Trustee with strong expertise in financial governance, strategic planning, multi‑site budgeting and long‑term resource stewardship.
You do not need experience in a multi‑academy trust; we welcome leaders from corporate, public sector, charity, professional services or regulated industries who can bring clarity, rigour and strategic insight to a growing organisation.
You will help the Board scrutinise financial performance, evaluate investment decisions and ensure that resources are used wisely and sustainably. You will bring experience in financial modelling, risk, reserves, capital planning or organisational growth, and be confident interpreting complex information to support high‑quality decision‑making.
Working within our aligned autonomy model, you will help ensure that financial systems and controls remain robust as the Trust expands towards educating 20,000 students. You will provide constructive challenge, support long‑term planning, and help ensure compliance with ESFA requirements while maintaining the flexibility needed for innovation.
Above all, you will be motivated by improving life chances — ensuring that every financial decision strengthens our academies, supports powerful knowledge, and enables children and young people across the North to thrive.
Time commitment and expectations
Trustees should ensure that they are making a positive and meaningful contribution to the board by:
- Attending meetings (typically six full board meetings a year), reading papers and preparing questions for the senior executive leadership in advance.
- Establishing and maintaining professional relationships with senior executive leaders and colleagues on the board of trustees.
- Getting to know the academies within the trust, including visiting occasionally during school hours.
- Undertaking induction training and developing knowledge and skills on an ongoing basis.
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 consultants at Peridot Partners:
Shaun Eden | shaun@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 509128
Eddie Caviezel Cox | eddiec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 920768
About us
Dixons Academies Trust is a values‑led, high‑performing family of schools serving communities across Bradford, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester. We exist to improve life chances by providing a transformational education for children and young people in the North, particularly those facing the greatest disadvantage.
Our academies share a common culture, a common mission and a common commitment to social mobility.
Our mission: Improving life chances
Our mission is clear and uncompromising: to ensure that every student can choose between university, a high‑quality apprenticeship, or skilled employment at 18. We focus relentlessly on closing gaps, raising attainment and building the character, confidence and cultural capital that enable young people to thrive.
Our values: work hard, be good, be kind
Across all Dixons academies, three shared values shape how we work:
- Work hard — We focus on what matters most and pursue continuous improvement with humility.
- Be good and kind — We treat everyone with respect, empathy and care, building strong relationships and safe, supportive cultures.
- Mastery, autonomy and purpose — We empower staff and students to take ownership, strive for excellence and act with purpose.
These values underpin every academy, every classroom and every interaction.
Our approach: rigorous, joyful, inclusive
We design schools that are both academically rigorous and joyful places to learn. Our curriculum is built around powerful knowledge, delivered by subject experts, remembered in detail, and accessible to every child. We expect high standards, value diversity and build character through routines, relationships and culture.
We believe that schools should be places of warmth, pride and purpose, where students feel known, valued and challenged.
Talent first: investing in our people
Our people are our greatest asset. Through the Centre for Growth, we invest heavily in staff development, leadership formation and professional learning. We deploy talented people where they can have the greatest impact and provide kind, helpful and honest feedback that supports continuous improvement.
We believe talent is nurtured, not innate — and we build cultures where everyone can grow.
Aligned autonomy
We operate with “aligned autonomy”: a shared mission, shared values and shared standards, combined with the freedom for each academy to innovate and respond to local context. This model strengthens accountability, supports strong leadership and enables schools to adapt while remaining part of a coherent Trust culture.
Looking ahead
Our vision is to educate 20,000 students across the North, building resilience, excellence and long‑term impact. As we grow, we remain focused on transforming lives through education, strengthening our communities and ensuring every child can shape a future filled with opportunity.
Learn more about us
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally a maximum of 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outline 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: Dixons Academies Trust — Trustee (Primary, SEND, Audit or Finance)” 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 or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners:
Shaun Eden | shaun@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 509128
Eddie Caviezel Cox | eddiec@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07951 920768
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Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Thursday 5th November 2026
Candidates informed of outcome: w/c Monday 9th November 2026
Interviews: To be confirmed directly with the Trust after shortlisting
We are in the process of confirming interview dates. Once confirmed, we will update the site and contact applicants.
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
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