Governance Professional

Job Description

Canonium Learning Trust is a primary academy trust serving a growing family of schools across Essex. In under two years, we have grown from four to twelve schools, becoming one of the most dynamic and fast-developing trusts in the region. Our mission is grounded in the values of Opportunity, Challenge, and Integrity, and we are committed to delivering inclusive, high-quality education that enables every child to thrive. In 2025, we were proud to be named Tes Trust of the Year (9 schools or fewer) in recognition of our educational impact, strategic leadership, and collaborative culture.

Following a recent governance review aligned to our growth and future ambitions, we are investing in this new post to further strengthen our governance structures and support sustained excellence at both trust and local levels. Governance is a strategic enabler of our mission - and this role will be central to its continued success. The Governance and Compliance Professional is a senior administrative and advisory post responsible for ensuring the effective operation of governance at Trust and school level. The postholder serves as the independent and professional adviser to the Trust Board, ensuring that all statutory and regulatory duties are met and that governance practice supports the Trust's strategic aims, compliance obligations, and ethos. The postholder will lead all clerking for the Trust Board and its committees, oversee the distribution and escalation of information between Local Governing Committees (LGCs) and the Board, and coordinate a robust programme of induction, training, policy oversight, and governance self-review. They will also carry out key compliance tasks, including maintaining statutory registers, updating GIAS, and ensuring website governance content is up to date. The role also includes oversight of the Scheme of Delegation, Governance Handbook, Code of Conduct, and related frameworks.

This role is offered on a part-time, permanent basis working 10 hours per week over 2 days (term time only). FTE salary range is £39,862 - £44,075.

Plus:

An additional 9 hours clerking paid per Full Board meeting (6 x per year) - evenings 7pm-9pm
An additional 5 hours clerking paid per Board committee (6 x per year) - daytime
There may also be further opportunities for hourly paid clerking for local governing committees

Information about the School

🏆 Tes Trust of the Year 2025

Canonium Learning Trust is a charitable educational trust comprising a growing family of schools across Essex. We are proud to have been named "Tes Trust of the Year" (9 Schools or Fewer) in 2025, a national award that recognises excellence in education, innovation in leadership, and the power of community collaboration.

At the heart of our Trust is a shared belief that every child deserves the best possible education, regardless of the size or location of their school. We work relentlessly to nurture each child's potential and enthusiasm for learning, so that they leave our schools ready to embrace future challenges and make a positive contribution to society.

Our Purpose

We exist to create environments where pupils thrive and staff are empowered. Our work is guided by three core principles that define how our schools operate and collaborate:

Opportunity

We are committed to making the most of every opportunity to give our pupils an outstanding, inclusive, and well-rounded education. We work smartly, invest in staff development, and foster collaboration and shared learning across all our schools.

Challenge

We embrace challenge as a driver for improvement. We strike the right balance between school-level autonomy and trust-wide consistency, ensuring a clear focus on high-quality teaching and learning. Feedback, ambition, and a culture of continuous improvement underpin our approach.

Integrity

Integrity is at the core of how we lead, teach, and work together. We model fairness, respect, and open communication. We have the courage to do the right thing, take ownership of our actions, and hold ourselves and others to high standards - always with the best interests of children at heart.

If you're interested in joining a trust that is innovative, collaborative, and values-driven, and want to be part of a team recognised nationally for excellence, Canonium Learning Trust could be the right place for you.

🔗 Learn more about our Trust and current opportunities: www.canonium.org