Become one of our next governors or trustees – now closed to applications

Oct 4, 2022 | Latest News

Joanna Fison in class
  • Do you want to play a part in making a difference to the lives of deaf children and deaf young adults?
  • Can you help us as a Charity in our development, expansion and diversification?
Lady in front of a green screen. BSL film for job advert for governors and trustees

Now closed to applications

Why not consider becoming one of our governors or trustees as we look to strengthen our Charity’s Board of Trustees and Governing Body at the Deaf Academy?

We have a number of vacancies and in particular are seeking to recruit individuals who have skills and experience in the following areas:

  • Health and therapies – occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, nursing, health management
  • Education, Special Educational Needs (SEN), teaching, education management
  • Care and social work – care management, social workers
  • Workforce development

We are keen to recruit people from the Deaf Community who will bring their unique lived experience of deaf culture and who can ensure that we have their needs at the centre of everything we do.

What do governors do?

As a Governing Body we work to a clear set of values and code of conduct that enable us to challenge and support the Senior Leadership Team and the Principal.

We have three core responsibilities:

  1. Ensuring clarity of vision, ethos and strategic direction
  2. Holding executive leaders to account for the education and safeguarding performance of the organisation and its students, and the performance management of staff
  3. Overseeing the financial performance of the organisation and making sure its money is well spent.

Governors currently meet as a board three times a year with a joint trustees and governors training and development day held annually.  We also have a number of sub-committees and governors are invited to join the committee that best meet their skills and experience or if they have a particular area of interest.

What is the trustees’ role?

Trustees take ultimate responsibility for the work that the charity does, and the way it spends its income in achieving its aims. All trustees are also company directors. Trustees are responsible for the strategic direction of the organisation, agreeing plans and budgets, and holding the governors and senior leadership team to account for carrying out its plans. Trustees are also legally responsible for ensuring that the organisation operates to standards set by Parliament and the Charity Commission.

Find out more – QR codes to BSL translation

Closing date

  • Midday 31 October 2022

Front cover of Trustee Application Pack. Image of teacher with student drawing
Front cover of Governor Application Pack. Image of Teach with two male students in classroom with a teacher
Remuneration and term of office

Both roles are extremely rewarding and although voluntary you will be paid reasonable expenses, including travel expenses.

Some appointees will be for trustee/governors supporting both the Deaf Academy and the wider charity. Appointments will be for an initial period of four years and may be extended for a second term in accordance with the Charity’s Articles of Association.

Why join us?

This is an exciting time to be joining us at the Deaf Academy as we continue to expand our provision and increase our student population.  We provide a school, college and post 19 adult provision for children and young people from the ages of 9-25. All our students have additional needs and we are one of the only Deaf Schools in the country that also focuses on the social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs of our students.

Students come to us from across the UK to attend, with many living in our on-site residential accommodation. We also have a children’s home, a short walk away from our campus, providing a home for up to four students.

We are a registered charity and have a rich and long history, being founded in 1826 in Exeter. In 2020 we moved to our brand new campus in Exmouth, in Devon. Our award-winning Academy design is inspired by DeafSpace architecture and wide corridors enable signers to communicate and acoustics are carefully managed. Meanwhile, large classrooms and modern therapeutic facilities are designed to complement each other to enhance the learning for Deaf young people, whatever their additional needs might be.

We currently have 62 students with 35 staying in our residential accommodation. We also employ around 150 staff from many professions and disciplines, all contributing to encouraging our young people to explore their passions and develop a strong Deaf identity, whilst also supporting them to excel educationally.

As a governor or trustee you will have the opportunity to have pre-planned visits to the Academy when teaching and learning are taking place and be invited to attend Academy events and functions.

Find out more
How to apply

We welcome applications in British Sign Language or by completing and emailing our application form.

The closing date to receive applications is Tuesday 25 October 2022.

Further information

If you would like us to arrange an appointment to have an informal conversation about either role, please contact Charlie Miller, Executive Assistant to Governors and Trustees on 01395 203172 or email CMiller@thedeafacademy.ac.uk

For more information about the recruitment process or submitting your application, please contact Human Resources:

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