Based in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire Journeys Academy is a brand new 60 place special school for children with communication and autism needs which is due to open in September 2026.  

 Journeys Academy will be one of the eleven Academies that form the Agora Learning Partnership; an organisation where collaboration and partnership are believed to be the key to success. The Agora Learning Partnership is a place where we ‘work together, learn together and succeed together’.

 At the Agora Learning Partnership, children are placed at the heart of all decisions that are made; it is also a place where school leaders make ‘local decisions for local children’ to ensure the needs of the children are met.

The Agora Learning Partnership was founded in 2019 and now consists of 10 primary schools and 1 special school, that benefit greatly from working collaboratively, providing help and support to one another. The relationship between the schools and the Central Team and Trustees is also deemed to be a strength of the organisation and the support offered by the Central Team is very much personalised to the individual needs of our schools. This enhances the provision at our schools, whilst enabling them to maintain their individual identities and the autonomy to deliver a curriculum that reflects their school communities and the needs of the children and young people that they serve. We believe this is the only way to achieve the very best educational standards within our schools and across our Trust – high standards that we continually strive for.

We’re recruiting for local governors to help shape the future of our school and ensure that every child gets the best possible education.

School governors are volunteers who work with us to improve standards in our schools. They help to ensure that every child makes good or better progress and that families are fully involved in their child’s education.

Governors contribute a range of skills and experience. The role is largely a challenge and scrutiny one; governors don’t manage a school day-to-day but are required to oversee its long-term development in conjunction with our Multi-Academy Trust. 

Being a school governor is a challenging but rewarding role which really makes a difference to the lives of children and their families.

The primary role of the LGB is to provide support and challenge to the Headteacher in ensuring every child makes good or better progress and that parents and carers are fully involved in their child’s education. To maximise the ability of the local governors to focus on this key area, the Local GB is not required to manage financial resources, staffing, Health and Safety or many of the other areas traditionally associated with a maintained school governing body as these issues are dealt with at Trust Board level.

Local Governors are expected to:

1. Contribute to the strategic direction of the school by contributing to discussions at Local GB meetings which consider:

·      Securing, maintaining and improving educational standards.

·      Reporting to the Trust Board on the overall performance of the school and specifically on any aspects of concern either to the Local GB or to the Trust Board.

·      Monitoring of educational outcomes in the school.

·      Monitoring all aspects of safeguarding, SEN, equality and pupil welfare.

·      Liaising with the Trust Board, Trust Leader and Headteacher on all aspects of procedure and policy setting as they may respectively require.

·      Complaints relating to the school

2. Hold the senior leaders to account by monitoring the school’s performance. This includes:

·      Agreeing the outcomes from the school’s self-evaluation and ensuring they are used to inform the priorities in the school’s improvement plan.

·      Considering all relevant data about a school’s performance.

·      Asking challenging questions of leaders.

·      Ensuring senior leaders have implemented the required policies and procedures and the school is operating effectively according to those policies.

·      Acting as a link governor on a specific issue, making relevant enquiries of the relevant staff, and reporting to the Local GB.

3. When required, and depending on the category of Local Governor, to serve on panels of the Trust to:

·      Appoint staff in the school.

·      Hear discipline, admissions and appeals cases.

4. Follow the principles and commitments set out in the Trust’s relevant Code of Conduct:

·      The role of a Local Governor is largely a challenge and scrutiny role; they do not manage a school day- to-day, but are required to oversee its long- term development in conjunction with the Trust.

5. Knowledge and skills:

·      Local GBs rely on a variety of experiences and perspectives. No specific prior knowledge is required, and volunteers have a range of skills and backgrounds. Training and support is available for new and existing Local Governors and is free of charge.

6. Time commitment:

·      The average time commitment is 10-15 hours per term. This includes meetings, background reading and visits.

·      Under Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, if you are employed, then you are entitled to ‘reasonable time off’ to undertake public duties: this includes school governance.

·      ‘Reasonable time off’ is not defined in law and you will need to negotiate with your employer how much time you will be allowed.

7. Term of appointment:

·      The normal term of appointment is four years. However, as a volunteer you can resign at any time if your circumstances change. 

8. Safeguarding:

·      Agora Learning Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare

of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

·      ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ sets out a number of safeguarding checks which must be carried out for all governors.

Who we are hoping to find?

We are looking for people from all professional backgrounds - education, HR, finance, safeguarding, health, technology, business, the arts - anyone who wants to make a difference. If you are passionate about making a difference and want to help strengthen our school community, we'd love to hear from you.

Safeguarding Statement
Journeys Academy and the Agora Learning Partnership are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks, references and safer recruitment procedures.