TKAT (The Kemnal Academies Trust) • Colchester
About this role
Job Advert
SHAPE OUR FUTURE
REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER & CLERK TO GOVERNORS – ESSEX REGION
Location
Essex Region
Based at
Hylands School, Chelmsford, Essex. While working in the region's primary schools and hybrid working options,
Travelling
The expectation to travel to the Essex primary school in line with business requirements (Travel cost will be
remunerated in line with the Trust’s travel policy)
* Heybridge Primary School, CM9 4TU
* Maldon Primary School, CM9 5DQ
* Stapleford Abbotts Primary Academy, RM4 1EJ
* Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery, CO4 0DT
Role
Part-Time, must have availability for a flexible working pattern, 39 Wk/Yr (Term Time +Inset Days)
Employer
The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT)
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Are you ready to embrace a dual role where your expertise in communication directly impacts the success and reputation of a
leading educational trust, while your administrative excellence ensures critical strategic governance runs seamlessly?
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join our team in the Essex region. This unique, part-time
position combines two critical functions: promoting the professional image of our academies in the public domain and providing
indispensable procedural guidance to our Local Governing Bodies.
THE OPPORTUNITY
EXPERT COMMUNICATIONS & CULTURE CHAMPION
Communication has a powerful impact on our sense of identity, meaning and connection. As an experienced professional in
communications, copywriting or PR, you will be pivotal in ensuring our Essex group of primary schools stays connected and thrives.
You will step in as the expert in communication for our academies. This includes the challenge of supporting the creation,
ownership, and execution of the internal comms strategy across our group of Essex primary schools. Teaming up with our trust's
People & Culture colleagues, you'll foster a culture of sharing and recognition through fresh, varied communications for a diverse
community and workforce. You will report to our Regional Business Manager, with links to our brilliant People & Culture team (who
own generalist HR, including L&D, recruitment, and payroll) and the Director of Opportunity and the academies’ Senior Leadership
Team (SLT).
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
TWO ROLES, ONE VISION
Your time will be strategically split between actively promoting our educational mission and maintaining the integrity of our
governance structure.
PUBLIC RELATIONS,
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
*
Brand Gatekeeper
Act as the brand gatekeeper for all public-facing documents and ensure the academies’ brand standards are
adhered to in all communication media.
*
Strategy & Delivery
Map out and deliver the academies’ marketing strategy across the academic year, including events,
admissions, and open days.
*
Digital Leadership
Manage the academies’ social media platforms, promoting news and events in line with safeguarding and
branding requirements whilst ensuring the schools adhere to statutory requirements through their websites.
*
Community Cohesion
Work collaboratively to increase community cohesion with communities local to the academies.
*
Fundraising
Work with the Director of Opportunity and the academies’ SLT to identify funding sources and prepare and submit
timely bids.
*
Lettings Management
Manage and oversee lettings at each academy, acting as the day-to-day point of contact.
GOVERNANCE AND CLERKING
*
Advisory Guidance
Advise the Local Governing Body (LGB) on its core functions, regulatory framework, governance legislation,
and procedural matters before, during, and after meetings.
*
Meeting Administration
Work with the Chair and Headteacher to prepare focused agendas, liaise for papers, ensure meetings are
quorate, and draft/circulate accurate minutes.
*
Compliance
Ensure statutory policies are in place and revised when necessary, and update GIAS websites to accurately reflect
the structure of the LGB.
*
Membership
Advise on the expiry of a governor's term of office and maintain up-to-date records of governors (e.g. pecuniary
interests and training).
WHAT YOU'LL BRING
EXPERTISE, VALUES, AND DRIVE
Because we're relying on your expertise, we can only consider applicants who have strong experience in truly leading
communications or a closely associated field in Primary school Public Relations and/or as a Clerk to Governors.
Essential Experience & Skills
* Strong experience in communications, copywriting, or Public Relations.
* Experience in carrying out complex administrative tasks.
* Working knowledge of marketing procedures and practices.
* Excellent verbal and written communication, with strong listening skills.
* High level of ICT experience, including design packages, Google Suite, and/or MS Office/word processing, as well as the ability
to update our websites
* Ability to plan, organise, and prioritise workloads under pressure to meet deadlines.
* Excellent attention to detail, aligned with brand standards.
* English and Maths to GCSE/Standard Grade or equivalent (at least Grade 4/C).
If you would like to have an informal discussion before applying, please contact Kenneth Sheard, Regional Business Manager,
via kenneth.sheard@tkat.org [kenneth.sheard@tkat.org] before the closing date. Internal applicants should discuss this role with
their line manager before submitting an application form via the internal recruitment page on the one stop shop.
About our four primary schools in the Essex Region.
Heybridge Primary School currently has 405 pupils ranging from 4 – 11 years old. We have a bright, modern building, which is well
equipped and is set within unusually generous grounds with playing fields and gardens. We are a friendly and engaging school with
strong connections amongst our local community. To find out more, visit our website here. [http://www.heybridge-tkat.org/]
Maldon Primary School
Our staff team is committed to providing a secure, happy and calm environment in which all children are able to thrive socially,
emotionally and academically. We are a friendly and engaging school with strong connections amongst our local community, to find
out more visit our website here. [https://www.maldon-tkat.org/]
Stapleford Abbotts Primary Academy, a small, happy and successful Primary Academy, set on the borders of Essex and Havering in
beautiful grounds, serving the community of Stapleford Abbotts since 1887. We are a friendly and engaging school with strong
connections amongst our local community. We offer a supportive and nurturing environment for our staff as well as enthusiastic and
incredibly well-behaved pupils. Our mission statement is Success for all, and we truly believe that a team approach between staff,
children and parents is the best way to educate children for their lives ahead. To find out more, please visit our website here.
[https://www.stapleford-tkat.org/]
Willow Brook Primary School and Nursery currently has 198 pupils ranging from 3 – 11 years old. At Willow Brook Primary School
and Nursery, we ensure every child receives a well-rounded education, develops a lifelong love of learning and achieves their
best. Our latest Ofsted Report (Nov 2022) recognised that children in Nursery and Reception classes are immersed in language. We
are at the heart of the local community. To find out more, visit our website here [https://www.willowbrook-tkat.org/].
About TKAT
The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT) is one of the largest Multi-Academy Trusts in the South & East of England with 45 Primary and
Secondary Academies in the TKAT Family. Our ultimate aim is to ensure we drive educational standards through the provision of
outstanding teaching, leadership and learning for all. Within the #oneTKATfamily, the shared and common purpose is to work
together as a community of schools to ensure that every child, whatever their background, receives a high quality education. We
place a high value on collaboration; ‘achieving more together’, giving staff the opportunity to come together and learn, ensuring
a shared sense of purpose across our network and by sharing expertise across the TKAT family.
We have a flexible approach to interviews and can offer a range of dates and times to suit your personal circumstances.
We reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a significant number of applications.
Safeguarding
TKAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this
commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full safer recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and
barring service check.
Flexible working
TKAT recognises the value of enabling our employees to develop their career and balance this with their commitments and interests
outside of work. In TKAT we promote flexible working practices and opportunities to promote a positive work life balance.
Our Commitment - Equal, Inclusive, Diverse
TKAT is committed to inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity by encouraging and welcoming differences, listening to
individual experiences, aspirations and accomplishments and learning how to grow better together. We welcome applications from all
suitable candidates, regardless of any protected characteristic.
Access to interview
Be Who You Are at TKAT - should you be selected and invited to interview please let us know if you require us to adapt the
recruitment process to enable you to participate as your authentic self. We want applicants to be able to engage with us in ways
that support who they are and we are committed to making adjustments within the recruitment process and within the workplace.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.