Governance & Assurance Lead

Grace Schools, Ely, CB7 4JU

16 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  26 November 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  9 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £56,293.00 - £60,848.00 Annually (Actual) Point 43-47

Governance & Assurance Lead job summary

Job Title: Governance & Assurance Lead

The post is based at Grace Schools' central offices in Ely, with some travel to our academies across the Trust and hybrid working arrangements depending upon the working pattern.

Salary: Point 43-47 (£56,293 - £60,848)

35 hours per week, Monday-Friday

This is an exciting time to join Grace Schools as we have recently reimagined the way our trust is governed. We have introduced new Regional School Boards (RSBs) to work alongside Hub Directors providing strategic support and an additional layer of assurance across our schools.

As part of this new structure, we are building a dedicated team and introducing the role of Governance and Assurance Lead. This post will drive on the strategy associated with audit and assurance, advise statutory panels, and enable specialist roles to support the governance framework.

The Governance and Assurance Lead will act as a key authority on regulatory compliance, independently managing statutory pupil processes, including Exclusions and Admissions, driving our Board Assurance Framework, and overseeing legal and complaints procedures across all of our academies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage the administration of Board and Committee meetings, advising Trustees on governance legislation, Articles of Association and the Academy Trust Handbook.

• Maintain the Board Assurance Framework, track risk mitigations, and ensure regulatory breaches are addressed without delay.

• Oversee the lifecycle of formal complaints across the Trust, ensuring correspondence is legally robust, conducting briefings and trend analysis to drive continuous improvement.

• Lead on annual admissions arrangements, ensure total compliance with the School Admissions Code, and act as procedural advisor to Permanent Exclusion (PEX) review panels under DfE statutory guidance.

• Manage legal and constitutional frameworks, liaise with external legal advisors, and audit the Trust-wide policy register to ensure statutory compliance across all Trust and academy websites.

What we are looking for:

• Proven experience as a Governance Professional within a multi-academy trust or educational environment, managing Board/committee processes and panel administration.

• A thorough understanding of multi-academy trusts, DfE statutory regulations, Articles of Association, Company Law, and the Academy Trust Handbook.

• Expertise in Legal Procedures & Complaints Management.

• Experience managing Admissions Codes, independent appeals, and advising Headteachers and Trustees on DfE Permanent Exclusion (PEX) guidance and timelines.

• Effective stakeholder and relationship management

• The ability to manage conflicting priorities, a demanding workload and tight deadlines

What we can offer:

• 27 days plus bank holidays as annual leave (FTE), and a closure period over Christmas break

• GP 24/7 service with access to an online health and wellbeing hub and annual flu vaccinations

• Access to our Employee Assistance Programme

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• Access to Eyecare Vouchers

• Discount Schemes

• A number of pension options are available including the local government pension scheme

• Friendly and close-knit team

• A commitment to on-going professional development

• Inclusive policies and practices

About Grace Schools

It is an exciting time to join us as we move into the next era as Grace Schools.

Grace Schools represents our commitment to the founding principles established by the Diocese of Ely and the unique position we have supporting church schools.

We are a large multi-academy trust which consists of 38 primary academies and approximately 7,000 pupils. We exist to create the foundations to build successful futures. Our pupils deserve educational excellence, and we are committed to delivering that entitlement to ensure all our students secure the knowledge, confidence, and expertise to succeed in their later lives.

We recognise the importance of continually improving the quality of education across our schools. As a result, we invest in developing our curriculum, teaching, and wider provision to ensure these improvements are realised and sustained. Our schools give children the chance to learn, know and lead in a happy and inclusive environment. Most importantly, we provide them with a firm foundation for the future and the opportunity to succeed.

We are especially proud of the recognition given to the Trust having been previously awarded MAT of the Year at the National Schools Awards. This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our whole staff team and the high-quality provision they offer to all the children who attend our schools.

Please visit our website to find out more: www.graceschools.org.uk

How to apply

Please read the recruitment pack before completing your application. All applications must be completed in full on My New Term.

Closing Date: Thursday 26 November 2026, midday

Interview date: Friday 4th December 2026

Grace Schools is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all staff and job applicants. We aim to create a supportive and inclusive working environment in which all individuals can make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit.

We do not discriminate against staff based on age, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religious or political belief or affiliation, trade union membership, gender, gender reassignment, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, disability, socio-economic background or any other inappropriate distinction or characteristic covered by the Equality Act 2010.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Grace Schools

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-diocese-of-ely-multi-academy-trust

Head office location

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