Chair of Trustees

Job details

Contract hours: c. 3 days per month
Basis: Initial three-year appointment, with annual review
Salary: Reasonable expenses
Location: Uppingham
Closing date: 2 February 2026, 12:00 am

Description

The Chair of Trustees will provide leadership to the Board and play a pivotal role in shaping the long-term success of Uppingham School. Working in close partnership with the Headmaster, the Chair will ensure the highest standards of governance, strategic oversight and accountability, while safeguarding the School’s ethos, values and charitable purpose.

The Chair will be a senior leader from any sector with substantial experience at board level. They will bring sound financial and commercial judgement, together with the ability to guide an organisation through both opportunity and challenge within a complex and evolving independent education landscape. A clear understanding of effective governance, and of the distinction between governance and executive leadership, will be essential. Whilst direct education experience is not essential, the successful candidate must have a deep interest in education and an appreciation of the value that independent schools play in society.

The successful candidate will have the personal authority, judgement and interpersonal skills to work in close partnership with the Headmaster, providing both robust challenge and thoughtful support, while fostering trust and collaboration across the Board of Trustees. They will be an inclusive and collegiate leader, able to build strong relationships with a wide range of stakeholders including senior staff, parents, alumni, and external partners.

An interest in, or experience of, international strategy, partnerships or operating in a global context will be advantageous, as will exposure to income diversification, endowment growth or other long-term sustainability initiatives. Above all, the Chair will demonstrate a deep commitment to educational opportunity, inclusion and ambition, balancing respect for Uppingham School’s rich heritage with openness to innovation and change.

In the best interests of the School and good governance, the appointee should not be a current parent.

This role is being managed by our external agency partner. Please click the apply button to complete the application via their site.

Uppingham School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

All positions at the School are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, therefore ALL convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings (including those which would normally be considered ‘spent’ under the Act) MUST be declared, subject to the DBS filtering rules. All information given will be treated as confidential and each case will be taken on its merits. Failure to disclose this information may result in the withdrawal of an offer of employment or immediate termination of employment.

Uppingham School is an equal opportunities employer.

Working at Uppingham

Uppingham is a vibrant, stimulating, energetic and forward-looking school. Our community is made up of talented people offering a diverse range of experiences. We welcome applications from candidates who are both experienced and new to working within the independent education sector.