Local Challenge and Community Board Chair - Volunteer

Turner Free School, Folkestone

  • Ref:KCC886-4021-283S
  • Posted:24/09/2025
  • Pay:Voluntary
  • Start Date:Immediate
  • App Close Date:24/10/2025 at 12:00
  • Interviews:To Be Confirmed

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Are you a dedicated leader with a passion for education and a desire to make a real difference in your community? We're looking for a Chair to lead our Local Challenge & Community Board at Turner Free School. This is a unique and rewarding opportunity, helping us achieve our vision.

Applications are especially invited from candidates with expertise in any of the following areas -

  • Leadership 
  • Ofsted
  • Academy/school governance
  • Coaching 
  • Being a critical friend
  • Analysis and interpretation of data and information
  • Impact evaluation

WE OFFER A THOROUGH INDUCTION, ONGOING SUPPORT AND A TRUST GOVERNOR NETWORK TO COLLABORATE AND SHARE BEST PRACTICE

This is a voluntary role and a rewarding opportunity to use your skills, develop further skills and make a difference to the local community. We are passionate about achieving our Trust vision and are looking for candidates who share our enthusiasm.

 We may chose to close the advert if a suiitable candidate is found.

Information about the school

The Turner Free School is an academically ambitious and inclusive school for 11-18 year old pupils in the Cheriton area of Folkestone. In other words, it is a grammar-style school for everyone. As a smaller than average secondary school, all pupils are known and educated as individuals. The school has a knowledge-led curriculum, organised along the principles established by Professors Michael Young of the IOE and E.D. Hirsch of the University of Virginia, to ensure all pupils receive the knowledge they need to thrive in the modern world. In addition, to give pupils a leading edge for further education and employment, modern foreign languages are emphasised, with the aspiration that all pupils will achieve a working standard by the time that they graduate from the school.

As a free school the Turner Free School is a new Academy school; directly funded by central government and independent of Local Authority control. Like other free schools, the Turner Free School has a responsibility to expand the educational offer locally, to promote higher standards inclusively, to address local social issues and to ensure excellent value for the public purse.

The Turner Free School is part of Turner Schools, a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) with eight schools in Folkestone, Dover and Canterbury:-

• Dover Christ Church Academy

• Folkestone Primary

• Folkestone Academy

• Morehall Primary

• Martello Primary

• Turner Free School

We provide education through pre-school, primary, secondary and on to sixth form. Each academy is individual and responds to the needs of its local community to provide the best possible opportunity for its young people. We promote high academic standards, while ensuring crucial opportunities for personal and emotional development.

Turner Schools is committed to Transforming children’s futures…Empowering children’s futures…Strengthening communities.

To help us achieve this Turner Staff ‘Walk the Turner Talk’

They will:

• Speak and act with care: always show compassion and respect for children.

• Act boldly: be ambitious for yourself and the children and young people we serve.

• Learn from adversity: be evaluative, thoughtful and reflective.

• Challenge convention: be curious, welcome difference and unfamiliar thinking.

• Connect with others: support colleagues, parents and pupils to make a great team.

• Use your voice: offer different views and ask questions.

• Do what it takes: be relentless in pursuing the best for children.

• Ask for support: be open and honest when plans go awry.

• Don’t give up: be calm, resilient and measured when managing challenges.

Turner Schools is committed to giving a powerful education to local families through schools where children thrive and knowledge matters. Turner Schools is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. It expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any appointment is subject to thorough recruitment checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and an on-line search in order to identify any incidents or issues that have happened and are publicly available on line.Two references are required prior to commencement of employment.

Turner Schools is committed to treating all people equally and with respect, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation or social economic background. We therefore welcome applications from suitable candidates from all backgrounds as we are dedicated to creating and sustaining a workplace that values individuality and difference and celebrates the diversity of both staff and pupils.

We would welcome applicants to visit the school prior to application to experience the culture and ethos. Please contact HR@TurnerSchools.com if you would like to arrange a tour.

Job Contact Information

  • Name:Caroline Dominguez
  • Address:Academy Lane, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 5FP
  • Telephone: 01303 842433
  • Email: hr@turnerschools.com

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We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our students. You are advised that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and therefore this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure Application to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Please be aware that schools are also required to undertake online recruitment checks on shortlisted candidates under changes to Keeping Children Safe in Education.