Introduction from the Minister
A high-quality curriculum is hugely important, as it
enables children from all backgrounds to receive
the best education possible. Every child should
benefit from a broad, ambitious, knowledge-rich
curriculum, taught by highly skilled teachers. This
is essential to the task of spreading opportunity
and levelling up. It is crucial that every school has
a well-designed and well-sequenced curriculum,
which ensures children build knowledge in a broad
range of subjects before going on to specialise
after the age of 16, developing the skills for further
education and training.
So, building on the success of Oak National
Academy’s work during the pandemic, the
Government has established a new Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), working
independently of government and collaboratively
with the education sector. It will work with
thousands of teachers to co-design, create and
continually improve packages of optional, free,
adaptable digital curriculum resources and
video lessons.
These optional resources will align with the
curriculum in England, helping teachers deliver a
high-quality curriculum. This sector-led approach
will draw on expertise and inputs from across the
country, involving teachers, schools, trusts, subject
associations, national centres of excellence and
educational publishers. A collection of stretch
materials will also be developed, aimed at pupils
across the UK.
We are seeking to appoint high calibre Board
members who can shape the direction of this new
NDPB as it establishes itself in the sector, helping
to achieve its objectives. Offering support and
challenge to the leadership team, Board members
will be central to supporting executive decision-making and providing strong strategic direction.
My Department is seeking applicants who have
exceptional leadership skills and significant
experience and expertise to contribute to Oak’s
successful pursuit of its mission: to improve pupil
outcomes and close the disadvantage gap by
supporting teachers to teach and enabling pupils to
access a high-quality curriculum.
This is an exciting moment to shape the Board as,
under the leadership of its new Chair, it works to
establish the new NDPB as a high performing, well
respected sector organisation that maintains a ‘by
teachers for teachers’ approach, contributes to the
growing understanding of curriculum best practice,
is strategically aligned with, but operationally
independent from, government, and delivers
excellent value for money.
My Department is focused on equality of
opportunity and I am committed to ensuring that
public appointments better represent the views of
the communities which they serve. I particularly
encourage applicants from under-represented
groups, those based outside London and the South
East and applicants who have achieved success
through non-traditional educational routes.
If you want to support Oak National Academy in
delivering its aim to support schools and teachers
deliver a high-quality curriculum, and you have the
skills and experience we are seeking, I hope that
you will apply.
If you wish to have an informal and confidential
discussion about this appointment, please contact
Josh Beattie, Oak National Academy Sponsorship
Team Lead, at
josh.beattie@education.gov.uk.Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Gillian Keegan MP
Secretary of State for Education
Appointment description
We are aiming to recruit at least six high calibre individuals to join the Oak National
Academy Board. Most importantly, we are looking for experienced, strategic,
pragmatic and collaborative individuals with the skills necessary to support Oak to
establish itself successfully within the education sector.
Board members need to be able to shape the strategic
direction of the organisation and to provide relevant challenge and guidance to
Oak’s executive team. You will be expected to support Oak’s aims and objectives
and act as ambassadors for the organisation.
We will be recruiting at least one Board member into each of the following
positions:
• Serving primary teacher
• Serving secondary teacher
• Curriculum expert
We are also looking for additional Board members with experience and skills in the
following areas:
• Digital/technology
• Finance
• HR
Candidates should specify on their application the position(s) for which they wish
to be considered and set out their relevant experience as part of their application.
Organisation description
Oak National Academy was created in April 2020 by a consortium of
volunteers from the education sector as a rapid response to the coronavirus
pandemic, which led to schools being closed to the majority of pupils. Since
its launch, more than 40,000 online resources have been developed, with
video lessons in a broad range of subjects from Reception up to Year 11.
Specialist content for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
(SEND) is also available. Building on this success, we have established Oak
as a new NDPB, working independently of government and collaboratively
with the education sector.
Oak National Academy:
• Works with schools, teachers, and the wider education system
across England to create, develop and support the use of free,
optional, high-quality and knowledge-rich full curriculum packages
that are available to teachers and pupils through a robust, accessible
digital education platform.
• Provides a national contingency for remote education should it be
needed in the event of disruption.
• Will oversee the sharing of new, improved resources, that will be created
through partnerships with a diverse range of educational suppliers,
selected through an open procurement process.
• Will provide a package of connected stretching materials for teachers
and pupils through the same digital education platform that is available
across the four nations and draws on content and expertise from all
areas of the UK.
• Aims to establish itself as a high performing, well respected sector
organisation that: maintains a ‘by teachers for teachers’ approach;
contributes to the growing understanding of curriculum best practice;
is strategically aligned with, but operationally independent from
government; and delivers excellent value for money.
Curriculum design is complex, and we want Oak to share the very
best practice so that teachers can draw inspiration from examples of
evidence based, carefully sequenced curriculum design that can be
used or adapted as required. This will help reduce workload so that
teachers can concentrate on delivering lessons, creating new resources
only when there is a reason to do so.
Board members will collectively:
• Support the new NDPB to establish itself effectively and build a
positive reputation across the education sector.
• Work together to develop a successful strategy which ensures that the
NDPB has a positive impact and achieves its objectives as agreed with
the Secretary of State.
• Monitor performance against agreed targets.
• Ensure that the Board operates within the limits of its authority,
including in accordance with the code of conduct for Board members
of public bodies and abiding to conditions relating to the use of public
funds. This includes being politically impartial and consideration of
conflicts of interest
.
• Ensure that high standards of corporate governance are observed
at all times.
• Participate in and/or chair committees of the Board, as required
by the Chair.
The Chief Executive is responsible for developing and implementing the
strategy and aims of the organisation, in close consultation with ministers,
the Chair and the Board. They also serve as the Accounting Officer, being
responsible to parliament for safeguarding public funds and ensuring
value for money for the taxpayer.
In line with Oak National Academy’s Articles of Association, the Secretary
of State can appoint up to five Board members, including the Chair. The
Board can co-opt up to an additional four board members; candidates
must be approved by the Secretary of State.
There will be a minimum of four board meetings per year. Board meetings
will be held flexibly either virtually or in person where this is beneficial.
Meetings are held between normal working hours, Monday to Friday.
Meeting length will vary according to the agenda but meetings are usually
between 2-3 hours in duration