George Heriot’s Trust is the oldest Trust in Scotland, with a 400-year history of philanthropy. The Trust oversees George Heriot’s School, Edinburgh’s sector-leading independent school, where children flourish and where our pupils’ academic achievements are consistently ranked within the top three highest performing schools in Scotland.
The Trust seeks to appoint two new Governors to support the school in determining its strategic direction, to oversee its financial governance and compliance and deliver on its charitable purpose.
Governors are appointed for a three -year term, and each contributes to the Board with specialist expertise and collective decision-making. Governor roles are voluntary and candidates should demonstrate a strong commitment to the school.
To help ensure a broad range of experience on our Board, candidates with a business and/or entrepreneurial background and/or charity fundraising expertise are particularly sought. Candidates with a connection to the school are warmly welcomed.
Main ResponsibilitiesIf you would be interested in finding out more about this opportunity to serve the Heriot's community as a Governor, please register by clicking 'Apply for this job' and we will send you a brief of the role and an application form once your details have been submitted.
Closing Date for Applications is Friday 21st February 2025.
The Ideal CandidateApplicants should be able to demonstrate commitment and enthusiasm and be willing to contribute time towards the well-being of the School, its ethos and strategic aims. The Board seeks to reflect the scale and complexity of the School in its membership, with its Governors having a mix of interests, competencies and experience reflecting all aspects of the work of the School and the Trust
Additional Information
Heriot’s is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share in this commitment.
This post is considered Regulated Work with Vulnerable Children and/or Protected Adults, under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and the successful candidates will be required to obtain membership of the PVG scheme.
Please note that parking is not available on our campus
George Heriot’s Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer and we welcome applications from all sections of the community.
George Heriot’s School is governed by George Heriot’s Trust, Scottish Charity number SC011463
About the school/organisationGeorge Heriot’s School
George Heriot’s School is Edinburgh’s leading independent school. Academically proven and recognised as sector-leading by Education Scotland in June 2024, the school’s best practice expertise in wellbeing, equality and inclusion, and in raising attainment and achievement, is acknowledged. The school has 1,670 pupils aged from 4-18, with a distinct family feel shaped by its 400-year motto: I distribute chearfullie. Working hard, being kind, and being yourself are the values which bind staff and pupils into a cohesive whole. Put simply, Heriot’s cares about its staff and pupils.
As Edinburgh’s oldest school, Heriot’s was founded through the generosity of George Heriot, jeweller and goldsmith to the court of King James VI/I and his wife Queen Anne. Goldsmiths at that time were the principal money lenders and Heriot was able to amass a small fortune which he left to found a school for the ‘poor bairns of Edinburgh’. Since it opened, the Foundation at Heriot’s has developed an unrivalled understanding of providing bereavement support and over the years has educated in excess of 5,700 Foundation pupils, each of whom received a fully funded education in keeping with the Founder’s wishes.
Separately, the school has continued to apply the transformative powers of education, opening 21 Out Schools in the 1800s which educated over 100,000 boys and girls in Edinburgh before the advent of the Children’s Act, and more recently supporting Serbian, Syrian and Ukrainian refugees to build a better life in Scotland. Each year the school spends approximately £1.3 million to support the education of bursary and Foundation pupils.
Today the school is an award-winning beacon: the only school in Scotland to receive the Gold Award from SAPERE for its teaching of philosophy in Junior School; awarded a third consecutive gold award for being a UNICEF Rights Respecting School and being voted the Sunday Times School of the Decade by readers in their Parent Power survey.
