Embark Federation

On Tuesday evening, we welcomed Governors and Leaders to our latest LGT Forum.

With temperatures remaining exceptionally high, we made the decision to move the event online. At Embark, the wellbeing of our staff, governors, trustees and wider community will always be our top priority, and we're grateful for the positive feedback we've received following the change.

The forum provided an opportunity to hear updates from our Trust Leader, receive governance updates from our Governance Team, and gain valuable insights into our financial position and future plans from our Finance Team.

Thank you to everyone who joined us virtually and contributed to what was a fantastic evening of collaboration and shared learning across the Embark family.

🎉 Just 6 days to go until the Embark Awards!

We're counting down to an evening of celebration, recognition, and inspiring achievements. We can't wait to come together and honour the incredible people who make our communities stronger every day!

📢 Join the team at Ripley Junior School and Riddings Junior School!

We're recruiting for two rewarding opportunities to help children thrive and make a lasting impact on their education:

⭐ Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) | Riddings Junior School
⭐ Teaching Assistant | Ripley Junior School

Whether you're an experienced HLTA ready to lead learning and support classroom excellence, or someone passionate about helping children succeed in a Teaching Assistant role, these vacancies offer the chance to be part of schools where every child is seen, known and valued.

As part of Embark Federation, you'll join a family of stand-out schools committed to inclusion, collaboration and professional growth. Our values of Family, Integrity, Teamwork and Success shape everything we do, creating an environment where both pupils and colleagues can flourish.

Why join Embark?
✅ Meaningful work that makes a difference every day
✅ A supportive and inclusive team culture
✅ High-quality professional development opportunities
✅ Trust-wide collaboration and expertise
✅ A commitment to staff wellbeing and growth

Apply today:
🔗 HLTA (Riddings Junior School): https://mynewterm.com/jobs/148787/EDV-2026-RJS-12390
🔗 Teaching Assistant (Ripley Junior School): https://mynewterm.com/jobs/152074/EDV-2026-RJS-44318

🎉 2 weeks to go until the Embark Awards 2026! 🎉

As the countdown continues, we're looking back at some fantastic moments from last year's event.

The Embark Awards are one of the most special evenings in our calendar, bringing together young people from across our family of schools to celebrate achievement, resilience, kindness and success.

We can't wait to do it all again in just two weeks' time and recognise another incredible group of young people who truly embody our values of Family, Integrity, Teamwork and Success.

Who else is excited? ✨

🌱 Our Year 2 pupils at Fairfield Infant and Nursery School have been getting their hands dirty and learning new skills through a fantastic gardening project with Chatsworth Gardens!

From planting herbs, fruit and vegetables to harvesting their own produce, pupils have loved every moment. The project has helped develop teamwork, confidence and a love of outdoor learning.

A huge thank you to Chatsworth Gardens for making this wonderful opportunity possible! 💚

Strong governance is at the heart of everything we do at Embark.

As our family of schools continues to grow, we are seeking passionate and skilled individuals to join our Board of Trustees and help shape the future of education for young people across Derbyshire.

Trustees play a vital role in providing strategic oversight, challenge and support, helping to ensure that every decision we make is aligned with our vision of enabling young people to love learning and love life.

Whether your expertise lies in education, finance, business, legal services, HR, estates, digital technology or another professional field, becoming a trustee is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference while contributing your skills to a values driven organisation.

If you are interested in helping to shape the future of Embark, we would love to hear from you.

Read our latest article to learn more about the role of trustees and the impact strong governance has across the Embark family.

https://embarkfederation.com/news/strengthening-governance-shaping-the-future/

Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome our Membership Family Schools to our home at the University of Derby for our termly Membership Family Forum.

The event provided a valuable opportunity to come together, share updates and celebrate the strength of collaboration across our network. Schools were introduced to our new Service Catalogue for the 2026/27 academic year, offering access to a wide range of expert services and support while working towards becoming an official member of the Embark family.

We also heard a update from our Trust Leader, Matt Crawford, who shared key developments and future priorities across the Trust.

Thank you to all the schools who joined us. We are incredibly grateful for your engagement, support and commitment to working together to improve outcomes for children and young people.

Interested in joining our Membership Schools Family?

📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.embarkfederation.com

📢 We're recruiting!

Heath Primary School is looking for a talented and strategic School Business Manager to join their team from September 2026.

This is an exciting senior leadership opportunity for someone who is passionate about making a difference behind the scenes, ensuring resources, systems and services support the very best outcomes for young people.

As part of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll play a key role in shaping the future of the school while leading financial, operational and business functions across the organisation.

✨ Permanent, full-time position
✨ Strategic leadership role
✨ Supportive school community
✨ Opportunity to make a lasting impact

If you're an experienced professional with strong financial and operational leadership skills, we'd love to hear from you.

📅 Closing date: Tuesday 23 June 2026 (midday)