job description and person specification

Job title	Chief Executive Officer
Location	Danes Educational Trust based at St Clement Danes School
Line manager	Danes Educational Trust Board

Core purpose

The Chief Executive Officer will be an outstanding strategic leader, who is able to develop and articulate the vision, values, and ethos for Danes Educational Trust and who will inspire and empower others to share in achieving it. 

The Chief Executive Officer will be accountable and take responsibility for the performance of all schools within the Trust: a driven leader who will be committed to creating the optimum educational opportunities for all pupils across the Trust.

Main duties and responsibilities

Strategic

• To create a culture of constant improvement and be an inspirational leader, committed to the highest achievement in all areas of the Trust’s work
• To develop and facilitate the Trust in accordance with the Trust Board’s and individual schools’ stated aims, objectives and values
• To take responsibility for the annual business plan and key documents such as the Trust’s long term strategic plan, self-evaluation and ensuring improvement plans of the schools are implemented
• To lead growth - identifying new schools, leading discussions with headteachers and chairs of governors overseeing due diligence and ensuring that all risks are properly identified and mitigated
• To develop and implement an effective corporate environment that allows the Trust and its constituent schools to achieve excellence ensuring the Trust and all schools in the Trust comply with the Funding Agreement, Articles, and all relevant law and regulation and have appropriate Service Level Agreements in place
• Together with the Trust Board to ensure robust and appropriate proactive risk mitigation and management for the Trust and that the risk strategy is aligned to local school risk strategies
• To apply the strategy to the local contexts, and advise the Trust Board of local nuances and needs
• To build and maintain the Trust’s reputation as a high-performing, values-driven organisation, actively engaging with national and regional sector networks, policymakers and partners to influence educational practice, share best practice and ensure the Trust is well positioned to respond to emerging opportunities and challenges

Leadership and management

• To provide motivational and inspirational leadership at all levels of the organisation
• To be proactive and drive the Trust’s strategic priorities ensuring that the Trust’s strategic plan is fully aligned and reflected in the local school plans
• To lead and manage all operations through the agreed organisation structure and accountability matrix, and through the development, implementation and review of Trust level policies to achieve the Board’s stated objectives
• To ensure the effective capture of all data to meet statutory and legislative standards
• To support the Chair of the Trustees in their strategic role of leading and supporting the local school board Chairs
• To ensure that there are clear quality assurances systems embedded across the Trust that drive consistency and improvement in performance
• To achieve effective communication, both internally and externally to the Trust, including preparing and delivering written board reports and ensuring the board is fully apprised of all material changes, 
• To agree delegations with the Trust Board to the local school boards and headteachers of each school for their day to day operations, while agreeing with the headteachers which matters are most effectively discharged collectively

Resources / change management

• To develop and effectively and efficiently manage the learning environment of the Trust, resources (people / assets / finances) and facilities
• Proactively plan and develop the Trust and school capacity using forecast in pupil numbers and local demographic projections
• To be accountable for large scale asset management across the estate including the oversight of major capital projects
• To develop the Central Support Services in line with the growth of the Trust in order to deliver high quality services as well as realising economies of scale and value for money
• To ensure the Trust effectively manages its talent through strategic and local CPD and succession planning
• To be responsible for meeting the demands of changing legislation, new initiatives and changing practice
• To lead, oversee and advise on the allocation of resources across the Trust
• In line with the agreed trust models of delegation and performance management - to select, train, develop, empower and motivate the senior staff of the Trust; and to support  headteachers in local school recruitment and staff development.

Growing the trust

• To instigate and co‐ordinate applications for the transfer of new schools into the Trust. 
• To ensure appropriate due diligence and risk assessment is carried out, and present such applications to the Board for consideration.
• To direct and manage transfers of schools into the Trust, ensuring that appropriate and timely project management is in place to achieve a smooth transition, complying with all appropriate protocols.
• To develop and monitor the project brief, budgets and effective reporting for the incoming schools and the Trust
• In conjunction with the project team, assess the appropriate levels of human/skills resourcing which are required for an incoming school to meet its aspirations, and recommend proposals to the Board.
• To lead and motivate incoming schools into the ethos of the Trust
• To explore and pursue broader opportunities for growth, including strategic collaborations and partnerships with other trusts, local authorities, and sector organisations.
• To identify and develop opportunities for the Trust to provide outreach, school improvement support, or traded services, ensuring growth is not solely dependent on schools joining but also on building the Trust’s influence, capacity and reputation in the wider sector.
• To ensure that the Trust codifies, shares, and continually refines its best practice so that excellence is embedded internally and recognised externally.
• To advise the Board on a balanced and sustainable growth strategy, ensuring all opportunities are aligned to the Trust’s vision, values and capacity

Teaching and learning / school improvement

• To be accountable for all aspects of teaching and learning and standards across the Trust, set high professional standards and ensure the education vision is understood and embraced
• To be responsible for developing and leading the process for improvement across the Trust, providing quality assurance and accountability; this will be achieved through a rigorous and robust system of target setting which will be reviewed regularly by the Chief Executive Officer, who will report progress to the Trust Board
• To provide dynamic and strategic direction and leadership for Teaching and Learning across the schools
• To lead a Trust-wide improvement function that will ensure that the requirements in each school’s performance are identified and analysed, appropriately costed and prioritised solutions are developed and secured
• To actively seek opportunities for sharing internal resources and practice through school-to-school support

Finance and procurement

• To be the Accounting Officer for the Trust ensuring that it works to the standards set out in the schools’ Financial Handbook
• To ensure the long term financial sustainability, by confirming that proper financial systems are established and effectively monitored, that appropriate action is recommended to address problems identified, finding efficiencies to support financial viability and to ensure that Trustees are presented with accurate and timely financial reports
• To develop and maintain a strong and effective relationship with the DfE and other relevant funding bodies to ensure the funding streams are secured that support the forecast growth
• To review and approve annual budgets of each of the schools in the Trust ensuring that all budgetary targets are met by individual schools and efficiencies are maximised
• To develop and implement strategies for the generation of additional revenue and resources for the Trust by trading the brand.

Compliance

• To ensure that Trust meets all legislative and statutory requirements, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and those required by Companies House, and the Charity Commissioners, Data protection, the Master and Supplementary Funding agreements
• To be responsible for the operational performance of any legal subsidiaries

Collaboration

• To develop and lead a collaboration strategy that ensures the Trust and its schools participate in local, national and international education networks such as the Teaching Schools Alliance
• To develop and maintain effective relationships with the Regional Directors, Regional Teams and Department for Education (DfE), Local Authority, and other national organisations in order to ensure the success of the Trust and its schools
• To share skills expertise and capacity across the Trust and other local and national networks and embed system leadership  practice
• To build and maintain strong relationships with parents/carers, students, staff, directors and governors across the Trust.
• Act as an ambassador for the Trust in the media, local communities and wider education system, enhancing reputation and supporting future growth
• Build strong, trusting relationships with Trustees, Members and Governors, ensuring effective governance, transparent accountability and a shared commitment to strategic goals.
• Work closely with school leaders and staff, fostering collaboration, professional growth and a culture of shared responsibility for pupil outcomes.
• Engage pupils and parents/carers through open communication, consultation and partnership, ensuring their voices are valued in shaping the life of the Trust.
• Collaborate with local school boards to maintain strong local identity while aligning with trust-wide vision and priorities
• To develop pan‐school strategies to support the economic life and well‐being of the communities     where the Trust is represented, in the sharing of facilities and ideas
• To maintain an outward facing role with the local community and the local and national educational community on behalf of the Trust to further its external relationships, future growth and development and also in support of the individual schools within the Danes Educational Trust
• To liaise with all stakeholders and the local and national media

Equalities

The post holder will champion equality, diversity and inclusion across all aspects of the Trust’s work, ensuring that our policies are not only followed but embedded in practice. They will actively promote a culture of respect, fairness and opportunity, where every pupil, colleague and stakeholder feels valued, supported and able to thrive

Health and safety

The post holder is required to be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection; health and safety; confidentiality; and data protection and report all concerns to an appropriate person.

Criminal records check – Disclosure & Barring Service 

All posts in schools are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; this means that all convictions must be declared, including those that would generally be regarded as ‘spent’. A disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service will be sought as part of the school’s pre-employment checks. The Disclosure & Barring Service will provide a report to you and the Local Authority on whether you have any criminal convictions, including cautions and bind-overs.

Additional information

The post holder is required to contribute to and support the overall aims and ethos of the Trust. All staff are required to participate in training and other learning activities and in performance management and development as required by the school’s policies and practices.

The duties and responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present. The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description for the post. The particular duties and responsibilities may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or responsibilities entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and would not justify a re-evaluation of the post. However, in cases where a permanent and substantial change in the duties and responsibilities of the post occurs, consistent with a higher level of responsibility, then the post would be eligible for re-evaluation.

Person specification

Strategic leadership and vision

• An inspirational, authentic, and visible system leader who can set a clear vision, lead complex change, and foster high performance across multiple and diverse school contexts.
• A forward-thinking strategist who can set vision, lead change, and ensure continuous improvement aligned with the Trust’s ethos and values.
• Proven success in senior executive leadership with a strong track record of driving continuous improvement aligned with the Trust's ethos and values.
• Experience of leading with resilience, optimism, and integrity.

School improvement and educational expertise

• Deep understanding of pedagogy (curriculum design, inclusive practice) with proven impact on raising standards and outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged learners.
• Experience of cross-phase leadership (early years to post-16), ensuring alignment of standards and practice.
• Strong data fluency, able to evaluate performance, set priorities, and measure impact.
• Demonstrable success in developing leadership capacity at all levels, embedding accountability, succession planning, and shaping talent pipelines across a group of schools.
• Experience of shaping CPD, leadership pathways, or talent pipelines across a group of schools

Sector engagement and influence

• A credible and empathetic role model who gains respect through integrity, high standards, and clear values.
• Strong ability to influence, negotiate, and build strategic partnerships with key external stakeholders (Department for Education, Ofsted, local authorities, regional networks, and other multi academy trusts).
• Evidence of contributing to sector development, regional, or national initiatives, influencing policy and best practice.
• Proven track record of representing an organisation at national or regional level, influencing policy, and contributing to best practice across the sector.

Organisational leadership and governance

• Experience of leading complex organisations and building effective senior teams.
• Knowledge of statutory responsibilities, governance, Ofsted frameworks, and the regulatory environment for MATs.
• In-depth knowledge of statutory responsibilities, governance, and the regulatory environment for multi academy trusts.
• Successful experience of working with and reporting to Boards/Trustees, ensuring robust governance and transparent accountability.
• Expertise in strategic financial planning and oversight of multi-million pound budgets, ensuring value for money, risk management, and compliance.
• Experience of leading major organisational projects with long-term measurable impact.

Qualification and personal qualities

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, able to inspire confidence and build strong professional relationships.
• Evidence of thought leadership or published contributions to the education sector.
• Visible, approachable, and authentic leadership style.
• High levels of professional optimism and joy, fostering a culture where staff and pupils thrive.
• Commitment to the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Desirable: Postgraduate qualification (e.g., NPQEL, MBA, MA in Educational Leadership) and evidence of thought leadership or published contributions to the sector.