Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Danes Educational Trust is seeking an inspirational and ambitious Chief Executive Officer to lead the organisation into its next phase of development. Our values place joy, optimism, and wellbeing at the heart of all we do. We are looking for a leader who will embody these commitments, ensuring every pupil flourishes and achieves their potential both within and beyond the classroom.

The successful candidate will be a respected educational leader with experience across both primary and secondary settings, with evidence of success at scale, and a track record of delivering transformational change. Demonstrating a deep understanding of the national educational landscape and the responsibilities of the Accounting Officer role, they will possess the expertise to drive improvement at pace, including turning around underperforming schools. They will excel at empowering high-performing teams within a strong accountability culture that balances ambition with inclusivity, respect, and kindness. They will have experience of managing multiple budgets across settings with different financial demographics.

Our next CEO will bring strong business acumen and strategic insight to pursue growth and innovation while safeguarding our reputation for excellence. Well networked and collaborative, they will forge effective partnerships locally and nationally. As an authentic, credible communicator, they will motivate people, build trust across a diverse stakeholder network, and model a commitment to continuous professional growth.

This unique opportunity offers the chance to lead an inclusive, values-driven Trust dedicated to improving outcomes for all pupils, including the most vulnerable. Supported by an experienced, dedicated team of trustees, governors, and senior leaders, the new CEO will consolidate, develop, and evolve Danes Educational Trust.