Key Role Information

Salary
150,000.00 - 160,000.00 plus £5,000 car allowance per annum
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Closing
09/02/2026 08:00
Interview
13 February 2026
Start
1 September 2026
Contract term
AYR - All year round
Pay grade
£150,000-£160,000 per annum
Department
Leadership
Key stage
Early Years, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 5
Hours per week
36.25
Weeks per year
52.000
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

The Dean Trust is seeking an exceptional and inspirational Chief Education Officer (CEdO) to lead and drive educational excellence across our family of schools.

This is a pivotal executive leadership role, accountable to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and operating with delegated authority to deliver sustained school improvement across the Trust. The postholder will deputise for the CEO as required and act as a senior ambassador for The Dean Trust, working closely with headteachers, Directors of Standards, Director of School Systems, the Executive Team, governance bodies, the DfE and Ofsted.

You will be responsible for shaping and delivering the Trust’s all-through education strategy, ensuring continuity, progression and consistently high standards across all phases and academies.

As Chief Education Officer, you will:

  • Champion and embed The Dean Trust’s vision, values and ethos across all Academies


  • Lead, direct and support Directors of Standards and the wider education team to secure rapid and sustained improvement


  • Provide strategic leadership for educational performance, quality of education and outcomes across the Trust


  • Lead the Trust’s approach to academy improvement systems, data analysis and performance monitoring


  • Build strong partnerships with the DfE, Regional Directors, local authorities and other external stakeholders


  • Oversee pre-Ofsted preparation, learning reviews and responses to critical incidents


  • Support the recruitment, development and performance management of senior leaders, including headteachers and executive leaders


  • Ensure risks are identified, managed and mitigated effectively across the Trust

Why Join The Dean Trust?

The Dean Trust is a values-led organisation committed to transforming lives through education. As Chief Education Officer, you will play a defining role in shaping the future of our Academies, leading a talented team and making a lasting impact on communities across our regions.

How to Apply?

Please contact Chris Gartner on 07454679918 or via email at chris.gartner@thinkrecruitment.co.uk for a confidential discussion about the role or to arrange a site visit.


We are an Equal Opportunities employer committed to ensuring inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates including those from underrepresented groups, and/or with protected characteristics.

The Dean Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check.

Benefits

Family Friendly Policies and Leave of Absence
Paid leave which supports a wide range of circumstances, including family emergencies and religious festivals
Healthcare Cash Plan
All staff are automatically enrolled into the Simplyhealth Care Cash Plan which is funded by The Dean Trust. This service enables individuals to claim money back for everyday healthcare costs, plus access to 24/7 GP services and health rewards/discounts
Employee Assistance Programme
Free and confidential counselling service available 24/7
Access to School Clubs for dependants
Staff receive access to free places to school-run Holiday, Breakfast and After School Clubs
Cycle to Work Scheme
Employee benefit allowing staff to get bikes and accessories tax-free by paying for them through salary sacrifice
High Street Benefits and Discounts
Access to a variety of shopping discounts at national online and high street retailers
Generous Annual Leave
Generous annual leave entitlement for support staff, starting at 26 days increasing to 31 days with service (plus the 8 bank holidays). Support staff on all-year-round contracts can take up to 5 days’ annual leave in term-time
Local Government Continuous Service Recognised
Recognition of local government continuous service, including service in other schools and academies, when allocating annual leave and occupational sick pay entitlement
Occupational Sick Pay
Generous sick pay scheme, entitlement dependent on length of service

Skills

Experience

Demonstrable experience of raising and sustaining standards in schools, with a strong track record of improving outcomes across multiple schoolsessential
Recent experience of leading and managing educational initiatives at school, LA, or regional/national level essential
Successful recent experience of Trust leadership or as a member of an LA/regional/national school improvement teamessential
Demonstrable experience of securing rapid and sustained improvement as a school leader and taking a school/s or Academy/ies to at least Good or Outstanding in the OFSTED frameworkessential
Experience operating at a Director Level or above in a Multi- Academy Trust, Local Authority or the DfEessential

Leadership

Ability to inspire, set clear direction and motivate staff
Strategic thinker
Ability to drive strategic leadership, empowering all staff and students to excel
Effective leadership and motivational skills
Inspirational leader particularly during challenging times

Personal Attributes

Reliable, honest and trustworthyessential
Unwavering commitment to improving the life-chances of young peopleessential
Self-disciplined and able to reflect and learn in order develop wisdom and understandingessential
Advocacy, facilitation and negotiation skills essential

Qualifications

Professional teaching qualification essential
Evidence of recent and relevant professional developmentessential
Safeguarding Level 3essential
National Leader of Education

The Dean Trust Central

Chris Gartner

chris.gartner@thinkrecruitment.co.uk

Cecil Avenue
Sale
Greater Manchester
M33 5BP

Safeguarding Information

The Dean Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check.


This post involves working with children, young people, vulnerable adults or is a position of trust. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provides that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are ‘protected’ and are not subject to disclosure to employers, and cannot be taken into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found at the Disclosure and Barring Service website (www.gov.uk/dbs). Any failure to disclose the appropriate information could result in dismissal or disciplinary action by the organisation. Please note that a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining a position.