Schools & Academy Trusts Recruitment

Leading an academy trust brings responsibility for educational performance across multiple schools alongside the financial and operational health of the organisation. We recruit CEOs and executive leaders with the experience to work effectively across a trust, supporting schools while providing clear organisation-wide leadership.

Alongside trust-wide appointments, we recruit leaders responsible for education across individual schools and groups of schools. Our searches take account of the educational setting, the responsibilities held at school and trust level and the experience needed to lead within that structure.

Schools and trusts also depend on specialist leadership beyond teaching and learning. We recruit across central trust teams and individual schools, with particular experience in finance, operations, people, SEND, governance and estates.

Peridot began life as a specialist governance recruiter and many of our consultants sit on boards across education and the third sector. We recognise that governance structures vary across academy trusts and schools, from trust boards and their committees to local governance. We work with Chairs, CEOs and governance professionals to understand the expertise already represented and where a new appointment can strengthen the board.

Our experience includes Chairs, trustees, trust members, governors and committee appointments across single-academy and multi-academy trusts, including faith-based and specialist education.

Schools and trusts may need interim leadership during an executive transition, a period of organisational change or while recruiting permanently. We recruit experienced interim leaders against the responsibilities and priorities they will need to take on from the outset.