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- Tasks: Lead the Trust's strategic development and drive improvement across schools.
- Company: Castle Phoenix Trust, a values-driven organisation focused on collaboration and growth.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension contribution, free parking, employee discounts, and wellbeing days.
- Why this job: Shape the future of education and make a real impact on children's lives.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in education with a track record of improving standards.
- Other info: Join a committed team dedicated to safeguarding and promoting children's welfare.
The predicted salary is between 125000 - 140000 ÂŁ per year.
Location: Coventry
Salary: ÂŁ125,000-ÂŁ140,000
Start Date: September 2026 or January 2027
About Castle Phoenix Trust:
Castle Phoenix Trust is a values‑driven organisation with a strong belief that “together we are stronger”. We empower each school to maintain its uniqueness whilst each benefits from shared alignment, leadership development and strong systems and structures across the Trust.
Our Current Strategic Priorities:
- Creating a Culture of Belonging: Through effective leadership, inclusive classrooms and high expectations to improve pupil outcomes and staff engagement.
- Growth and Expansion: Strengthening and scaling central services, onboarding new schools, and refining systems to support Trust‑wide excellence.
- Financial Sustainability: Embedding Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning (ICFP), strengthening financial systems, forecasting, and ensuring all schools set and maintain balanced budgets.
The Role:
As CEO, you will be the strategic leader of the Trust, shaping culture, driving improvement, developing people, and ensuring that every child feels seen, heard, valued and able to thrive. This includes:
- Leading the Trust’s strategic development and delivering the ambitions and KPIs set out in our three‑year strategic plans.
- Ensuring all schools, particularly those in challenging circumstances, improve outcomes, attendance and inclusion, with a focus on vulnerable learners.
- Strengthening Central Services and ensuring they are efficient, effective and have high impact.
- Driving the Trust’s growth and expansion strategy, including due diligence, onboarding and succession planning.
- Securing the Trust’s long‑term financial resilience through strong financial management, ICFP implementation and robust oversight.
- Championing our culture of belonging and continuing to refine leadership capacity across all schools.
Essential Requirements:
- Experience: Senior Trust‑level leadership; education sector experience is desirable with a track record of improving standards in at least one school; experience working in challenging circumstances, securing rapid and sustainable improvement; experience of leading change and implementing organisation‑wide systems aligned to a strategic plan; demonstrable impact on standards, inclusion, safeguarding and outcomes.
- Skills: Desirable to have a comprehensive understanding in inclusion, SEND, and strategies to improve engagement; high‑level financial acumen, including Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning, budget setting, forecasting and risk management; ability to lead and inspire a culture of belonging, collaboration, and high expectations across diverse contexts.
- Personal Qualities: Strategic thinker with strong moral purpose, integrity and resilience; ability to build strong relationships with key stakeholders; headteachers, trustees, communities and external partners; commitment to developing people, talent pathways and leadership capacity.
What We Offer:
- A Trust with strong values, a clear vision and a collaborative culture.
- Committed trustees, engaged leaders and a growing family of schools.
- A culture that values professional growth, innovation and excellence.
- The opportunity to shape a Trust that is expanding its reach and impact.
- Highly skilled central services and a strong platform for sustainable growth.
- Pension contribution.
- Free parking.
- Employee discount scheme.
- Laptop/iPad.
- Access to on‑site gym/swimming pool.
- Access to leadership development.
- Wellbeing day.
- Annual whole staff conference.
- Employee assistance programme.
- Access to a fully funded Health Care Cash Plan.
- A committed team of staff across our central office and schools.
Vacancy Closing Date: 26 March 2026
Safer Recruitment Statement:
This post is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) 2025, an online search may also be carried out as part of our safer recruitment processes. Castle Phoenix Trust is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We uphold a culture of vigilance and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Equal Opportunities Statement:
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender identity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
References Requirement:
All appointments are subject to receipt of two satisfactory references, including one from the applicant’s current or most recent employer. References will be requested prior to interview where possible.
Right to Work:
Applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Evidence of this will be required at the interview stage.
Chief Executive Officer employer: WMJobs
Contact Detail:
WMJobs Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief Executive Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector and let them know you're on the lookout for a CEO role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on opportunities at Castle Phoenix Trust or similar organisations.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the Trust's values and strategic priorities. Be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their mission of creating a culture of belonging and driving improvement across schools.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership style! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've led change and improved outcomes in challenging circumstances. This will demonstrate your ability to drive the Trust’s growth and expansion strategy.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Castle Phoenix Trust family.
We think you need these skills to ace Chief Executive Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for education and leadership shine through. We want to see how your values align with ours at Castle Phoenix Trust, so don’t hold back on sharing what drives you!
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in senior leadership roles, especially in challenging circumstances. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate a track record of improving standards, so be specific about your achievements.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that directly address the key requirements outlined in the job description. This helps us see how you fit into our vision quickly!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Castle Phoenix Trust.
How to prepare for a job interview at WMJobs
✨Know the Trust Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Castle Phoenix Trust's values and strategic priorities. Understand their commitment to creating a culture of belonging and how they aim to improve pupil outcomes. This knowledge will help you align your vision with theirs and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past leadership roles that highlight your ability to drive improvement and lead change. Focus on instances where you've successfully implemented systems aligned with strategic plans, especially in challenging circumstances. This will showcase your capability to meet the essential requirements of the CEO position.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Brush up on your financial management skills, particularly Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning (ICFP). Be ready to discuss how you've managed budgets, forecasted financial needs, and ensured financial sustainability in previous roles. This will reassure the interviewers of your ability to secure the Trust’s long-term financial resilience.
✨Emphasise Relationship Building
Highlight your ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders, including headteachers, trustees, and communities. Prepare to discuss how you've fostered collaboration and high expectations in diverse contexts. This will reflect your commitment to developing people and enhancing leadership capacity across the Trust.