DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation
Job title:Head of Governance
Grade: CSET3 (from £52,414 FTE per annum)
Closing date: Sunday 22 February 2026
Interviews: 5 March 2026
Location: You will work across 2 sites as required; Marlwood and Worle, with some hybrid working supported.
Working hours: up to 37 per week. Flexible working hours are welcomed.
Shape the future during a defining era of transformation.
This is a unique opportunity to lead during an exciting period of change. Working initially across two multi-academy trusts, you will play a central role in designing and establishing the governance structures for the intended new Pathway Trust. As the lead governance professional, you will provide crucial support to the Board and Executive team, ensuring our governance is robust from inception.
About the role
Acting as Company Secretary and a trusted strategic adviser, you will ensure our decision-making is rigorous and our compliance absolute. Your core responsibilities will include:
1. Strategic Design: Lead the design and implementation of frameworks, accountability structures, and practices for the new Pathway Trust.
2. Crucial Support & Advisory: Act as the primary advisor to Trustees, the CEO, and executive leaders on risk, compliance, and governance effectiveness.
3. Team Leadership: Line manage the governance function and the Trust’s Project Manager to deliver on cross-functional projects, including school conversions and legal changes.
4. Assurance & Compliance: Provide strategic oversight of high-risk areas including complaints, whistleblowing, and information governance, ensuring statutory compliance and organizational learning.
About you
To navigate this complex and changing landscape, we are looking for a senior professional with expert knowledge of academy trust governance. You will bring:
5. Experience: A proven track record at senior management level, with specific experience acting as a Company Secretary and managing complex complaints and compliance frameworks.
6. Leadership: Strong people management skills with the ability to develop teams and oversee the work of clerks and support roles.
7. Influence: Excellent communication skills, capable of providing professional challenge and influencing stakeholders at the highest level.
8. Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of the regulatory framework affecting education (including Safeguarding and the Equality Act) and charity law.
About us
Castle School Education Trust (CSET) is a vibrant family of schools united by one powerful ambition: to deliver a great education for every child.
Spanning four secondary and five primary schools across South Gloucestershire, we’re proud of our strong track record in school improvement, rising pupil numbers, and consistently improving outcomes. Each of our schools has a distinct identity shaped by the community it serves—and we celebrate that uniqueness while sharing expertise, resources, and support across the Trust.
You will be joining us at an exciting time, as we work collaboratively with eleven schools from TPLT in North Somerset, with an aim to join to form Pathway Trust in the future.
We can offer you:
9. Commitment to CPD and development of all staff including collaborative support and instructional coaching to allow employees to thrive
10. Commitment to inclusivity and fostering of diversity
11. Values and vision that are lived not laminated
12. Open and honest culture
13. Generous Local Government pension scheme
14. Up to 30% discount with Microsoft & Dell
15. Discounted gym membership
16. Life Assurance - 3 x Death in Service
17. Cycle to work scheme
18. Dedicated counselling service
In order to apply for this role please complete an application form by 23.59, 22nd February. Interviews are due to take place on 3rd March. Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the process.
Please know that depending on the number of applications received we may decide to close the advert early. If you do not hear from us by a week after the closing date then please assume that you have not been shortlisted for an interview.
Join us in Providing a Great Education for Every Child
CSET is committed to equal opportunities and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and communities, as we recognise the importance and benefit this has for our pupils.
Safeguarding Statement
CSET is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles across the trust have a varying level of responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice, with some roles holding significant responsibility and involving working with children on a daily basis in regulated activity. Regardless of the level of responsibility and involvement in each role, we expect all staff, visiting professionals and volunteers to share this commitment.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. Successful candidates will be required to provide a disclosure of any unspent convictions and cautions, as well as any spent convictions or cautions that are not "protected" (i.e., filtered) under the Amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). All appointments are subject to a comprehensive pre-employment checking process. This includes an Enhanced DBS check (including a Children’s Barred List check), satisfactory references, medical fitness, Right to Work in the UK, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching/management check. In line with KCSIE guidance, we will also conduct online searches on all shortlisted candidates.
Our full Recruitment and Selection policy is available on our website.