The Howard Partnership Trust
Surrey
Job type:
Full Time, Permanent
Apply by:
28 September 2025
Job overview
Executive Director of Education, The Howard Partnership Trust
Salary: Competitive
Start Date: January 2026 (flexible)
Bringing out the best
The Howard Partnership Trust (THPT) is one of the largest and most inclusive MATs in Surrey, with over 7000 pupils in four secondary, six primary academies and three special schools. Our 2030 strategy focuses on delivering 'A Life-Changing Education' and we are passionate about disrupting disadvantage and having the highest of standards whilst we meet a vast array of needs. THPT has already made great strides forward in improving some of the most disadvantaged Surrey schools, but we are not complacent and there is much more to do. This is where this new, exciting role comes in.
To accelerate improvement in our schools and to deepen our impact, we are now seeking to appoint an Executive Director of Education. You will work alongside our CEO and Partnership Leaders to enable the highest quality education for every child and to embed sustainable excellence across the trust. Personally, you will be responsible for driving forward progress in our schools, valuing the agency of our talented school leaders whilst supporting them to improve outcomes at pace. Demonstrably raising attainment and developing our curriculum offer to make it the very best for our students will be critical to your success in this role.
You'll bring a driven, flexible, and strategic mindset, alongside a proven track record in executive leadership. Evidence of delivering impactful change and success in school improvement beyond one school will be essential, although there is no fixed blueprint for where you might currently be based. Cross-phase experience during your leadership career would be a real asset, as would experience of leading complex schools. You will bring strong influencing skills and a depth of expertise and credibility to the trust, and we will look to you to elevate our thinking around education. Our new Executive Director of Education will have the clarity of vision and personal presence to represent THPT externally, whenever it is of positive benefit to the trust and the sector.
If you have the track record and credibility to take on this critical role at a pivotal time for the trust, we would love to hear from you. In return, we can offer you the chance to be part of a forward-thinking and growing organisation, working together to build excellence across our family of inclusive schools. This is a genuine opportunity to work at the very heart of our trust and to play a lead role in driving improvements, making a tangible difference to the lives of children. THPT offers excellent support, flexibility and opportunities for its leaders.
To have an informal and confidential conversation about this opportunity, please contact our recruitment partners
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details of how to apply, please visit:
Close date for applications: Sunday 28th September 2025, 8pm
Interviews: Monday 13th and Tuesday 14th October 2025
The successful candidate will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Howard Partnership Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We may also conduct an online search about any shortlisted candidates as part of our due diligence to identify any matters that might relate directly to our legal duty to meet safeguarding duties, in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). All applicants must be able to provide evidence of their Right to Work in the UK prior to commencement of employment.
About The Howard Partnership Trust
The Howard Partnership Trust
Lower Road, Effingham
Surrey
KT24 5JR
United Kingdom
The Partnership
In 2011, the Howard Partnership was the first soft federation Academy Chain in the country, led by an outstanding school. More recently, our partnership approach was formalised into a Multi-Academy Trust, The Howard Partnership Trust, and we are highly committed to this collaborative way of working. The distinctive feature of The Howard Partnership Trust is that the schools within our Academy Chain all retain their own unique features in order to meet the needs of the communities which they serve. However, the vision and values that underpin the schools are rooted in the same guiding principles: namely to ensure that consistently high quality teaching facilitates excellent learning within an inclusive, caring, vibrant environment. We all aim to 'Bring out the Best' in our students and so increase their life-chances. These are the hallmarks of any one of The Howard Partnership Trust schools.
Currently, there are four schools within the Academy Chain: Howard of Effingham (the original sponsor school), Thomas Knyvett College (who joined The Partnership in June 2007),Kenyngton Manor Primary School (who joined The Partnership in February 2013), and St Lawrence Primary School (who joined The Partnership in December Since September 2013, The Howard Partnership Trust has also been providing the leadership of Oxted School. Oxted School Governors are currently consulting stakeholders on the School's conversion to Foundation and Academy status to join the Partnership. Outstanding Academies and Academy Chains are a vital part of the Government's vision for education. School-to-school support has increasingly become the model for improving the educational outcomes for students. We believe expanding our Academy Chain will help our schools to be even more successful by building upon our existing excellent practice and so remain at the 'cutting edge' of education. We are in discussion with other schools, so it would seem inevitable that The Partnership will grow. These are exciting and dynamic times
The professional development opportunities provided by working within and across Howard Partnership Trust schools are excellent: we all learn together. Thus, we will continue to attract and retain the very highest quality staff which, in turn, is reflected in our students' achievements.
The Howard Partnership Trust is successful because it has teams of well-qualified and committed people, both teachers and support staff, who are prepared to take an interest in every child. Staff across The Howard Partnership Trust enjoy opportunities for accelerated career progression. All appointments to our staff are considered to be crucial to the success of our schools. The Executive Leadership and Governors are committed to the development of both our schools and staff, truly 'bringing out the best' in everyone
BENEFITS
Teachers
Teaching staff across The Howard Partnership Trust enjoy the benefit of generous PPA allocation in recognition of the strong focus on teaching and learning. We have an excellent CPD programme and many opportunities in school for staff to extend their professional knowledge and develop their skills. As a result, we have a very good record of staff gaining internal and external promotions. There is a warm, collegiate and supportive atmosphere among the staff. Teachers in secondary schools have the opportunity to work outside their faculties in mixed faculty pastoral teams and on other cross curricular projects. In primary schools there is a lot of cross phase working and CPD between schools. For those staff who would like this professional development opportunity, there is also the opportunity to work across The Partnership.
Teachers are exceptionally well supported and The Partnership is committed to 'freeing teachers to teach.' This is achieved by our highly professional and expert teams of support staff including administrative, clerical and technical support as well as dedicated Human Resources and financial teams.
Support Staff
We have an excellent Performance Management programme and many opportunities in school for staff to extend their professional knowledge and develop their skills. As a result, we have a very good record of staff retention and promotion.
All Staff
Benefits include:
Childcare Voucher Scheme
Cycle to Work Scheme
Sainsbury's Discount Card
EduHealth Foundations Membership (free eye examination voucher, discounted glasses, contact lenses, BUPA HealthLine and
additional healthcare support programmes)
Optional discounted BUPA Healthcare and BUPA EduHealth Dental Insurance
Teachers Pension Scheme and Local Government Pension Scheme
Employee Assistance Programme
Membership of Effingham Community Sports Centre
Additional Information
As part of our standard recruitment procedure, we would draw your attention to the fact that The Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Successful candidates will be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
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