CEO Vacancy
Build On Success. Shape What Comes Next.
Closing date:
8am, Monday 14th September
Creating Futures
Thank you for your interest in the role of Chief Executive Officer at Gosforth Group. As Chair of Trustees, I am delighted to introduce this opportunity to lead our Trust at an exciting and significant point in our journey. Gosforth Group is a values-led organisation with a strong reputation for educational excellence, collaboration and inclusion. We are proud of all that we have achieved together and remain ambitious about the future we are creating for the children, young people and communities we serve.
At the heart of our Trust is a simple but powerful purpose: Creating Futures. We believe every child and young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, fulfil their potential and achieve a successful future. This belief shapes every decision we make, every relationship we build, and every investment we make in our people, our schools and our communities.
Over the past two years, we have taken the opportunity to reflect on who we are as a Trust and what we stand for. Working alongside our employees, pupils and communities, we have refreshed our vision, mission, values and pledges, creating a clear and shared framework for our future. They define our culture, guide the way we work together and reinforce our commitment to putting children and young people at the centre of every decision, championing inclusion, strengthening collaboration and ensuring our values are reflected in everything we do.
Everything we have achieved has been built on partnership, shared values and a collective commitment to improving the life chances of children and young people. As we look ahead, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive Officer who shares these values and can build on our success, providing strategic leadership, inspiring our people and shaping the next chapter of our Trust with confidence, integrity and ambition.
The successful candidate will join a Trust with a strong reputation, talented school leaders, dedicated colleagues and an engaged Board of Trustees. This is not a role focused on simply maintaining success, nor one requiring significant transformation.
It is an opportunity to build on our considerable strengths, further strengthen our culture and lead the next phase of strategic development, ensuring our vision continues to translate into meaningful outcomes for the children, families and communities we serve.
We are looking for a leader who combines educational credibility with strategic vision and who leads through collaboration, trust and partnerships. Someone who empowers others, builds strong relationships and creates the culture and conditions in which our people, pupils and schools can flourish. Above all, they will share our belief that every decision, every investment and every strategy must ultimately improve the experiences and life chances of children and young people.
You will work alongside a committed Board of Trustees, an experienced executive team and passionate school leaders who are united by a shared ambition to provide exceptional education for every child. Together, we will continue to strengthen our Trust, support our communities and create opportunities that enable every young person to achieve their full potential.
I hope you find the information in this website and accompanying information pack helpful. If you share our values, believe in the power of education to transform lives, are inspired by the opportunity to lead a collaborative, values-led Trust, and are excited by the prospect of shaping the future of one of the North East’s most ambitious multi-academy trusts, I warmly encourage you to explore this opportunity further. Please contact our specialist recruitment partner, Martin Blair at Berg Education, on 07908268091 or at martin.blair@bergeducation.co.uk for a private and confidential discussion about the opportunity.
“Together, we will continue building a Trust where children and young people remain at the heart of everything that we do.”
Chris Nicholson, Chair of Trustees.
Welcome from our Chair of Trustees
About Gosforth Group
Creating Futures Through Excellence, Partnership and Ambition
Gosforth Group is a values-led, ambitious multi-academy trust serving children, young people and communities across Newcastle and the North East. We are united by a simple but powerful purpose: Creating Futures. This belief shapes how we work together, how we support our schools, and how we create opportunities for every child and young person to thrive.
Established Since 2010
Growing from two founding academies into a successful and ambitious multi-academy trust.
2 New
Free Schools
Great Park Academy and Callerton Academy opened in 2021 and moved into permanent purpose-built state-of-the art, new buildings in September 2025.
Values-Led Leadership
Guided by the Nolan Principles of Public Life and a shared commitment to equity, inclusion and excellence.
6,500
Students
Providing high-quality education, support and opportunities for thousands of children and young people.
6
Academies
A family of middle and secondary schools and sixth form provision serving communities across Newcastle and the North East, including two new free schools.
700
Employees
A talented and dedicated workforce across our schools and central services teams.
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Children and young people are at the heart of everything we do.
Through outstanding teaching, strong leadership and meaningful partnerships, we prepare young people not only for academic success, but for fulfilling lives and successful futures.
We believe education has the power to transform lives, raise aspirations and broaden horizons. By championing equity, inclusion and opportunity, we ensure that every child and young person is supported to realise their potential, regardless of their background or starting point.
Our vision is simple but powerful: Creating Futures. It reflects our belief that every child and young person deserves to feel safe, valued and inspired, and to leave school prepared for a successful and fulfilling future.
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Our values underpin every decision we make and every relationship we build. Rooted in the Nolan Principles of Public Life, they reflect our commitment to integrity, accountability and service.
Our values are lived through a culture of trust, collaboration, resilience and respect. They shape how we support our students, develop our staff and engage with the communities we serve.
Accountability
Openness
Integrity
Leadership
Honesty
Selflessness
Objectivity
Our People
Gosforth Group’s strength is its people. Colleagues across our schools and central teams share a commitment to the transformative power of education and work within a culture that is ambitious, supportive and values-driven. We invest in professional growth, encourage innovation and empower staff to deliver exceptional outcomes for children.
The Trust is led by the Chief Executive Officer, supported by an experienced Executive Leadership Team who provide strategic direction, uphold high standards and drive improvement across education, operations, inclusion, finance and organisational development. The next CEO will join a strong, values-led organisation with the opportunity to shape its next phase of growth.
The CEO works in close partnership with an experienced and committed Board of Trustees that sets the strategic direction of the Trust, holds the organisation to account and maintains a relentless focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for children and young people. Drawing on expertise from education, business and public service, Trustees bring valuable insight, oversight and constructive challenge to the Trust’s decision-making. Reporting directly to the Board, the CEO is accountable for the overall performance of the Trust and is responsible for translating the Board's vision and strategic priorities into successful organisational delivery across all academies.
Reporting to and led by the CEO, our Corporate Services teams play a critical role in delivering the Trust’s strategic priorities. Providing specialist expertise across finance, procurement, people services, governance, estates, ICT, data, communications and marketing, they create the infrastructure, systems and professional support that enable schools to thrive. Working in partnership with school leaders and central colleagues, Corporate Services turns strategy into action, ensuring the ambitions set by the Board of Trustees and led by the CEO are delivered effectively, sustainably and at scale across the Trust.
About Our Academies
Click on a tile to find more information on the Academy website.
Opened in September 2021, to meet demand for secondary school places for families based in Newcastle’s West End community. A major milestone came in September 2025 when the academy moved into its purpose-built, state-of-the-art building, providing exceptional facilities and a modern environment for future generations of learners.
Opened in September 2021, to meet growing demand for secondary school places in Newcastle's Great Park area. Great Park Academy began in a purpose-built temporary facility at Gosforth Academy before relocating to its state-of-the-art, permanent building in September 2025. The school is already a favourite among local families and supports our Trust’s growth and excellence strategy.
Gosforth Academy is a leading secondary school with sixth form, renowned for academic excellence, inclusive education and outstanding pastoral care. As one of the founding school of our Trust in 2010, it combines high achievement with exceptional enrichment opportunities, including a nationally recognised rugby programme delivered in partnership with Newcastle Red Bulls.
Jesmond Park Academy is one of the region’s largest secondary schools with a sixth form. It delivers high-quality education within a welcoming and inclusive environment. Since joining our Trust in 2019, the academy has strengthened leadership, culture and outcomes, while its School of Sanctuary status and specialist Hearing Impaired Provision reflect its commitment to accessibility.
One of our founding schools in 2010, Gosforth Junior High Academy is an inclusive and forward-thinking middle school, providing a curriculum designed to support a smooth transition to secondary education. Renowned for its specialist Visual Impairment Provision, the school combines high standards, expert support and accessibility to help every pupil thrive and succeed.
North Gosforth Academy is a rapidly improving secondary school serving in in the North Tyneside area, combining ambitious educational standards with a supportive learning environment. Since joining the Trust in 2018, significant investment in facilities and specialist staff has enhanced student outcomes, driving rising GCSE results, increasing enrolment and growing confidence across the school community.
The Opportunity
Build on Success. Shape What Comes Next
This is an opportunity to lead a Trust that knows who it is, what it stands for and where it is going.
Strong reputation for school improvement
Experienced executive and corporate services teams
Engaged and committed Trust board
High-performing and growing trust network
Purpose-built, modern learning environments
Deep roots in North East communities
Clear ambition for future growth and impact
You will shape:
Strategic implementation
Long-term growth
Trust culture
Regional partnerships
Future relationships with parents, carers and communities
Future opportunities for children and young people
Together, we are creating futures. strengthening our Trust, supporting our communities and ensuring children and young people remain at the heart of everything we do.
Core Purpose
Leading and overseeing the efficient, effective and compliant management of the Trust and its academies
Providing strong strategic leadership towards the Trust’s vision and goals
The performance of all academies within the Trust
The CEO, as Accounting Officer is also accountable to the Trust Board for:
Ensuring the Trust fulfils the statutory and regulatory responsibilities set out in the Academy Trust Handbook
Ensuring the responsible and appropriate use of public funds
Planning, implementing and monitoring the Trust’s internal and external financial reporting
The Role
Candidate Information
If you are inspired by the opportunity to lead a collaborative, values-led Trust and share our belief in the power of education to transform lives, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Recruitment timeline
Closing date – 8am, Monday 14th September
Interview dates – 29th and 30th September
Start date – In discussion with the appointed candidate
How to Apply
For an informal and confidential discussion about the role or to find out how to apply please contact our specialist recruiter, Martin Blair at Berg Education:
Martin Blair
Berg Education
Tel: 07908268091
Email: martin.blair@bergeducation.co.uk
Safeguarding
Gosforth Group value equality and diversity and are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be subject to safer recruitment practises including satisfactory references and an enhanced DBS check for the appointed candidate.