Chief Education Officer at South East Essex Academy Trust

New

Job Reference #

EDV/2026/SEEAT/76926

Location

The Deanes, Daws Heath Road, Thundersley, Essex, SS7 2TD

Contract Type

Permanent

Contract Term

Part-Time/Full-Time

Salary

Competitive spot salary, based on previous experience and impact

Closing Date

8:00am, 27th Feb 2026

Start Date

September 2026, or earlier by agreement

Positions Available

Positions Available 1

Interview Date(s)

11th and 12th March 2026

Interview Date(s) 11th and 12th March 2026

About this Role

It’s because it’s impossible that it's possible

South East Essex Academy Trust is not standing still. Since 2021, we have doubled in size. All seven schools that formed our newly enlarged trust in 2021 have been judged Good or Outstanding under the previous inspection framework. We are held in high regard by the DfE’s Regional Director and team. But we are not satisfied.

A great trust is built from great schools - and we know we can be better.

We are now seeking a brilliant Chief Education Officer with a passion for the possible to help us accelerate improvement, raise achievement across all phases, and ensure that every child - regardless of their background - benefits from consistently excellent teaching.

We are a local trust where collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. We believe in visible leadership. We know our schools well and you don’t need to go through multiple management layers to speak to the CEO.

We are not driven by fads. We are driven by what matters. We believe:

Great teaching changes lives.
Equity does not mean lowering the bar - it means helping every pupil reach it.
If it works for our SEND pupils, it works for everyone.
Reading unlocks the whole curriculum.

If that resonates with you, read on.

This is not a desk job.

As Chief Education Officer, you will be the strategic guardian of educational quality across our nine schools; but you will also roll up your sleeves, walk corridors, visit classrooms, and work shoulder-to-shoulder with leaders where capacity or momentum is needed. This role reports directly to the CEO and sits at the heart of the SEEAT Executive Team.

You will:

Champion exceptional teaching and ensure excellence becomes normal practice
Strengthen leadership capacity across the Trust
Use data intelligently and ensure robust tracking systems identify underachievement swiftly
Relentlessly track the impact of professional learning
Support schools to be distinctive without being disconnected from the family of schools
Ensure disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND perform in line with all other pupils nationally
Provide trustees and governors with clear, timely assurance
Support leaders through inspection with calm credibility
You will balance challenge and support; building a culture where improvement is deliberate, not accidental.

Still interested?

We try to clearly articulate our vision, values, and expectations when putting together information for applicants so please have a look at our recruitment pack.

If you would like to discuss the role in more detail please contact Sophie Roberts, EA on 07745 523 469. She can arrange for you to have a 'virtual coffee' with our CEO, Andrew. All other enquiries should go to hr@seeat.org.

We reserve the right to close the role earlier than the closing date if sufficient applications are received.

South East Essex Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects its entire staff to share this commitment. All postholders working in our schools will be considered to work in Regulated Activity and will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS). In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance all shortlisted candidates may be subject to online searches that may include social media. For further information please contact hr@seeat.org