Chief Executive Officer
Location: Tunbridge Wells, Kent Contract Type: Full Time (could be flexible for the right candidate) Contract Term: Permanent
Are you an experienced, strategic educational leader that can build on our success, deliver growth and inspire excellence in all that we do?
Tenax Schools Trust is a Church of England multi-academy trust providing outstanding education in both primary and secondary schools in Kent and East Sussex, currently comprising 7 primary schools (including one school with no faith designation) alongside a large secondary school, Bennett Memorial Diocesan School, situated in Tunbridge Wells. The Trust also operates Teach Kent & Sussex SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training) and the Kent Teaching School Hub; the DfE’s designated Teaching School Hub for East Kent and West Kent.
Now is a moment of real opportunity for Tenax Schools Trust. We are rightly proud of our achievements but are now at the start of an exciting new chapter in the life of our Trust as we welcome a new CEO and look to further grow whilst retaining our commitment to evidence-based pedagogy and delivering high quality education to all the pupils in our communities and positively influencing the practice of teachers across and beyond the Trust.
To take us on the next steps of our journey, we need an inspirational leader, who can motivate others and drive growth and improvement with the support of the high-performing teams across the Trust.
Applications from both practising Christians and those committed to protecting and enhancing the Trust’s distinctive Christian identity and ethos are warmly welcomed.
For an initial informal chat (in complete confidence) please call Liam Dowds, our Emmaus Advising Consultant, on 01737 652 043 or email him at ldowds@emmausleadership.me in the first instance for a candidate pack and application form.
Closing: Mon 1 April at 12 Noon
Shortlisting: Tues 16 April
Interviews: Mon 22 and Tues 23 April
Tenax Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and all applicants are expected to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to pre-employment checks, including satisfactory references and an Enhanced DBS check.
"Having previously struggled to recruit two Headteachers - for both a Primary and a Secondary school - Emmaus came to the rescue. Their expert advice and deep understanding of recruiting Headship positions in Catholic schools is invaluable, and I have no hesitation in recommending their knowhow and their values."
Fr David Gibbons, Chair of Governors & Parish Priest, Archdiocese of Southwark
"I have personal experience of the quality of service Emmaus provides, when I successfully applied for a Headship position through them. I always felt I could call up, get the ‘inside take’ on the school and ask any questions in complete confidence. The support and expert advice I received made the application process far less daunting and I would thoroughly recommend Emmaus to any Church School looking to appoint a key Leadership position."
Dan Pickard, Headteacher, The Bishop’s CE Primary School - Thetford
"I approached Emmaus following our unsuccessful attempts to recruit Deputy DDEs for both Dioceses. They went on to source a far greater number of candidates of high calibre. I highly recommend Emmaus!"
Canon Carolyn Lewis, Director of Education - Diocese of Leicester and Diocese of Derby
"We are delighted with the appointment we made and I have reported to the whole community that we could not have been more thorough in the search or more rigorous in the selection process. Thank you Emmaus Leadership."
Jacqui Feely, Chair at All Hallows Catholic College, Macclesfield
"I’m delighted with the way it went and the successful outcome (third SLT placement now!) helps confirm to Governors that your approach is right for these levels of appointment. It’s difficult to quantify the costs of recruiting and failing to get the right candidate ourselves - we’d only find out the true cost and also lost opportunities if we tried and failed. Altogether better to invest in getting it right first time, so thank you for all your hard work on this. The other side is the perception we leave with all candidates and I think we’ve worked together to do an excellent job (using your Assessment support). The communication, logistics and the care given I think is really important and Emmaus are a big part of that - you work as an extension of the school. I am fairly sure that all of the candidates will go away having had a great experience and that will help our reputation spread in a positive way."
Dave Cobb - School Business & Development Manager, Saint Cecilia's CE School, London
"I have no hesitation in commending Emmaus to any school which is seeking to appoint a Christian Head. My only regret is that we did not go to them for the first round of interviews that proved unsuccessful. It is an expensive option, but in the long run they are more than value for money. I am very thankful to God for the ministry of Emmaus, and I warmly commend them to you. In OFSTED terms, they are outstanding."
The Rt Rev Keith Sinclair - Anglican Bishop of Birkenhead
"We came across Emmaus by accident after our own attempts to recruit a Headteacher failed. We would not hesitate to engage them again to find a suitable candidate for a leadership position."
Michael Tennant - Chairman of the Board, St Edward's School
"We had been cold called by a few other companies but chose Emmaus as it specialised in Church schools. We were impressed by Liam and his team coming to the school and burrowing in to what the school wanted and needed. He asked searching questions and we were satisfied this was the way forward. I had not been a fan of head hunters before, but I have to say this process and its result was a hugely better experience than going out on our own and was totally professional throughout."
Bridget Prentice, Chair of Governors - Trinity School, Lewisham
"…we also considered other external recruiters, but Emmaus were clear favourites in terms of their recruitment expertise and in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the catholic school’s sector."
Peter Giorgio, Director of Education, Nottingham Diocese
"Could we afford it? My belief, as Chair was that we couldn’t afford not to. We needed strong school leaders to be drawn to apply. Our success was down to using Emmaus and definitely money well spent."
Carry Lynott - Chair of Governors, Our Lady and St Brendan's Catholic Primary School, Bradford