The Diocese of Southwell & Nottingham Multi Academy Trust (SNMAT) is a Church of England multi-academy trust providing high quality education within the diocese of Southwell & Nottingham, currently comprising 21 primary schools (including one school with no faith designation) and 3 secondary schools (2 with Sixth Forms).
SNMAT is now entering an exciting new phase, as we evolve our governance, structure and leadership. As a Trust we are looking for leadership that is both creative and steady—challenging while strengthening support and confidence, sustaining momentum without overloading school leaders, offering focused inspection support, and ensuring clarity through open, transparent communication.
We therefore seek an inspirational and strategic CEO who will steer SNMAT into our future with creativity, resilience, and pragmatism—bringing alongside all of our stakeholders as we embark on this journey together, with the support of our 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.
If you share our values and are motivated by the opportunity to lead our Trust, we would love to hear from you.
Closing: Mon 11 May at 5pm
Shortlisting: Wed 13 May
Interviews: Thu 21 and Fri 22 May
In the first instance, please call Liam Dowds, our Emmaus Advising Consultant (in complete confidence) on 01737 652 043 or email him at ldowds@emmausleadership.me for a candidate pack and application form.
DO NOT APPLY ONLINE. ALL COMPLETED APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA EMAIL.
SNMAT 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.
"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 that is seeking to appoint a Christian Headteacher. In particular, Emmaus’ ability to promote the school, assess the ethos of the school and communicate this within the networks of those who might be considered as possible candidates was invaluable."
Clive Purser, Chair of Governors, St Andrew's CE High School for Boys, Worthing
"I would thoroughly recommend Emmaus for any diocese or MAT seeking to appoint at a senior level in Catholic Education. Should we need help in the future...I would be confident in using Emmaus again."
Bishop Alan Williams sm - Diocese of Brentwood
"Emmaus brings a level of professionalism, seen in other industry sectors, to church schools’ recruitment."
The Rt Rev Nick Baines - Anglican Bishop of Leeds
"…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
"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
"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
"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 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
"Thank you for everything you did to successfully support our recruitment of an outstanding Headteacher and Deputy Headteacher. Using Emmaus Leadership to manage the recruitment to the post was much debated and was the subject of intense scrutiny by our Governing Body who were somewhat reluctant to use a leadership recruitment specialist. However, their confidence was reinstated as a result of your professional approach, your insightful knowledge and the resulting candidate pool produced for both appointments. I have no hesitation in recommending Emmaus to other schools."
Annie Sutton - Executive Principal, St Joseph's RC Specialist School and College