David Ross Education Trust (DRET) is a network of unique and diverse academies across the country, committed to delivering a world-class, knowledge-rich education that empowers pupils to reach their fullest potential. Spanning North Yorkshire, East Riding, the Midlands, and London, our network of 36 academies serves over 14,600 pupils and employs 2,300 dedicated staff.

Our family of schools includes 24 primaries, 10 secondaries, an all-through school in London’s Olympic Park, and a special school in Lincolnshire supporting pupils aged 2–19 with a broad range of special educational needs. As one of only 11 system leaders nationwide, we are recognised for our unwavering commitment to educational excellence, our innovative curriculum, and ability to drive sustained school improvement at scale.

At the heart of our Mission is a deep belief in the transformative power of education. We are committed to ensuring that every child – regardless of their background – has access to an exceptional academic experience enriched by extensive co-curricular opportunities. From small rural primaries to large urban secondaries, our academies benefit from the strength of a collaborative, values-driven community, in which expertise is shared, best practices are embedded, and each school retains its distinctive character.

We now seek a dynamic and strategic CEO to succeed Stuart Burns after five years of exceptional service. The appointee will possess the vision, intellectual acumen, and clear sense of moral purpose to shape the future of education within our Trust. They will not only continue to develop and empower a high performing Executive Team, but will contribute to the wider national conversation on how the multi-academy trust sector is continuing to change and grow. This is a rare opportunity to influence the lives of thousands of young people, working alongside a community of dedicated educators and professionals united by a shared commitment to excellence.

DRET is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate must be willing to undergo an enhanced disclosure through the Disclosure and Barring Service.  DRET’s safer recruitment policy is available on request.

Protecting your personal data is of the utmost importance to Perrett Laver and we take this responsibility very seriously. Any information obtained by our trading divisions is held and processed in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation. The data you provide us with is securely stored on our computerised database and transferred to our clients for the purposes of presenting you as a candidate and/or considering your suitability for a role you have registered interest in. 

As an equal opportunities employer, we encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates irrespective of background.   If for any reason you require adjustments to support your application, please let us know in confidence.