Recruiting an Executive Head Teacher for a Multi-Academy Trust in the UK

Introduction

A Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) in the UK needed an Executive Head Teacher to lead several schools. To find the ideal candidate, they embarked on a comprehensive Head Teacher Executive Search. This Head Teacher Executive Search was key to improving education standards, managing operations, and driving the trust’s growth. The candidate needed to inspire staff, improve outcomes for pupils, and build strong community relationships.

The Challenge

The MAT faced challenges that required an experienced leader to help:

• Raise Standards: Improve academic results across all schools.
• Lead Strategy: Set clear goals and guide the trust toward long-term success.
• Support Head Teachers: Mentor school leaders to drive better performance.
• Manage Operational Issues: Run the trust efficiently, including handling budgets.
• Engage Stakeholders: Build strong ties with parents, governors, and partners.

The role required a leader with headship experience, a history of success in schools, and excellent communication and management skills, crucial for a Head Teacher Executive Search.

The Recruitment Process

Step 1: Define the Role
We worked with the trust’s board to identify what they needed. The ideal candidate had:

• Proven success in leading schools or multi-academy trusts.
• Experience raising pupil performance and achieving strong results.
• Strategic skills for planning and leading growth.
• Financial knowledge to manage budgets well across multiple schools.
• Excellent communication skills to work with staff, parents, and governors.

Step 2: Find Top Candidates
We created a search plan to find the right person for the job:

• UK-Wide Search: Identified top leaders in schools and trusts across the country during the Head Teacher Executive Search.
• Network Connections: Used our education contacts to discover great candidates.
• Diversity Emphasis: Encouraged applications from candidates with fresh ideas and an inclusive approach.

Step 3: Assess and Select
We carefully reviewed and assessed candidates. Key areas included:

• Leadership Skills: Their ability to guide schools and inspire teams.
• Academic Results: Evidence of improving outcomes for pupils in their previous roles.
• Stakeholder Relationships: Their ability to connect with and support parents, governors, and others.
• Problem Solving: Tested how they handle challenges, like improving underperforming schools.

The Result

We placed an experienced Executive Head Teacher in the role. Their impact, thanks to a successful Head Teacher Executive Search, was clear within the first year:

• Better Results: Pupil attainment rose by 15% across the trust.
• Growth Success: Added a new school to the trust, managing a smooth alignment process.
• More Efficiency: Improved budgeting systems, saving 20% in operational costs.
• Leadership Boost: Built a mentoring programme for head teachers, improving teamwork and performance.
• Stronger Ties: Strengthened relationships with parents, governors, and local community groups.

The new Executive Head Teacher transformed the trust, delivering better results for pupils and staff while preparing for future growth.

Key Insights

• Strong Leadership Matters: A great leader can motivate staff and build trust-wide improvement.
• Simple Systems Work Best: Streamlining operations unifies schools and saves time and money.
• Collaboration Builds Success: Working with stakeholders creates trust and boosts reputation.
• Innovation Drives Results: Fresh ideas and new strategies improve teaching and outcomes.

Contact Us

Do you need a strong leader for your multi-academy trust? We specialise in recruiting education professionals for senior roles. Let us help you find the perfect Executive Head Teacher through a dedicated Head Teacher Executive Search.

📞 Call: 0207 160 6996
📧 Email: info@executiveheadhunters.co.uk
🌐 Visit: executiveheadhunters.co.uk