Trustee

About the Role

The Charter Schools Educational Trust is driven by a clear mission: to create better futures for all our children and young people. We work to transform the life chances of thousands of pupils across London and beyond, particularly those whose lives are affected by social or educational disadvantage.

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Founded in 2010 with a single school, the Trust has grown into a thriving family of three secondary and six primary schools, supported by over 600 staff and educating more than 5,500 pupils from nursery to sixth form. We are also home to a Teaching School Hub, a Research School, a Behaviour Hub, and an Early Years Stronger Practice Hub. Our strong reputation across London and the South East reflects our commitment to exceptional teacher development and school improvement.

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We are now seeking a dedicated volunteer to join our Trust Board. Serving as a Trustee within a multi-academy trust is a demanding yet deeply rewarding role. It offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to children’s lives while applying and developing your expertise in a strategic, board-level environment.

What skills and experience we're looking for

There is no requirement for prior knowledge of the education sector. We welcome individuals with the right skills, integrity, and time to contribute to the strategic leadership of our growing organisation. Our Board benefits from a breadth of professional backgrounds, including education, finance, human resources, marketing and communications, system leadership, and organisational change.

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We currently have a particular interest in candidates with senior experience in legal services, IT, or corporate social responsibility(CSR), though we warmly welcome applications from anyone who is passionate about education, brings strategic insight, and has the enthusiasm to contribute fully to the role.

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Collaboration sits at the heart of our culture. We believe collective responsibility enables us to provide the best possible educational experiences—and ultimately, better futures—for all the children and young people in our Trust.

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If you feel you could contribute to this important work, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Further details about the role

The Charter Schools Educational Trust is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to be a community where everyone feels valued and able to be themselves. We actively seek representation that reflects our local communities across gender, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, and all other aspects of diversity, and we encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

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We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment. References will be taken up, and the successful applicant will be required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check.

Further details about the role

How to apply

Please download an application form via the link on this page and once completed send it to the Trust’s Head of Governance, Shalene Varcoe, at svarcoe@tcset.org.uk

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If you have questions or would like an informal conversation about the role, please contact the Chair of Trustees, Jonathan Slater, at chair@tcset.org.uk

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Closing date for applications: Midnight Tuesday 31 March 2026

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The Charter Schools Educational Trust is committed to equality and diversity, and to being a family where everyone can be themselves. We are committed to continuous improvement in how representative we are of our local communities, including gender, ethnicity, religion, age, and all other aspects of diversity.

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We offer family friendly, flexible working arrangements, and staff networks to provide a supportive environment in the workplace where members can receive peer to peer support.

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The Charter Schools Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people and expects all its staff to share this commitment.