What skills and experience we're looking for
No child and no school is left behind
Due to the forthcoming retirement of our CEO, The Sigma Trust seeks a committed and passionate CEO to embrace our Vision, Values and Ethos and build on our strong foundations already in place. Our new CEO will provide inspirational, strategic and professional leadership which will ensure the continuing development and success of the Trust and its academies as places of transformational learning with a reputation for high standards across all aspects of its work.
The Sigma Trust is a local partnership of academies in North East Essex. The Trust was formally established in September 2016 and has grown to become one of the largest multi-academy trusts working solely within North East Essex. We believe in the power of collaboration to unlock every child's potential. Our network of 12 academies in North East Essex fosters a supportive learning environment where curiosity thrives and resilience is built. We consist of eight secondary schools, one primary, two junior schools, an infant and nursery school and an Initial Teacher Training Scheme.
All schools are geographically close enough to provide the necessary support and challenge to take all academies to the next level. We have a vision and values that aims to ensure that no school and no child is left behind. The Greek letter, Sigma (Σ), is used in Mathematics and IT to denote "the sum of" hence its adoption as our name and our tagline “Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts”.
The Sigma Trust now consists of over 11,500 pupils, approximately 1,700 staff and an annual income in excess of £80 million. Our initial teacher training scheme, Advance Teacher Training delivering the Ambition Institute ITT programme, trains approximately 60 primary and secondary trainees each year. The size of the Trust allows extensive joint working to take place and provides huge opportunities for staff and students alike.
The CEO will be responsible for the improvement of educational standards, equality of access, achievement for all and effective use of resources across the academies. The CEO will seek to further develop and deliver the vision and the values of the Trust to ensure our children have the very best learning and teaching experience.
The CEO will shape the evolution of the Trust as it seeks to build on its initial successes in bringing schools together to address disadvantages and to achieve outstanding outcomes for all pupils. The CEO will explore local growth opportunities in both the primary and secondary sectors.
The successful candidate will possess:
• A strong track record in successful leadership of a school or Trust, including the delivery of an outstanding education for pupils whilst providing excellent development opportunities for staff.
• Strategic leadership credibility, with the ability to engage and lead an organisation in a way that is authentic, collaborative, and robust.
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of financial management and operational systems to ensure sustainability at school and trust levels.
• A proven ability to work with the Board of Trustees, Local Governance Committees, Headteachers and others to continue to deliver the Trust’s vision whilst demonstrating commitment to our values.
• A passion for education and the role our schools play in challenging and improving the opportunities and outcomes for our pupils.
• The ability to network and engage at a local and national level for the benefit of the Trust.
The role provides a very real opportunity to lead the strategic direction of our Trust.The new CEO will be supported by a strong, committed Central Team, Board of Trustees and Members, whilst at school level we have a strong governance structure and highly skilled Headteachers.
What the school offers its staff
Why work for The Sigma Trust?
Employee benefits include:
• Excellent pension scheme
• A Health Cash Plan
• Free membership to Perkbox, offering discounts and savings
• Employee Assistance Programme providing free and confidential advice
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Eye care plan
• Annual free flu vaccination
• Discounted gym membership at selected local gyms
• Discounted cinema tickets
• Eligible for Blue Light Card
Further details about the role
Closing date for applications: Wednesday 26th February at 00:00 GMT
Interviews:
• Longlisted candidates will be invited for interview with Perrett Laver during the weeks commencing 3rd March and 10th March 2025.
• The shortlist of candidates will be selected in the week commencing 17th March 2025, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a first-round interview with The Sigma Trust on Thursday 20th March 2025.
• A smaller group of finalist candidates will attend a final selection process with the Trust on Friday 21st March 2025.
How to apply:
The Sigma Trust has retained the services of Perrett Laver to help identify the widest possible field of suitable candidates and assist in the assessment of candidates against the requirements for the role.
Applicants should complete and submit the Trust application form, fully addressing the competencies outlined in the job description and person specification and outlining their interest in The Sigma Trust. The application form is available through the APPLY button.
If you are interested in finding out more about this role please visit: quoting reference number 7733.
If you would like an informal conversation to discuss this role in confidence, or would like to visit the Trust, please contact Frances Crossley (frances.crossley@perrettlaver.com)
The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.
The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision ‘To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts’, where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.
Protecting your personal data is of the utmost importance to Perrett Laver and this responsibility is taken very seriously. Any information obtained by Perrett Laver’s trading divisions is held and processed in accordance with the relevant data protection legislation. The data provided is securely stored on Perrett Laver’s computerised database and transferred to clients for the purposes of presenting you as a candidate and/or considering your suitability for a role you have registered interest in.
As defined under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Perrett Laver is a Data Controller and a Data Processor, and their legal basis for processing your personal data is ‘Legitimate Interests’. You have the right to object to Perrett Laver processing your data in this way. For more information about this, your rights, and Perrett Laver’s approach to Data Protection and Privacy, please visit the website
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.