Northern Education Trust has appointed a new CEO who will take over from current chief executive Rob Tarn next month.
Jane Wilson, who is currently deputy chief executive of at the multi-academy trust, will take over as chief executive designate from 1 April.
She joined Northern Education Trust in 2018, having previously worked as deputy director for the regional schools commissioner.
She also has experience as a lead inspector for Ofsted and a senior leader and executive headteacher.
Northern Education Trust has grown significantly in the past few years, from 22 schools in 2022-23 to 30 currently.
Northern Education Trust has a new CEO
Mark Sanders, chair of the MAT’s board of trustees, said he is certain that Ms Wilson “will move the trust forward with the same enthusiasm that Rob has been able to, and the board is confident that the trust will continue to go from strength to strength under Jane’s leadership”.
In its most recent accounts, the trust reported an increase in its reserves and large returns from investments.
In terms of academic performance, key stage 2 pupils’ attainment improved from 2023 to 2024. The trust’s secondary students had a slight fall in attainment year on year, but remained above the national average.
Ms Wilson said the trust has “accomplished so much, but we will not become complacent and must maintain and build on our success by ensuring every decision we make is in the best interest of the children and young people we serve”.
Mr Tarn is leaving on 31 March to join international schools group GEMS Education. He will be based in Dubai, where he will head up GEMS’ First Schools Management (FSM) division, which was recently launched with the aim of improving school management and performance.
He had been serving as an attendance ambassador for the Department for Education, working with schools and leaders to share effective practice and develop the rollout of attendance hubs. This scheme was based on a model that had been launched at one of Northern Education Trust’s schools, North Shore Academy in Stockton-on-Tees.
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