Chief Executive Officer Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust

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Chief Executive Officer Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust

We're on the lookout for a visionary Chief Executive Officer to lead Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust and its members through its next chapter.

• Location: Hull
• Closing date: 9 a.m. Thursday 13th February

Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust was established to inspire pupils to thrive in life. As one of the first multi-academy trusts to be legally constituted under a co-operative model, we are rooted in the principles of collaboration, equality, and community engagement. Our Trust is a network of schools committed to providing environments where children can grow in knowledge, self-reliance, and responsibility toward others. With schools across Hull serving diverse communities, we are united by the belief that education is a force for social change. Following the retirement of our CEO, Jonathan Roe, we now seek a new leader to support us in continuing to provide excellent education both within and beyond the classrooms for some of Hull's most disadvantaged communities.

Our schools reflect the unique needs of their localities, from areas of high deprivation and with high levels of diversity. We act as community hubs, supporting practical challenges such as food security and affordable school uniforms. This community-focused ethos and a commitment to excellence in teaching and leadership have established us as a trusted partner for parents and stakeholders. Thrive provides strong governance, a collaborative culture, and strategic leadership to ensure every pupil can achieve their potential.

About the role.

We seek a visionary CEO to lead Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust through its next chapter. This is a role for a compassionate, dynamic leader who understands the transformative power of education. You will guide the Trust's strategic direction, support school improvement, and champion our co-operative values.

As CEO, you will work closely with our central team, headteachers and trustees to ensure financial sustainability while delivering exceptional student outcomes. From improving attendance and behaviour to leading innovative curriculum strategies, your leadership will shape the future of our Trust. You will act as an ambassador for Thrive, strengthening relationships with local communities and building local and national partnerships to enhance our work.

We believe that the CEO should balance strategic oversight with visibility across the trust and availability for our leaders and staff. You will ensure that pupils are at the heart of what we do and remain community-focused while achieving excellence. This includes guiding new initiatives, embedding our co-operative ethos, and preparing our organisation to adapt to future challenges. The role requires ethical leadership, empathy, resilience, and the ability to inspire staff, stakeholders, and pupils.

Who we are looking for.

The ideal candidate is a passionate leader committed to improving life chances for children and young people, whatever their backgrounds and starting points. You will bring experience in leading complex organisations, a deep understanding of education, and a track record of delivering positive change. While a background as a headteacher is not essential, familiarity with curriculum development, teaching, and the broader education landscape is vital.

We are looking for someone who embodies our co-operative values, fostering a culture of collaboration, integrity, and shared responsibility. You will be personable, approachable, and capable of building strong relationships across our schools, communities, and external networks. A strategic thinker, you will balance the need for innovation with respect for the unique identities of our schools. Our communities face significant challenges, and we need a CEO who can lead with empathy, compassion, and unwavering dedication.

We are looking for a leader with a proven track record in school improvement who has successfully transformed underperforming schools into consistently strong performers. The ideal candidate will bring experience in addressing complex challenges such as low attendance, behaviour issues, and community engagement, demonstrating their ability to turn difficult situations into opportunities for sustained improvement.

We are looking for a pragmatic and hands-on leader who thrives on being actively involved in solving challenges rather than remaining at a distance. Resilience and patience are critical qualities; the new CEO must understand the importance of long-term, sustainable improvement. Collaboration and relationship-building are vital to success in this role which will depend on fostering trust and alignment among trustees, members, local governing bodies, headteachers, staff, and the wider community.

The ideal candidate will view challenges as opportunities, take a patient and sustainable approach to improvement and work tirelessly to ensure that our schools are places where all children, regardless of their circumstances, can Thrive.

Peridot Partners and Thrive Co-operative Learning Trust are, together, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

For further information about the role or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:

If you would like to know more about this role please contact Eddie Caviezel Cox