Head of Governance
Castle School Education Trust, Bristol, BS16 9LH17 days remaining to apply
Job start date
4 February 2026
Closing date
22 February 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
4 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- CSET 3 (£52,414 FTE)
Head of Governance job summary
Job title:Head of Governance
Grade: CSET3 (from £52,414 FTE per annum)
Closing date: Sunday 22 February 2026
Interviews: 5 March 2026
Location: You will work across 2 sites as required; Marlwood and Worle, with some hybrid working supported.
Working hours: up to 37 per week. Flexible working hours are welcomed.
Shape the future during a defining era of transformation.
This is a unique opportunity to lead during an exciting period of change. Working initially across two multi-academy trusts, you will play a central role in designing and establishing the governance structures for the intended new Pathway Trust. As the lead governance professional, you will provide crucial support to the Board and Executive team, ensuring our governance is robust from inception.
About the role
Acting as Company Secretary and a trusted strategic adviser, you will ensure our decision-making is rigorous and our compliance absolute. Your core responsibilities will include:
- Strategic Design: Lead the design and implementation of frameworks, accountability structures, and practices for the new Pathway Trust.
- Crucial Support & Advisory: Act as the primary advisor to Trustees, the CEO, and executive leaders on risk, compliance, and governance effectiveness.
- Team Leadership: Line manage the governance function and the Trust’s Project Manager to deliver on cross-functional projects, including school conversions and legal changes.
- Assurance & Compliance: Provide strategic oversight of high-risk areas including complaints, whistleblowing, and information governance, ensuring statutory compliance and organizational learning.
About you
To navigate this complex and changing landscape, we are looking for a senior professional with expert knowledge of academy trust governance. You will bring:
- Experience: A proven track record at senior management level, with specific experience acting as a Company Secretary and managing complex complaints and compliance frameworks.
- Leadership: Strong people management skills with the ability to develop teams and oversee the work of clerks and support roles.
- Influence: Excellent communication skills, capable of providing professional challenge and influencing stakeholders at the highest level.
- Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of the regulatory framework affecting education (including Safeguarding and the Equality Act) and charity law.
About us
Castle School Education Trust (CSET) is a vibrant family of schools united by one powerful ambition: to deliver a great education for every child.
Spanning four secondary and five primary schools across South Gloucestershire, we’re proud of our strong track record in school improvement, rising pupil numbers, and consistently improving outcomes. Each of our schools has a distinct identity shaped by the community it serves—and we celebrate that uniqueness while sharing expertise, resources, and support across the Trust.
You will be joining us at an exciting time, as we work collaboratively with eleven schools from TPLT in North Somerset, with an aim to join to form Pathway Trust in the future.
We can offer you:
- Commitment to CPD and development of all staff including collaborative support and instructional coaching to allow employees to thrive
- Commitment to inclusivity and fostering of diversity
- Values and vision that are lived not laminated
- Open and honest culture
- Generous Local Government pension scheme
- Up to 30% discount with Microsoft & Dell
- Discounted gym membership
- Life Assurance - 3 x Death in Service
- Cycle to work scheme
- Dedicated counselling service
In order to apply for this role please complete an application form by 23.59, 22nd February. Interviews are due to take place on 3rd March. Please let us know if you require any adjustments as part of the process.
Please know that depending on the number of applications received we may decide to close the advert early. If you do not hear from us by a week after the closing date then please assume that you have not been shortlisted for an interview.
Join us in Providing a Great Education for Every Child
CSET is committed to equal opportunities and encourages applicants from all backgrounds and communities, as we recognise the importance and benefit this has for our pupils.
Further information about the job
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.
Applying for the job
This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Castle School Education Trust
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
Head office location
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