Chief Executive Officer

Hollingworth Learning Trust; Rochdale; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hollingworth Learning Trust in the United Kingdom is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to provide inspirational leadership across its growing family of academies. You will set the strategic direction, balance educational excellence with prudent financial management, and preserve the trust’s distinctive culture while expanding to more schools.

The role requires a track record of system leadership in education, strong governance experience, and a commitment to safeguarding and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership in education with system-level impact.
• Strong governance, change management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Set strategic direction and oversee overall performance of the trust.
• Lead financial stewardship and resource allocation across academies.
• Oversee governance, safeguarding, and stakeholder engagement.

Job description

Closing date for applications: 6 October 2026, 9.00am

Interview Date: 14 October 2026

Chief Executive Officer – Hollingworth Learning Trust

What if the best thing you could do for education was to stop doing things the way they have always been done?

Our Ethos: People First. Academies Second. Trust Third. We believe that great education starts with great people.

Our core philosophy is simple: providing the very best education in an environment that supports, values, and recognises our staff. We believe in earned autonomy, accountability that improves practice rather than creating bureaucracy, and a central team that exists solely to support our academies.

The Opportunity:

Over the next three years, we are growing from three academies towards eight—but expansion is not our ambition; better education is.

As CEO, you will:

• Create the conditions where our people do their best work.
• Balance strategic and financial discipline with genuine, empowering leadership.
• Guide our growth while preserving the unique identity and excellence of each school.

About You:

You are an accomplished educational leader defined by curiosity, courage, and sound judgment. You understand that organisational culture is what people experience every day, not just words in a handbook. You can see the broad strategic picture without losing sight of the individual child, bringing the wisdom to know when leadership means stepping forward—and when it means getting out of the way.

The future isn't written yet. Help us write it.

• Closing Date: 9:00am on Tuesday 6th October 2026

Hollingworth Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children; the successful
candidate will undergo an enhanced DBS check and pre-employment checks in line with Keeping Children Safe
in Education (including online searches for shortlisted candidates). We particularly welcome applicants from
under-represented groups across ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.