Regional Trust Lead

Regional Trust Lead | Sancta Familia Catholic Academy Trust

Sancta Familia Catholic Academy Trust is a growing, high-performing family of 7 Catholic schools (6 primaries and 1 secondary) serving over 3,500 pupils across Merton, Croydon, Sutton and Lambeth. Our results are consistently and significantly above national averages, and by 2030-31 we have set ourselves an ambitious goal to be internationally renowned for excellence in faith formation, service, development of talents, and academic progress.

We are now seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Regional Trust Lead.

About the Role

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will provide strategic oversight and professional challenge across our primary schools, working in close partnership with Headteachers to:

• Drive school improvement and embed coherent approaches to curriculum, assessment, and professional practice

• Coach and mentor Headteachers and senior leaders, supporting leadership effectiveness and growth

• Champion high standards in teaching and learning, including early reading, inclusion, and Catholic Social Teaching

• Promote a strong safeguarding culture and champion equitable provision for SEND, EAL, and disadvantaged pupils

• Contribute to Trust-wide quality assurance, self-evaluation, and risk management

• Develop relationships with Diocesan Education Services, local authorities, and Catholic professional networks

• Represent the Trust in regional, diocesan, and national forums

This role does not replace the statutory responsibilities of individual Headteachers — it provides oversight, professional challenge, and the support needed to secure excellence for every child.

About You

We are looking for candidates who understand what exceptional looks like and have helped their school to deliver an exceptional level of education. Ideally, though not essential, the candidate will have held substantive headteacher-level leadership responsibility across a range of schools. This may include experience as an Executive Headteacher, a Headteacher leading across a federation or trust, or equivalent senior leadership in a multi-school or multi-academy context. The Trust is committed to assessing candidates on the substance of their experience, not solely on the title they have held.

This role requires demonstrable experience of leading school improvement at executive levelacross more than one school simultaneously or leading one school to an exceptional level.

Candidates who have not yet held whole-school leadership responsibility, are unlikely to demonstrate the breadth of experience required for this role. The panel will assess evidence of impact across multiple school contexts as the defining criterion for shortlisting.

• Substantive headteacher-level leadership experience across more than one school

• A proven track record of leading school improvement at scale or experience of executive leadership within a Trust, federation, or multi-school structure

• Strong knowledge of the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework

• The ability to influence, challenge, and support leaders beyond a single school

• Practising Catholic, able to demonstrate a clear commitment to the ethos, mission and values of Catholic education.

Salary & Basis

The role is available either part-time (2 days per week, term-time only — 0.30 FTE, £30,120–£35,610 p.a.) or full-time (5 days, 52 weeks — £100,400–£118,700 p.a.). Part-time salaries are calculated as a pro-rata recharge against the full-time equivalent, based on hours and weeks worked.

Start Date:1st September 2026

Closing Date:23:59, Monday 8th June 2026

To apply, please submit your application to Nichole Burley-Burton, Head of HR and Culture: n.burley-burton@sanctafamilia.co.uk

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from all sections of the community. We value diversity and celebrate difference