Supporting system leadership: rationale, practice, and impact: CEO programme

Project overview

The School Trust CEO Programme (STCEO), delivered by the National Institute of Teaching and funded by the Department for Education, is designed to prepare and develop the next generation of CEOs for Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs). CEOs of MATs play a critical role in leading systemic improvement, supporting schools, and serving their communities. Their leadership impacts every aspect of the trust’s operations; from teaching quality and pupil outcomes to financial sustainability and community engagement. However, despite the significance of this role, there is a notable lack of published research on how to effectively prepare and develop MAT CEOs, particularly for the complex, multi-layered challenges they face.

To address this, the STCEO programme provides a structured, 12-month professional development offer combining self-study, executive coaching, tailored immersion experiences, and peer networking opportunities. This programme is underpinned by the Department for Education’s content framework for MAT CEOs, which identifies six domains of knowledge and behaviours essential for trust leadership, including strategic governance, workforce development, and public benefit. The STCEO programme reflects a commitment to equipping leaders with the tools, knowledge, and networks they need to thrive, while also tackling broader issues around equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in system leadership.

To complement the programme and ensure its effectiveness, NIoT is conducting a three-part research project to generate evidence that is actionable, meaningful, and sector-focused. This research seeks to fill critical knowledge gaps and provide insights that can inform future leadership development initiatives.

The research project has three main strands, each addressing a key priority:

Understanding success in MAT CEO leadership: This strand explores how aspiring and current MAT CEOs define ‘success’ in their roles. By identifying the skills, behaviours, and strategies that CEOs view as essential, this research aims to develop a clearer picture of what effective leadership looks like in a MAT context and how it aligns with the programme’s objectives.

Promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI): Given the persistent lack of diversity in MAT leadership, particularly among racially minoritised individuals, women, and leaders of SEND or alternative provision (AP) trusts—this strand focuses on understanding the barriers faced by underrepresented groups. It aims to uncover challenges, identify lived experiences, and devise strategies to increase representation and promote inclusive leadership practices.

Evaluating programme effectiveness and impact: The third strand evaluates the STCEO programme’s design, delivery, and overall impact. This includes assessing which aspects of the programme (e.g., coaching, immersions, conferences) worked well, what could be improved, and why. It also examines the programme’s influence on Fellows’ professional development, their MATs’ performance, and the broader education system.

By integrating research with practice, this project ensures the STCEO programme remains evidence-led, relevant, and impactful. The findings will help shape future professional development for MAT CEOs, strengthen the leadership pipeline and ultimately improve educational outcomes, particularly for schools serving disadvantaged communities.

Protocols

Protocols for the first two research strands are available below and the third will be published in 2025.

Project Team

• Dr Calum Davey, Executive Director of Research, NIoT
• Dr Qian Liu, Research Fellow, NIoT
• Kamal Bodhanker, Head of System Leadership Faculty, NIoT
• Dr Ellen Turner, Head of Evaluation and Observational Research, NIoT
• Dr Gillian Keightley, Research Assistant, NIoT
• Alexandra Bates, Research Assistant, NIoT

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