Salary - Up to £85,000 | Full-Time
“Pupils flourish at this school. They are immensely proud of their school and its history. Pupils are consistently polite and respectful. Their conduct reflects leaders high standards. Pupils feel safe and happy at school. Teachers deal with any incidents of bullying swiftly and effectively.
Leaders have very high expectations of pupils academic achievement . Pupils experience an ambitious curriculum that is successfully designed to build a deep and secure body of knowledge over time They are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage in their education."
Ofsted 2022, The Blue Coat School.
“The school has created a warm and welcoming environment for pupils. Teachers get to know pupils well and they have high ambitions for their success.
From the very start of Year 7, the school instils clear expectations for pupils’ academic development. Teachers support pupils to build successfully on their prior knowledge."
Ofsted 2024, St. Anne's Church of England Academy.
We are excited to announce an opportunity for an exceptional finance professional with the right blend of skills, talents, experience, and values to become the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of The Cranmer Education Trust, based at The Blue Coat School, Oldham, Greater Manchester.
The Chief Financial Officer will join our small central senior leadership team. As a member of this team, the CFO plays an important part in setting the strategic direction of the trust, in addition to overseeing the operational leadership and management of all financial budgeting, reporting and payroll services.
The CFO will work closely with the Chief Executive Officer and the other members of the executive team. They will lead our financial strategy and management, with the responsibility to report directly to the Board of Trustees in line with the Academies Handbook. They will lead a small central team of qualified and experienced accountants and finance managers. They will work closely with the Director of Estates. Our estate is very mixed; including brand new schools, a PFI, 2 C19 foundations and everything in between. They will attend and present at Trust Board and subcommittee meetings, producing high-quality reports and updates. They will keep ahead of funding, compliance and legislative matters across the sector, providing robust longer-term strategy and planning that ensures the CEO and trustees are able to make informed decisions.
This post offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and enthusiastic professional to join our growing multi-academy trust. All the work of the CFO will be rooted in supporting all our schools to ensure the best outcomes for each and every pupil.
The deadline for applications is 10am on Monday 18th November 2024.
Shortlisting will be later during the week commencing 18th November.
Interview and selection will be the following week.
We would like the successful candidate to start as soon as possible, but we realise that notice periods can be variable, and we are prepared to discuss the best start date for the right candidate.
*Salary will be between £80,000 and £85,000 depending upon the successful candidate's experience and current remuneration.
**A Relocation bonus compliant with Inland Revenue guidelines is available if a house move is necessary for the successful candidate to take up the role.
"Pupils are happy at school. They develop strong friendships and enjoy spending time with each other. Pupils said that staff make learning fun and that they help them if they find anything difficult.
Pupils value the wide range of opportunities that the school provides for them. These include a variety of clubs and roles of responsibilities that help pupils to develop new skills and to build their self-confidence. For example, pupils learn how to work as part of a team through business challenges. Older pupils show younger pupils how to become a ‘Mayfield Marvel’."
Ofsted, Mayfield Primary School, 2024
“Pupils, parents and carers who spoke with inspectors are proud to belong to this welcoming school community. Pupils described the many opportunities that are available to them, such as clubs, taking on leadership roles and learning outdoors. They said that staff help them to get better at learning. Pupils said that if they uphold the school’s values and try their best, they can achieve anything."
Ofsted 2022, St John's VA Church of England Primary School, Thornham
“East Crompton St George’s primary school is a friendly and welcoming place. Pupils are happy, feel safe and enjoy coming to the school. They are proud of the family atmosphere. Pupils value the education they receive and talk with pride about how much they learn. The school’s mission statement is known by all. Pupils can explain how they are able to ‘let our lights shine’ in all aspects of their education. The school promotes pupils’ personal development well. Pupils enjoy the roles and responsibilities that they hold across the school. They understand the importance of showing love and helping others, in their school and the wider world. Pupils also speak about how much they enjoy the many clubs that are available after school."
Ofsted 2019, East Crompton St George's C of E School
The Cranmer Education Trust was founded in 2011 at The Blue Coat School in Oldham, Greater Manchester. The trust's mission is to be a leader of education and a provider of excellent schools which nurture children and young people and enable all to achieve, progress, and experience success, and to become good people, good neighbours and good citizens, who we are all proud to know.
We are at an exciting point in our development. From 1st April 2025, the trust will include five large secondary schools, one with a sixth-form of 440 recruiting from across the borough, five primaries (two of which are two-form entry), the Manchester Nexus SCITT (which trains 50-60 new teachers every year - both secondary and primary), the East Manchester Teaching School Hub (which runs the Early Career Framework and National Professional Qualifications provision for (predominantly) Oldham and Tameside) and the Kinder Modern Languages Hub, one of only 14 Languages Hubs in England. This means that by 1st April, we will be educating more than 8,000 young people, employing more than 900 staff, and we will have a revenue exceeding £80M, plus the capital investment in our schools. By 2029, we plan to have increased our family still further, to some 11,000 pupils.
In October 2024, The Cranmer Education Trust comprises the following seven schools:
The Blue Coat School, Oldham, a large secondary school with around 1700 on roll, the founder school of the Trust, joining in 2011.
St Anne's Church of England Academy, Middleton, with around 770 pupils, which joined the trust on1st March 2021.
The Brian Clarke Church of England Academy, Oldham, which opened to Year 7, with an eight-form entry, in September 2022 and is growing year-on-year up to GCSE.
Mayfield Primary, Oldham, with 379 pupils, who joined us on 1st January 2016.
Little Heaton Church of England Primary School, Middleton, with around 200 pupils, who joined us in May 2024.
East Crompton St George’s CE Primary School, Shaw, Oldham, with 160 pupils, who joined us in 2018.
St John's Church of England Primary School, Thornham, Middleton, which joined the trust on 1st April 2024 and is growing to become a one-form entry school from 4-11 with an extension being built at the site. There are presently just over 100 pupils on roll.
Education finance always presents both revenue and capital challenges. Our trust has a healthy resource of (currently) £2M+ and our budgets are balanced. However, there are financial pressures across the public sector. Our Chief Financial Officer will need to anticipate, strategize, plan and communicate in a way that is agile and resourceful. Communication at executive team level, with the strategic committee of headteachers, and with the trustees on the Audit, Risk and Finance Committees is essential. Ultimately, all the work of the CFO will be rooted in supporting our schools and ensuring the best outcomes for each and every pupil.
In the Financial Statements for the year ended 2023 (the latest currently published), trustees reported on a year of academic success, growth within the trust and secure finances - the majority of the trust's income comes from the ESFA (Education & Skills Funding Agency).
In the year ended 2023 (so not including the then two incoming Primary Schools), trust education operation income increased £2.78m, Teaching School income increased by £122k, the number of trainees in the SCITT fell in 22-23 in line with the national recruitment crisis in teaching but teaching school hub income increased. Total income from other sources excluding bursaries was £1,754k (2021-22: £1,636k), a £91k increase on the prior year. Income from other trading activities decreased slightly to £504k (2021-22: £534k).
The trust currently has a very healthy resource of (currently) £2M+ and our budgets are balanced.
To read our 2022-2023 Financial Statements, please CLICK HERE
To read our 2021-2022 Financial Statements please CLICK HERE
To read our 2020-2021 Financial Statements please CLICK HERE
Full details of of how to apply for the role and other documentation can be found in the Candidate Application Pack which you can download by CLICKING HERE.
The following steps and deadlines will ensure you make a great application, and submit it properly within the timescale required
If you get your application pack now, we'll keep you informed and remind you of the deadline.
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This is a fantastic opportunity for any qualified Finance Professional.
"The school has created a warm and welcoming environment for pupils. Teachers get to know pupils well and they have high ambitions for their success. From the very start of Year 7, the school instils clear expectations for pupils’ academic development. Teachers support pupils to build successfully on their prior knowledge."
Ofsted, St.Anne's Church of England Academy, 2024