ACET Central Team
ACET’s Central Team plays a vital role in ensuring that all our academies operate effectively, sustainably and with a clear focus on educational excellence. Working closely with principals and academy leaders, the Team provides high‑quality professional support across both operational and strategic functions, enabling academies to concentrate on delivering exceptional teaching and securing strong outcomes for students.
Our centralised model brings together specialist expertise across Finance, Human Resources (People), IT, Estates, Governance, Data, Safeguarding, SEND and School Improvement. Through consistent systems, robust processes and a shared commitment to high standards, the Central Team reduces operational burden, strengthens compliance and ensures every academy benefits from a strong, efficient infrastructure.
All academies within the Trust receive a comprehensive central service offer. This includes full financial management support, expert HR advice and recruitment services, centralised procurement and contract management, coordinated estates leadership and Health and Safety compliance. Reliable IT systems, governance and risk oversight, safeguarding support and school improvement expertise provide a consistent and high‑quality framework across the Trust.
The impact of this model is significant. It reduces administrative demands on leaders, ensures full compliance with statutory requirements, and creates efficiencies through shared services and strategic procurement. Importantly, it provides access to specialist expertise that may not be available at individual academy level, helping ensure consistent standards and allowing Leaders to focus on improving teaching, learning and pupil outcomes.
Leadership and Structure
The Central Team is led by the Executive Leadership Team, comprising the Chief Executive Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Chief People Officer, Executive Principal for SEND and Inclusion and Primary Executive Principal. Strategic Directors are also employed across key functional areas including Quality of Education, Mathematics and Behaviour and Attendance. This structure ensures strong strategic alignment, clear accountability and effective delivery of services across all academies.
Our Core Functions
Finance
The Central Finance Team provides a full financial management service, including budgeting, planning, monitoring, forecasting and monthly reporting. The Team also oversees purchasing, invoicing, capital investment programmes and statutory returns, ensuring strong financial control and informed decision making across the Trust.
People
Our People Team offers expert support across all aspects of employment and workforce management – from employee relations and employment law advice to recruitment, onboarding, policy development and payroll. The Team works closely with leaders and staff to promote a positive, supportive working environment and ensure consistent, compliant HR practice.
Estates and Sustainability
Every academy benefits from on-site premises support, overseen by the Trust’s Estates and Sustainability Lead. This includes health and safety compliance, maintenance, capital projects, long-term estate planning and effective use of School Condition Allocation funding to ensure all sites are safe, secure and fit for purpose.
Governance, Risk and Compliance
The Director of Governance, Risk and Compliance provides Trust‑wide leadership to ensure strong governance arrangements, efficient administration and full regulatory compliance. This includes oversight of risk management, data protection and support for Members, Trustees and Local Governing Bodies.
School Improvement, SEND and Safeguarding
School improvement is delivered through a collaborative model, combining central expertise with the experience of high‑performing school leaders. This includes structured self‑evaluation, targeted challenge and support and the sharing of best practice. Alongside this, there is strategic oversight of SEND and robust safeguarding systems to ensure high-quality provision, strong culture and effective support for vulnerable learners.
IT Services
The IT Team provides secure, reliable and forward thinking digital infrastructure, supporting both educational delivery and operational effectiveness. This includes network management, cyber security, system development and responsive user support across all academies.