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The Goldfinch Trust is a new multi-academy trust with a distinctive and vital mission: to deliver exceptional education for some of the country’s most vulnerable and medically complex children and young people. The trust will formally launch in September 2025, initially comprising two highly specialist settings: Maudsley & Bethlem Hospital School (MBHS) and St Peter’s Centre, with strong collaboration already in place with a third school, Kings College Hospital School (KCHS), which is expected to join formally in due course.

The Trust's website is currently being designed and prepared for launch, you can view the websites for the trust's individual schools below:
MBHS - https://www.maudsley-bethlemhospital.southwark.sch.uk/
St Peter's Centre - https://www.stpeterscentre.co.uk/

MBHS supports children aged 4–19, predominantly of secondary age, many of whom are hospital inpatients receiving treatment for severe psychiatric conditions. The school’s model is designed for short to medium term placements, with a key goal of reintegration into mainstream or alternative education once pupils are well enough to transition. The school currently supports up to 64 pupils, with a truly national intake reflecting the specialist nature of its provision. St Peter’s Centre provides a more community-based education offer, supporting around 32 pupils with complex social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) needs, including autism, anxiety, depression, and school-based trauma. The school supports KS1–4, although current placements are all in the secondary phase. A flexible, part-time attendance model allows the centre to double its reach and offer individualised support. Kings College Hospital School (KCHS), working under a service-level agreement with MBHS, delivers bedside and on-site education for children with serious medical needs, including cancer and other life-limiting conditions. While not yet a formal trust member, KCHS is fully aligned with the trust’s mission and is expected to transfer formally following due diligence.

The trust’s strategic direction is rooted in partnership with the NHS and regional local authorities, offering a model of educational support that could influence national best practice. The trust will also relocate MBHS into a purpose-built setting at the hospital’s new development in 2026, offering state-of-the-art facilities designed in collaboration with school leaders. While future expansion is not mapped, the trust has hosted visits from other hospital and special schools exploring academisation, and organic growth is a realistic possibility over the next few years. A formal growth strategy is yet to be defined, providing incoming trustees with a unique opportunity to shape the trust’s long-term development.

The new Board of Trustees will replace the current interim shadow board and will initially comprise seven non-executive directors, with scope to grow to 11 as needed. Local governance arrangements will remain in place at the school level, helping to ensure that trustee responsibilities are strategically focused.

The trust will open with an annual income of approximately £3 million, rising with expansion, and enters its incorporation phase with comfortable reserves and prudent financial oversight. The CEO-designate (currently Headteacher at MBHS) is a respected leader in the sector, advising the DfE on hospital school operations and funding, and will work closely with the new board to shape the trust’s systems, culture, and impact.

The Goldfinch Trust seeks dedicated and skilled trustees to form its inaugural Board. This is a rare opportunity to help establish a new trust from the ground up - setting its vision, guiding strategy, and developing systems to support the education of children and young people with serious medical and mental health conditions. While the board will be supported by a team with expertise in finance, law, and HR, the trust is particularly keen to hear from candidates with executive leadership experience in areas such as education, healthcare commissioning or procurement, charity governance, or growing organisations. Skills and backgrounds of interest include: Educationalist, strategic growth, Healthcare commissioning or procurement, Safeguarding, SEND, Estates management/Health & Safety, Digital strategy Finance, and Audit.

Trustees will play a vital role in supporting and challenging the executive leadership team, ensuring high-quality provision and the effective use of public funds. A deep commitment to the trust’s mission, supporting some of the country’s most vulnerable learners, is essential.

The full Trust Board will meet once per term (three times a year). In addition, trustees will join one of two committees: Finance or Education Provision, which will also meet termly (three times a year). There are plans for an annual strategy conference, likely to run over an extended half-day or full day. Meetings are expected to be scheduled in the early evening (5:00–6:30pm starts) and last up to two hours. The precise meeting calendar is yet to be confirmed, but trustees should expect a blend of face-to-face, online, and hybrid meetings. Some physical attendance will be required, so candidates should live within a reasonable commute of Beckenham (BR3 3BX) or Camberwell (SE5 8AB).

Trustees will be supported by a professional governance team, including external consultants currently advising on the trust’s establishment. This is a unique opportunity to shape a new trust that will provide life-changing support for young people with critical medical and psychiatric needs. By joining The Goldfinch Trust’s founding board, trustees will not only help to define the strategic vision of the trust, but also contribute to a pioneering model of integrated education and healthcare that could influence policy and practice across the country.

Establishment Information

Address: Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham Kent, BR3 3BX
Type of establishment: Multi-academy trust
Usual start time of meeting: Trust Board x 3 meetings per year Finance Committee x 3 meetings per year Education Committee x 3 meetings per year

What does the role include?

As a trustee/director your key responsibilities are to ensure clarity of vision, ethos, and strategic direction; to hold executive leaders to account – both for the educational performance of the organisation and its pupils and the effective and efficient performance management of staff; and to oversee the organisation’s financial performance to ensure its funds are directed to the best possible educational outcomes for young people. By volunteering as a trustee/director you will be responsible for contributing to the strategic decision-making of the board, helping the trust to realise immediate and long-term goals, and ultimately ensuring transparency, accountability, and challenge.

What are the benefits?

Volunteering on an academy trust board is a meaningful way to shape young people’s futures and strengthen education in your community. Trustees play a vital role in setting strategic direction and holding executive leaders to account — ensuring schools deliver the best outcomes. Alongside making a tangible impact, you’ll gain valuable experience in senior-level decision-making. This is a great opportunity to support your career development, build a non-executive portfolio, and give back to education.

Further information:

The following webpage also provide useful information and reading to any potential trustee: https://governorsforschools.org.uk/trs/resources-for-academy-trustees/ If you have any questions before applying, please contact our Trustee Recruitment Team on [email protected]