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About BET

Bourne Education Trust (‘BET’) was established in 2011 and has grown steadily since then. It is largely Surrey based but has also expanded into Hampshire and Richmond. It is made up of 22 academies, 3 associate schools and one free school due to open in September 2024. Of its 26 schools, 14 are primaries, 9 are secondaries and, with the new free school, 3 are specialist schools. It is responsible for the education of approximately 12,500 pupils and employs just over 1,300 staff. The Trust is organised into both phases and clusters to support specialist and cross-phase collaboration.

Pupils working independentlyThe size of BET's schools range from a one-form entry primary to an 8-form entry secondary school with a sixth form. Schools are equally important and carry the same influence in terms of decision-making within the Trust. Each school has its own Head and Local Governing Committee. The Trust is led by a core team of Alex Russell, Chief Executive Officer ('CEO'), Kate Sanders and Rob Isaac, Joint Chief Operating Officers ('COO'), and Penny Alford, Chief Education Officer ('CEdO').

Since 2012 it has taken 9 schools from special measures or requiring improvement to good or outstanding. The rest have maintained their good status whilst in the Trust.  BET has transformed the finances in 12 of its schools so that no school in the Trust is in deficit.

BET’s values are summarised by our strapline: ‘Transforming schools; changing lives’. We absolutely believe that all children regardless of context or background deserve a great education, hence our involvement in schools and communities that have not always experienced this. Whilst we want our schools to retain their own identity, all BET schools share environments that are extremely warm and welcoming, professional, relentlessly positive, highly aspirational and characterised by happy and safe pupils with excellent relationships between them and the staff. In all classrooms and beyond pupils enjoy creative and effective teaching and learning that fosters belief and confidence.

Auriolbet 113Our philosophy is to have schools working as effectively as possible and serving their community. We err towards independence but never forget we are one organisation working together. Our schools welcome the support of the Trust and its collective ethos but relish their remit as local schools and the responsibility that brings. We are highly focussed on our work on equality, diversity and inclusion ('EDI') and environment, social and governance ('ESG') to ensure our organisation is highly sustainable and a driver for social justice. This permeates through our Trust-wide think tank, BET Futures, our CPD offer and our quality assurance approach.

If you would like further information about BET please contact Alex Russell, CEO (russella@bourne.education).

Meet our People

Mike Hayter
Dhrutika Bosamia
Alex Russell
Emma Hilling
Davina Brady

Mike Hayter

Director of Performing Arts

Dhrutika Bosamia

Head of Social Sciences

Alex Russell

CEO

Emma Hilling

Head of HR

Davina Brady

Learning Support Assistant
Mike Hayter

Mike Hayter

Director of Performing Arts
I joined Chertsey High School when it opened in 2017 and now have the opportunity to work across other schools in the cluster. I am proud to work with a group of motivated professionals across the Trust that are committed to changing the hearts and minds of young people in our schools.
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Dhrutika Bosamia

Dhrutika Bosamia

Head of Social Sciences
I joined Epsom and Ewell High school in 2019 as a newly qualified teacher. The school and the Trust have allowed me to continuously develop my skills and has provided me with amazing career developing opportunities.
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Alex Russell

Alex Russell

CEO
I have been a headteacher for 14 years and have spent the majority of my time in leadership first at Epsom and Ewell High School and then as CEO of the Bourne Education Trust, which it founded.
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Emma Hilling

Emma Hilling

Head of HR
I am excited to have taken on the role of Head of HR and start the next phase of my journey with Bourne Education Trust. Before this role I was Trust Business Manager and Business Manager at Sythwood Primary School but had also worked in a number of other administrative roles within the school since 2010.
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Davina Brady

Davina Brady

Learning Support Assistant
Since joining the Sayes Court Primary School team as a teaching assistant, I have been given the opportunity to work with our SEN pupils and have gained a wealth of knowledge in this area. I have developed many new skills, which includes training to become an ELSA, and as part of the SEN team I work with pupils to maximise their learning potential.offering additional support though speech and language, occupational therapy, sensory and emotional support.
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