CEO Welcome

Dear Visitor,

As we begin a new term, I want to extend a heartfelt welcome to everyone in our community. We hope these pages give you a real sense of our mission, our schools, and the people who bring them to life. We welcome visitors, so please feel free to contact the central team to arrange a visit to any of our schools to see first-hand the wonderful work of our staff and the fantastic achievements of our pupils. 

Over the years, the Trust has grown and matured. We have been entrusted with new responsibilities — from opening academies to sponsoring free schools, expanding hubs, and investing in school-building projects. 

The maturity of our Trust has been recognised and supported by our regulators. The DfE continues to entrust Beckmead with important new work across the southern coastal region. St George’s House, which opened in Brighton in 2024 as an extension of Ropemakers Academy in Hailsham, is now thriving — a testament to the dedication of our teams and the positive impact of our model of inclusive education.

We are also proud to be developing two new Free Schools in West Sussex, with plans progressing in the pre-opening phase. Elsewhere, our Essex hub continues to strengthen with construction underway at the permanent site for the Greenwell Academy, which will continue working alongside Moundwood Academy to deliver excellent outcomes for pupils in the area.

Across the Trust, our schools continue to excel in Ofsted inspections, where the Personal Development and Behaviour and Attitudes of our pupils are frequently recognised as Outstanding. These achievements reflect the hard work, care, and professionalism of our staff and the resilience and enthusiasm of our young people.

The Sir Geoff Hurst School in Chelmsford opened this year and includes three superb residential houses. We are delighted to see the school already making a difference in the local community. Meanwhile, work has begun on the London River Academy site in Barnes, with full opening expected in 2027.

As always, we remain deeply grateful to every individual who joins us in this journey. Our continued growth is made possible by the dedication of staff, the trust of families, the support of funders, and the enthusiasm of our pupils. Each of you plays a vital role in shaping the experiences, opportunities, and outcomes of the children and young people we serve. Together, we will continue to build on our shared values — Love, Social Justice, Community, and Flourishing for All — in everything we do.  

I look forward to the term ahead and to seeing the positive impact of our collective efforts across our schools.

Wishing every one of you a happy and successful 2025 to 2026 academic year.

Jonty

Dr Jonty Clark OBE 
CEO & Founder, The Beckmead Trust

Autumn 2025