Welcome

I would like to offer my warm welcome to The SABDEN Multi-Academy Trust. We are a growing Trust of Special Schools and Alternative Provisions, offering specialist provision and outstanding educational opportunities for our pupils.

I am delighted to have been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Trust from September 2021, following our highly esteemed outgoing CEO Mr Frank Stanford. After 15 years working across SABDEN schools and with a previous business background, I am keen to sustainably develop the Trust and ensure we are offering the highest possible quality education for our pupils.

Many of our pupils have experienced difficulties in their previous educational placements; demonstrate challenging behaviour and have social, emotional, mental health (SEMH) difficulties.  We continually strive to create a warm, caring, stable and supportive environment in which all staff and pupils feel safe; and which allows all pupils to reach their full potential.

The founding schools within the Trust have worked closely together since 2007 with a mission to raise the educational standards and improve the life chances of all pupils.  The schools formally converted to academy status in September 2015 creating ‘The SABDEN Multi Academy Trust’. The Workplace Alternative Provision Free School opened in September 2020. We are due to open a new SEMH Free School on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent  in September 2024 which will enable our expertise to be shared across the wider South East region.

Each school within the Trust is as equally important, following the best practice of The SABDEN way whilst providing individual specialisms and initiatives. Our schools engage collaboratively in a supportive network of school to school evaluation and challenge to ensure we are offering the very best standards of education and innovative provision for our valued pupils.

I look forward to leading the next phase of development for the Trust and welcome you to our Trust website which I hope you will find informative. If you have any questions or queries please do not hesitate to contact the Trust using the ‘contact us’ page.

Jo Foulkes

Chief Executive Officer