{"id":230033,"date":"2025-05-21T14:10:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T13:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=230033"},"modified":"2026-02-17T12:35:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T12:35:38","slug":"large-trust-ceo-leaves-after-just-18-months","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/large-trust-ceo-leaves-after-just-18-months\/","title":{"rendered":"Large trust CEO leaves after just 18 months"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The boss of one of England\u2019s biggest multi-academy trusts has suddenly stepped down from his role \u2013 less than 18 months since he took the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An email sent to GLF Schools staff, seen by Schools Week, announced CEO Julian Drinkall has left the chain \u201ceffective immediately\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drinkall took over from Jon Chaloner<\/a> \u2013 who was in the position for 11 years \u2013 at the beginning of 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe would like to inform you that, by mutual agreement, Julian Drinkall will be stepping down from his role as chief executive officer of GLF Schools effective immediately,” the email read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We thank him for his hard work and contribution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief finance officer James Nicholson has been appointed CEO on an interim basis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With \u201c24 years\u2019 experience of senior leadership\u201d, he will ensure the trust \u201ccontinue[s] to build on the good systems and processes now in place to prioritise and support our schools\u201d, the trust said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GLF runs 43 academies, making it the 11th largest in England, according to latest government data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drinkall became GLF CEO last year following a brief spell as general manager at Aga Khan Schools, the educational arm of the Aga Khan Development Network which works to improve the welfare and prospects of people in the developing world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before that he ran Lift Schools, which was then known as Academies Enterprise Trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under Drinkall, GLF spent \u00a3240,000 on redundancy payments last year and also attracted attention for trialling an app that blocks “distracting” mobile phone use during school hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blackout apps and redundancies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this year, it was revealed GLF will trial a “blackout” app<\/a> at four of its academies that blocks certain content from pupils\u2019 phones during classes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It said the technology would prevent access “to distracting apps, including social media, games, and web browsers”, and “disable cameras and recording features”. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it will allow “essential functions”, like calls and messages, to remain accessible. However some parents have privacy concerns over the app<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Former CEO Jon Chaloner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Accounts show the trust spent \u00a3242,000 on redundancy payments in 2023-24, compared to \u00a336,000 the previous year. Staff numbers also dropped by 4 per cent from just over 2,700 to 2,631.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The trust told Schools Week <\/em>in January that it has \u201crestructured in order to increase efficiency and investment in education provision\u201d. This is why the changes \u201cpredominantly involved administrative staff\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe trust is in a good financial position, but the emphasis is on investing in education rather than maintaining a larger administrative structure,” it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GLF Schools boss stands down with ‘immediate effect’<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":311204,"featured_media":127886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[278],"post-theme":[2381],"class_list":["post-230033","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-mats","post-theme-academies"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t