every school has a story,

this is how we help schools write theirs

Joining a trust is a big decision, and it shouldn't mean losing what makes your school yours.

At Charter, we've spent the last five years working out exactly what's better done together and what's better left with you, and we keep reviewing that balance every year rather than assuming we got it right once and moving on.

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We now work with nine schools across Southwark and Lambeth, educating over 5,000 children and young people. Every one of our schools is rated good or outstanding, and in 2024 six of them received letters from the Secretary of State recognising performance in the top 25% of schools nationally, including for disadvantaged pupils. None of that happened by accident, and none of it happened by making every school the same.

Our NetworkOur Impact
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A diverse group of people attentively listening at a conference or seminar, with a focus on a woman with short blonde hair wearing a black top.
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Two young women sitting side by side at a desk with computers, smiling and working together in a bright office space with framed pictures in the background.
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A Charter for Excellence

How we decide what's done in school and what we can offer to support

We use four simple tests to work out where a decision should sit, and we're open about the thinking behind each one. We review these decisions every year, together, in the light of what's actually working.

Two women sitting at a white table in a bright classroom, engaged in conversation over an open book about The Reans Award, with colorful children's artwork and bookshelves in the background.

We centralise

what's complex, high-risk or better done once, things like finance, HR, legal and IT, because it's more cost-effective, avoids duplication and frees our leaders to focus on education.

Get Involved
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We standardise

where consistency improves equity and reduces workload, things like safeguarding policy or assessment principles, so every school leader has the same starting point and a common language to evaluate progress.

Explore Our Projects
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We align

where there's a shared goal but local expression matters, we believe our schools benefit from our collective practice while adapting it to their own context.

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Teacher leaning on desk engaging with two students in a classroom with educational posters on wall behind.

We protect autonomy

where context matters most, above all your curriculum, because schools are best placed to respond to the needs of their own community, and we want our leaders to feel genuine ownership of their work.

Read Now
Read our Charter for Excellence

Here's some of what our schools get

Central Finance Team

A dedicated finance team led by our CFO, with a named Business Partner for every school. We handle budget setting, monthly monitoring, procurement and invoicing, so your leaders spend less time on spreadsheets and more time on education.

Central HR & People

Schools are grouped into HR clusters, each with a dedicated Business Partner, HR Officer and Administrator. We support recruitment, casework, payroll, pensions, appraisal and policy, and we're a DfE Flexible Working Ambassador school, actively trialling practical ways to support staff.

Governance & Compliance

A standardised governance cycle, agendas and papers, plus centralised clerking, internal audit and induction, so your governors get consistent support from day one. Every school has access to GovernorHub and The Key, and we're members of the Confederation of School Trusts.

Legal, Data Protection & Insurance

Professional services most single schools couldn't access alone: a legal retainer with Stone King for routine queries, Judicium as your Data Protection Officer, and Department for Education backed insurance through the Risk Protection Arrangement.

IT

Centralised IT support and an aligned digital strategy, so no school is left managing systems, software or security on its own.

Estates Management

A dedicated Estates Lead who visits every school, plans short and long term maintenance, and delivers capital projects against a shared Impact Matrix, not guesswork.

Digital, Branding & Design

A dedicated Estates Lead who visits every school, plans short and long term maintenance, and delivers capital projects against a shared Impact Matrix, not guesswork.

School Improvement

Built on three pillars: leadership coaching and structured review cycles, purposeful collaboration through subject networks and peer review, and high-quality, evidence-informed development for teachers at every stage. Where a school needs more intensive support, we design a bespoke plan on top of this, not instead of it.

Training & Development

Through our London South Teaching School Hub, Research School and Early Years Stronger Practice Hub, your staff get evidence-informed CPD, Initial Teacher Training, Early Career Framework support and National Professional Qualifications, connected directly to classroom practice.

Safeguarding

Standardised, statutory-compliant policy and training, reviewed annually, with a Trust DSL, deputy DSLs and a named lead in every school, all meeting regularly to share practice and keep pace with change.

SEND

A trust-wide strategy led by a central SEND Lead, working alongside every school's SENDCo through a dedicated network. We've opened our first formal specialist SEND provision, alongside informal specialist support already in place across our primary schools.

Behaviour & Attendance

Trust-wide principles, shaped by evidence and strengthened by our role as a DfE Behaviour Hub, with each school applying them in the way that fits its own community best.

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considering the

next step for
your school?

Start a conversation with us
Where to find us
The Charter Schools Educational Trust
Red Post Hill, London SE24 9JH
Get in touch
info@tcset.org.uk020 7346 6600
The Charter Schools Educational Trust is a company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales.
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