The Matthew Arnold School is one of the founding schools of the Bourne Education Trust (BET), a multi-academy trust led by Alex Russell, OBE. Whilst the school retains its unique character as a focal point of the community it serves, its ethos and core values are shared by all schools within the trust (currently 21, of which 8 are secondaries). 

Lessons at The Matthew Arnold School ensure that all students have the chance to experience a broad and in-depth curriculum, in all subject areas across the school. 

Our aim is to ensure we have successful learners who are equipped to thrive in life beyond school, who are aspirational and confident in the choices that they make.

People are what makes this school special. From the inquisitive, happy children who grow into confident, articulate young adults during their time here, to our talented, dedicated staff who teach, care for, and guide our students to ‘Dream Big, Work Hard and Achieve’.

Our philosophy is that education is all about learning to improve as well as developing character. We strive to ensure our students are challenging themselves, reaching outside their comfort zone and becoming prepared to go out into the world, ready to make a difference. Our students are therefore at the centre of everything we do. We expect them to work hard and to achieve their very best academically and we provide them with the skills and attributes relevant for higher and further education and employment in the 21st Century. We strive for academic excellence in every area of the curriculum and, through a rigorous process, set challenging, but ultimately achievable targets. Through high quality teaching, in brand new facilities, students demonstrate their thirst for learning. This, along with a personalised approach to education, is what makes this school a very happy and cohesive environment.

Our aim is not simply to help our young people to obtain the very best qualifications so that doors to the future remain wide open; it is also to produce rounded and grounded young adults who are ready and equipped to take their place in society. In short, we want to ensure that our students can make valid contributions to society and ultimately have a future they can be proud of. In upholding these principles, we ensure that we get the best out of every student whatever their talent may be.

Assal Ruse

Headteacher

If you're searching for your next education job, please get in touch. You'll be working for a great employer and be part of a friendly, helpful team. We're always interested to hear from enthusiastic, committed education professionals - send us your CV now via our Talent Pool and detail what sort of role you're looking for. By joining our Talent Pool we'll know you're interested in working here when the right vacancy comes up.

Our school is part of Bourne Education Trust (‘BET’) - a successful multi-academy trust made up of twenty two schools (plus a further three associate schools and a specialist free school due to open in September 2024), across primary, secondary and specialist school phases in Surrey, Hampshire and the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

Specialising in supporting schools to improve, BET continues to grow a community of high performing schools with the highest aspiration and dedication to achieving the best outcomes for their learners.

Led by Alex Russell, CEO, and supported by an executive team and board of directors, BET's 1300 staff currently educate over 12,500 pupils. Its main emphasis is on ensuring that each school is a great local provision for the community that it serves. By working together, the Trust ensures greater effectiveness, efficiency and capacity that results in as large a proportion of resources supporting frontline services as possible. The Trust prides itself on being one connected organisation working for the good of each other and the pupils that we serve.

We have an unblemished track record with Ofsted and each school inspected whilst in the Trust has either improved or maintained its grading. Everest Community Academy is our latest project. It has been in the Trust since September 2017 and it is rapidly improving and we are confident that it will achieve a 'Good' in its next inspection in 2020. In essence, this is a fast moving trust that offers lots of opportunities to its staff.

If you decide to join us you can expect to:

• Work in a high performing environment that is very professional and highly supportive;
• Receive well-planned induction and support on your arrival;
• Have a timetable that will give you additional planning, preparation and administrative time;
• Have access to high quality shared resources;
• Receive support in achieving your qualified teacher status in the UK if you have come from abroad;
• Work with our teaching school partner to successfully navigate your NQT status;
• Get the support from our professional tutors if you want / need;
• Have regular line management meetings to support your professional development;
• Participate in staff training either as a teacher of facilitator (depending on your level expertise);
• Be eligible, in time, for our secondment policy that allows our highest performing staff to move between our schools in new roles;
• Develop your teaching pedagogy alongside some of the best practitioners;
• Have your own classroom and departmental office;
• Have opportunities for promotion if you perform strongly
• Work in a vibrant team that is committed to excellence and enabling young people to achieve their best.