New CEO appointed to lead Anthem into next chapter

David will be joining the trust at a pivotal time, as we refine our strategic direction and continue to focus on securing high-quality educational outcomes for all pupils.

David will join Anthem from Lift Schools and brings significant experience and expertise from across the education sector. He has held executive leadership roles in two large academy trusts over the past 13 years - Lift Schools and E-ACT - including Director of Education, National Director of Secondary Schools, and Director of Standards and Inclusion.

Earlier in his career, David served in senior roles at Pearson PLC, where he led large-scale national and international assessment contracts. He started his career as a teacher and school leader in the East End of London.

David is an experienced Ofsted inspector and co-author of a number of educational textbooks. He is also a trustee of Parentkind, a charity that champions parents, and the English-Speaking Union, where he chairs the education committee.

Jay Bhutani, chair of trustees at Anthem Schools Trust, said: “We are delighted to welcome David to Anthem. His leadership experience, deep understanding of school improvement, and his unwavering commitment to inclusive and values-led education made him the ideal choice.

“David joins us at an important moment, both for us as a trust and the education sector more widely. With a renewed strategic focus across our family of schools, he will be dedicated to improving outcomes for our 8,500+ students and ensuring the wellbeing of our incredible staff.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our staff and leaders for their continued hard work and commitment and to say how much we are looking forward to working with David as we embark on this new chapter for Anthem.”

David Hatchett, CEO designate, said:

“I’m excited and honoured to be joining the team at Anthem and supporting school leaders and teachers to provide an excellent all-round educational experience for every pupil.

“It’s clear that Anthem has enormous potential. The recent improvements in both primary and secondary achievement provide a strong foundation from which to build, thanks to the commitment and hard work of staff across the trust.

“I’m very much looking forward to working closely with colleagues across the trust, to build on the successes to date and to deliver on our shared vision of creating ambitious and successful schools in which every child can thrive.”

David Hatchett will take up appointment as Chief Executive in October 2025.