Our Trust Lead (CEO), Chiquita Henson, will be retiring on 31 December 2025 following a distinguished and impressive career in education.
Chiquita Henson was instrumental in establishing the Corinium Education Trust (CET) from its inception in 2018 with the three founding schools. Since 2018 the Trust has grown into an inclusive and ambitious family of six thriving and successful schools, all of which OFSTED has judged to be good.
Chiquita Henson joined Cirencester Deer Park School in 1989, where she progressed from Head of English to Assistant Head and then Deputy Head before being promoted to Headteacher in 2003, a post she held for 19 Years. Many young men and women in the Cirencester area fondly recall their time at school with Ms Henson at the helm!
Chiquita Henson has always had an outward-looking, innovative and collaborative approach to leadership and these values continue to underpin our Trust. Her openness to sharing with and learning from a wide variety of other educational institutions has been impressive. She is a very well respected and inspiring school and Trust leader in Gloucestershire and the South West.
The schools in our Trust have benefitted from Chiquita Henson’s positivity and optimism. She believes in creating brighter futures for children, young people and school staff. Our headteachers value her experience, commitment and wise advice and we know that they will be sorry to see her leave.
Chiquita Henson has always worked tirelessly to ensure the best experiences for our children, young people, their families and our school staff. For many years, Chiquita Henson chaired the Gloucestershire Initial Teacher Education Partnership, an outstanding training provider.
The CET Trust Board would like to thank Chiquita Henson for her long service, hard work and commitment to education. There will be opportunities to thank her for her on-going support of our schools and Trust in the coming four months.
The Trust Board is actively recruiting a new CEO. We are working on partnership with a consultant from ASCL. The vacancy is being advertised nationally and interviews are currently scheduled to take place on Tuesday 7 October and Wednesday 8 October 2025.
Our headteachers, staff and Chairs of Governors will be invited to be involved in the recruitment process in some part. We assure you that the Trust Board are seeking a candidate of the highest calibre to join our trust and take us all forward together.
Mark Lees
Chair of Trustees
September 2025
