GLF Schools appoints Warwick Sharp as new CEO

After an extensive recruitment process, involving Heads, students and the Trust Board, GLF Schools has appointed a new permanent CEO: Warwick Sharp. 

Warwick is currently the Director of Strategy and Delivery at the Department for Education, and was previously the Director of Academies and Maintained Schools at the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) from 2020 to 2023. Before that, he was Interim CEO for ESFA, and Principal Private Secretary to three Education Secretaries at the Department for Education. He has two decades of experience in education policy, delivering high-profile programmes in complex systems, training and development, feedback, and continuous improvement. Warwick started his career as a teacher in a secondary school and served as a governor of an education group.

We were impressed by Warwick’s clear alignment with our mission and values, as well as his record in leading complex organisations through strategic evolution. His strong leadership capabilities, combined with deep experience in organisational development, operational excellence, and long‑term strategic planning, will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen and grow GLF Schools, one of the largest Multi Academy Trusts in the country.

Warwick will officially join us in May. In the meantime, I wish to thank James Nicholson for his excellent stewardship as interim CEO over the past months. Under James’s guidance, GLF Schools has developed a clear strategy to improve outcomes and experiences for all pupils at GLF. Trustees intend that the current overall strategy of the Trust will continue under our new CEO. James also developed new opportunities for collaboration and dialogue across the organisation. 

I am delighted to confirm that James will be staying with us as CFO. I know James is looking forward to working with Warwick as the new CEO.

Ian Wilson

Chair of Trustees