The trust in charge of a Swindon college has appointed the person in charge of its educational efforts.

Rachel Cave has joined Activate Learning Education Trust, which manages UTC Swindon, as its chief education officer and will start the role in September following a thorough and rigorous selection process.

She will be responsible for the quality of education across the trust, aiming to ensure students receive a high-quality educational experience.

Rachel said: “I am thrilled to be joining ALET as CEdO from September.

“The trust values are wholly aligned with mine. I bring my passion for making a positive difference to young people’s life chances, my experience in leadership in varied schools and my total commitment to this role.

“Moving from working within one setting to supporting the leaders in other schools and making a wider difference has been fantastic in recent years for me and the change to doing this full time is an opportunity which I am seizing with relish.

“I am looking forward to working with the young people and communities of the schools within ALET at this exciting time for the trust.”

As deputy CEO, Rachel will also provide strategic leadership, including being pivotal in developing and delivering the vision, ethos and strategy.

The multi-academy trust says that Rachel has a proven track record with a wealth of experience and expertise in leadership and a deep commitment to educational excellence.

She will play a key role in shaping the direction of the trust, which is currently made-up of six schools – two comprehensive schools and four University Technical Colleges - and is run with the support of a number of industry and academic partners.

ALET CEO Joanne Harper said: “We are thrilled to welcome Rachel into our Trust.

“Rachel’s passion for education and approach to leadership will undoubtedly propel us to new heights. We are confident that under Rachel’s guidance, we will continue to provide the highest quality education to our students and communities.”

The new chief education officer and deputy CEO will join UTC Swindon at the start of the autumn term, moving from her current role as headteacher of Highdown School and Sixth Form in Reading.

Rachel Rachel has played a key part in the local school-to-school support structure and has worked with several schools to help them improve, is a former trustee of ALET, and held a similar director of education post at another multi-academy trust.