Who are BET

Bourne Education Trust ('BET') was established in 2011 and today brings together a wide range of primary, secondary, specialist and alternative provision academies, and associate schools across Hampshire, London and Surrey. 

Our work is guided by a clear purpose: transforming schools, changing lives. We firmly believe that every child deserves a great education, and our breadth across the sector reflects that commitment.

As the world changes rapidly, particularly with the expansion of AI and digital technologies, we recognise our responsibility to prepare pupils for the workplaces, opportunities and challenges of the 2030s. This means equipping them with strong academic foundations alongside digital fluency, ethical awareness, creativity and adaptability. These priorities shape our curriculum thinking, our professional development and the way we help schools plan for the future.

To make the most of our collective expertise, our schools work in phases and clusters that support both specialist practice and cross-phase collaboration. Our settings vary widely - from small primaries to large secondary schools with sixth forms - but each plays an equal part in shaping the direction of the Trust.

Led by a core team of Alex Russell, Chief Executive Officer, Penny Alford, Deputy CEO and a team of Directors, BET has a strong record of strengthening school performance - improving the quality of education, building leadership capacity and ensuring financial sustainability. Our work is rooted in a clear aim: schools should serve their communities well, while benefiting from the collective strength and shared purpose that comes from being part of a larger organisation.

Our schools retain their individual identities while sharing a culture that is welcoming, professional and ambitious. Pupils feel safe and known, and they benefit from teaching that encourages curiosity, confidence and clear thinking.

We take our responsibilities to young people and our communities seriously. This commitment sits at the heart of our work, shaping our future as a sustainable organisation focused on fairness and opportunity.

To read more about our organisational values and priorities please visit the other pages within this section.