South East Surrey Schools Education Trust

Welcome from the chair

Having served as a Trustee since SESSET’s inception in November 2016 I was pleased to be appointed Chair in October 2021.

Drawing on the considerable expertise and wide experience of the board, the trust aims to enable and support the shared strategic objectives and collaborative working of our schools whilst valuing and promoting their individual identities and ethos.

The changing education environment and pandemic have been challenging, but our focus continues to be to support schools in providing opportunity and access to inclusive, quality education in safe, nurturing environments. Staff development and school improvement are always at the forefront of our thinking, thus enabling our schools and students to thrive.

From this site, you can access the schools’ websites for full information and find details about the trust’s responsibilities and governance arrangements.

If you need any further information, please email info@sesset.org.uk

Tim Poole

Chair, SESSET

Joint Statement from The Ashcombe, Therfield and Carrington Schools updated September 2021

South East Surrey Schools Education Trust (SESSET) was formed by the Governing Bodies of The Ashcombe School, Dorking, Therfield School, Leatherhead and Carrington School (formerly The Warwick School), Redhill, and became operational on 1 January 2017.

There was widespread support from parents, staff and other interested parties in the local communities that, in the light of the wider political educational situation, the three schools should be proactive in forming a partnership that enabled them to work together whilst maintaining their own identity and ethos. SESSET has been in operation for over four years now, and parents and young people have seen that vision turn into a reality.

The formation of our trust has been an exciting opportunity to further improve the life chances of our young people and support one another in a wider variety of ways and maintain our relationships with all those schools, colleges and other organisations with whom we have collaborated so positively in the past.  Developments such as the substantial building projects have been led by the schools with support from SESSET.

Our pride in the unique, individual ethos of each of our schools and our commitment to common values rooted in inclusivity and collaborative partnership are enhanced and strengthened through the formality of this powerful partnership.

Formal information

Therfield School, The Ashcombe School and Carrington School (formerly The Warwick School) have formed, and are part of, South East Surrey Schools Education Trust (SESSET), a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England and Wales with company number 10479401. The registered address is The Ashcombe School, Ashcombe Road, Dorking Surrey, RH4 1LY.