South East Surrey Schools Education Trust

Welcome from the chair

Having been involved with the Trust since its inception in 2017, first as a member, and since 2020 as a trustee, I was delighted to be appointed chair of the Trustee Board in October 2024.

Drawing on the expertise and wide-ranging experience of our trustees, governors and leadership team, the Trust aims to bring to life our shared strategic objectives and support the collaborative working of our schools, whilst valuing and promoting their individual identities.

The education environment and economic climate in which we operate have their challenges, but we all continue to focus on providing opportunity and access to inclusive, high-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 individual schools’ websites for full information and find details about the Trust’s responsibilities and governance arrangements.

For further information, please email info@sesset.org.uk 

Andrew Potterton

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.