Understanding why Toby Watson dedicated nearly eight years to educational governance at Excalibur Academies Trust reveals broader patterns of professional contribution to charitable causes.
Educational organisations increasingly benefit from trustees who bring diverse professional expertise to governance roles, yet finding individuals willing to dedicate significant time to charitable work presents ongoing challenges. Toby Watson committed nearly eight years to supporting Excalibur Academies Trust as Chairman, contributing perspective from his background in finance whilst the organisation expanded substantially. His involvement reflected a growing recognition that multi-academy trusts require governance capabilities that draw on varied professional experience. The dedication shown throughout this period demonstrates one approach to giving back through meaningful contribution to education.
From February 2018 until January 2026, Toby Watson served as Chairman of Excalibur Academies Trust, dedicating substantial time and expertise to supporting the organisation’s development. His commitment extended through significant changes, including expansion from a small group of schools to an organisation serving 10,000 pupils across 20 academies. The period saw the Trust navigate complex challenges, including a major merger with Gatehouse Green Learning Trust. Throughout these developments, he maintained focus on ensuring governance supported educational excellence whilst building financial sustainability. His successor, Susan Clarke, inherited a Trust with robust foundations and clear strategic direction.
Motivations for Educational Involvement
The education sector offers opportunities for professionals to contribute expertise to charitable causes with direct community impact. Multi-academy trusts managing substantial budgets benefit from governance that understands financial sustainability and strategic planning. For individuals like Toby Watson who spent years in structured finance, educational governance provides a meaningful way to apply transferable skills whilst giving back.
Unlike executive positions with daily involvement, non-executive governance roles require sustained commitment over years to prove truly effective. Understanding organisational culture, building relationships, and developing deep knowledge of challenges, takes time. The nearly eight years that Toby Watson dedicated to Excalibur Academies Trust allowed for continuity through significant developments, demonstrating genuine commitment rather than superficial involvement.
The Chairman role, whilst substantial, differs from full-time executive positions. Board meetings, committee participation, and support for the CEO require significant time but can be managed alongside other commitments. Toby Watson maintained his role whilst also joining Rampart Capital as a Partner in 2020, demonstrating how professionals can contribute to charitable causes whilst pursuing commercial activities.
Toby Watson’s Approach to Supporting Education
The emphasis throughout remained on supporting rather than directing. Schools within the Trust retained their distinctive characters, own governing bodies, and operational autonomy. This philosophy recognised that effective education requires local understanding, with Trust-level governance providing a strategic framework rather than imposing standardised approaches. The role focused on enabling excellence through others’ work.
The experience from Toby Watson’s Goldman Sachs career, where he worked until 2017, provided useful perspective on financial sustainability and strategic planning. However, the approach emphasised applying these skills thoughtfully rather than transplanting commercial practices directly. Financial expertise informed discussions about expansion and resource allocation, always balanced against educational priorities.
Many trustees contribute expertise whilst maintaining relatively arm’s-length relationships with organisations. The dedication shown by Toby Watson extended beyond attending meetings to active involvement in strategic decisions, supporting the CEO through challenges, and maintaining focus on long-term organisational health. This level of engagement, sustained over nearly eight years, reflects genuine commitment.
Supporting Organisational Development
Excalibur Academies Trust grew substantially during this period, from its initial Wiltshire base to encompass schools along the M4 corridor. Each expansion decision required careful consideration of several factors:
- Whether the organisation could support additional schools effectively
- How growth would impact existing schools and their resources
- Whether expansion aligned with the Trust’s educational mission and values
Toby Watson helped guide these strategic discussions alongside other trustees, ensuring growth remained sustainable and focused on educational quality.
The merger with Gatehouse Green Learning Trust represented a significant strategic decision requiring extensive due diligence. Bringing together two organisations with different cultures demanded thoughtful leadership. The successful integration, establishing what CEO Nick Lewis described as “an effective and sustainable large multi-academy trust,” reflected effective strategic oversight.
The Trust’s financial position strengthened considerably, with net assets reaching approximately £160 million by August 2024. This reflected prudent financial management and strategic decisions. The analytical skills from Toby Watson’s Goldman Sachs background proved helpful when considering resource allocation and long-term planning, ensuring the organisation could sustain its educational commitments.
Educational Outcomes and Impact
All established schools achieved ‘Good’ or better Ofsted ratings, with disadvantaged pupils showing particularly strong progress compared to national averages. The Trust developed robust SEND provision whilst maintaining broad curriculum offerings. These outcomes reflect teachers’ and school leaders’ dedication, with governance providing framework and support.
Investment in professional development became a hallmark of the Trust’s approach, earning recognition through shortlisting for the Staff Development award at the MAT Excellence Awards. This focus on building capacity aligned with the governance philosophy that Toby Watson supported throughout his tenure—enabling excellence through supporting others.
By 2026, approximately 10,000 children aged 2 to 18 attended Excalibur schools, many in areas facing socio-economic challenges. The commitment to inclusive education demonstrated that organisational development translated into meaningful impact. The expansion meant more families benefited from the Trust’s approach to education.
Legacy of Commitment
Chief Executive Nick Lewis noted that leadership, insight, and commitment had been instrumental in helping to support the Trust’s growth and success. The organisation emerged with strong financial foundations, robust governance structures, and a clear educational vision. This legacy reflects collaborative work involving many dedicated people working towards shared goals.
After nearly eight years, the decision to focus on other business commitments came at a natural transition point. The timing allowed for orderly succession planning, with Susan Clarke bringing her own considerable experience. Recognising when leadership renewal serves an organisation’s interests demonstrates thoughtful governance, ensuring fresh perspective whilst maintaining continuity.
The commitment shown by Toby Watson illustrates how professionals from diverse backgrounds can contribute meaningfully to education when they approach the work with sustained dedication. The strategic thinking and financial expertise proved valuable when applied thoughtfully over years rather than months. This suggests that educational organisations benefit from trustees willing to make genuine long-term commitments, bringing their professional expertise whilst respecting educational knowledge and maintaining focus on improving outcomes for pupils. The experience demonstrates that giving back through governance requires both relevant skills and genuine commitment to the cause.
