Get Further’s founding CEO, Sarah Waite, will shortly be stepping down from her role to accept a position as Special Advisor to Lucy Powell MP, the new Secretary of State for Education.
Sarah set up Get Further, a national charity supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in further education, in 2018 after being awarded Teach First’s Innovation Award – a nationwide competition for transformative ideas to tackle educational inequality. Drawing on her background in maths teaching, and education and social mobility policy, she has led the organisation in providing around 8,000 young people across England with additional support in English and maths, helping them to open up further opportunities in education, work and life.
Michele Sutton, Chair of Get Further’s Board of Trustees, said that, “We are all incredibly sad to see Sarah leave but we are very proud that she has been selected for this role. With her talents in incisive analysis and strategic insight we know that she will make a significant contribution to ensuring all young people, and particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, are well supported throughout their educational journeys.”
Sarah Waite said, “It is hard to put into words how much of a wrench it is to leave Get Further. But I know that this is a unique opportunity to use my passion for our mission, further education and everything I have learned over the past eight years from working with students from disadvantaged backgrounds to play my part in supporting the government’s ambitious plans for education.
With the support of colleges and funders, the team at Get Further have built something brilliant. I know they will keep on building and learning so that every young person that the charity supports overcomes barriers and realises their potential. I will always believe in the importance of this work – and will be cheering from the side lines.”
Get Further’s Deputy CEO, Alice Eardley, will act as Interim CEO while the Board confirms next steps for appointing Sarah’s successor. Alice was interim CEO during Sarah’s maternity leave last year, combining her leadership skills and policy acumen with her deep understanding of frontline delivery, which she developed as an English teacher in a further education college. She will ensure there is stability so that the charity can continue with all the excellent plans and exciting opportunities on the horizon.