Academies

Former MAT boss cleared of historic child sex offence allegations

The ex-'orphan school' trust boss found not guilty on all seven counts he faced, following a trial at Leeds Crown Court

The ex-'orphan school' trust boss found not guilty on all seven counts he faced, following a trial at Leeds Crown Court

The former boss of the government’s ‘orphan school’ academy trust has been found not guilty of historic child sex offences.

Gareth Mason, 54, was formerly director of education at Delta Academies Trust, and went on to be CEO at the government-backed Falcon Education Academies Trust, set up to take over schools no-one else wanted.

But he left the role and was later charged in 2023 with six counts of indecent assault and one count of attempting to commit an act of gross indecency.

The incidents were alleged to have taken place in Wakefield between 2001 and 2002 and related to a girl who was aged under 16 at the time.

Gareth Mason

Mason denied wrongdoing. Following a five-day trial at Leeds Crown Court this month, a jury found him not guilty on all seven charges. He was discharged.

Mason was chief executive of the Falcon Education Academies Trust until October 2020.

The specialist trust was set up as part of a pilot by the government in 2019 to take over schools no one wants (SNOWs) in northern England. It was later given the go-ahead to expand nationwide. But in 2023 the DfE announced the trust, which had taken on four schools, would be closing.

Prior to his time at Falcon, Mason had served as an executive principal and then director of education at Delta Academies Trust, one of the largest trusts in the country.

Latest education roles from

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Chief Education Officer (Deputy CEO)

Romero Catholic Academy Trust

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Director of Academy Finance and Operations

Ormiston Academies Trust

Principal & Chief Executive

Principal & Chief Executive

Truro & Penwith College

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

Group Director of Marketing, Communications & External Engagement

London & South East Education Group

Sponsored posts

Sponsored post

AI Safety: From DfE Guidance to Classroom Confidence

Darren Coxon, edtech consultant and AI education specialist, working with The National College, explores the DfE’s expectations for AI...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

How accurate spend information is helping schools identify savings

One the biggest issues schools face when it comes to saving money on everyday purchases is a lack of...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Building Character, Increasing Engagement and Growing Leaders: A Whole School Approach

Research increasingly shows that character education is just as important as academic achievement in shaping pupils’ long-term success. Studies...

SWAdvertorial
Sponsored post

Educators launch national AI framework to guide schools and colleges

More than 250 schools and colleges across the UK have already enrolled in AiEd Certified, a new certification framework...

SWAdvertorial

More from this theme

Academies

Pioneering free school censured over ‘inaccurate’ budget forecasts

Notice to improve issued to one of England's first free schools amid string of rule breaches

Jack Dyson
Academies

20 leaders appointed to DfE trust CEO advisory group

Bosses of United Learning, Lift Schools, Ark and Star academy trusts appointed to advise minister amid schools bill reforms

Freddie Whittaker
Academies

OGAT staff set to strike for 10 more days in July

Staff are on strike over plans to extend the teaching day by 30 minutes

Lydia Chantler-Hicks
Academies

Who are the CEOs batting for Labour’s schools bill?

Labour’s schools bill has been heavily criticised, but who are the CEOs who support the bill – and why?

Jack Dyson