The prominent chief executive of a 26-school academy chain has stepped down after a decade at the helm, with his influential deputy named his temporary replacement. Stuart Gardner has left the role at the top of Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT) following a change in personal circumstances that left him unable to do the “extensive travel” needed for the job. His deputy, Lee Miller, has been installed as interim chief while the trust conducts its recruitment process. Miller is also the temporary boss of the troubled Arthur Terry Learning Partnership, which is due to hand over its academies to alternative trusts after racking up an £8.4 million deficit. Speaking to Schools Week, Gardner said: “It is the first time in about 30 years that I haven’t been in a school on 1 September. It’s strange, but it’s the right decision. “Leading a trust that stretches from Colchester, across the south coast, to Plymouth involves extensive travel that is no longer compatible with my family situation, and after careful thought, I concluded that the time was right to step down.” Search for new boss Gardner added that TSAT has grown from 12 to 26 academies since he started the role in 2016, with the proportion rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted rising “from about a third to roughly 90 per cent”. He is “looking to work independently with schools and trusts – reviews, mentoring for heads and CEOs, governance advisory, and short-term interim leadership”. TSAT chair Gerard Newman thanked Gardner for his “tireless commitment and the passion he has demonstrated during his leadership”. He added: “We are undertaking a thorough and robust recruitment process, and our board expects to provide an update on permanent leadership during the autumn term.” Miller was named Arthur Terry boss after the sudden resignation of its then-CEO Richard Gill. He has worked closely with the Department for Education and been drafted into a number of other trusts that have required support. Miller feels “honoured to have been given the opportunity to support the next phase of our journey”. “Thanks to the work of many colleagues, [Arthur Terry] is in a significantly stronger position now than at the start of the year,” he added. “Therefore, as planned and because the trust is also now benefiting from additional executive expertise, my time commitment there has reduced, though I remain focused on its continued progress.”