Director of Education
| Posting date: | 13 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 12 April 2026 |
| Location: | Ellesmere Port, Not recorded, CH65 5AT |
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 1e393a3b-7fcc-453e-b80d-6202c3a7e0a2 |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
Role Introduction
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing, ambitious and aspirational Trust at a pivotal time. As Director of Education, you will help shape and deliver our Trust-wide approach to school improvement, providing high-quality support and constructive challenge to schools within the Trust and to those considering joining us.
You will hold Trust-wide responsibility for educational standards, inclusion and school improvement, working closely with the CEO, headteachers and senior leaders to secure strong outcomes for every child.
Working in close partnership with the central team and Trustees, you will help ensure our strategy is coherent, well-supported and making a measurable difference for pupils.
At the heart of the role is building strong professional relationships with headteachers, creating the conditions for children to thrive. You will combine encouragement with honest professional dialogue to our leaders, and you will quality assure that provision across all schools is consistently as strong as it can be.
You will be a visible and approachable Trust leader, someone who is credible in schools, facilitates or models exemplary practice and works alongside teams to strengthen what they do best.
You will take time to get to know each school’s context, strengths and priorities including schools that are intending to join Concordia.
Keeping up to date with the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, current research and national guidance and developments, you will be expected to translate key messages into practical, usable support for leaders across the Trust.
To succeed in this Trust-wide role, you will bring current or previous successful experience as a primary headteacher.
Quality of Education Strategic Objectives:
Sustained Excellence
All schools within the Trust consistently aspire to and progress towards the Optimise phase within the Phases of Support Framework. All new schools joining the Trust are evaluated against the Phases of Support Framework and achieve Develop or Optimise within three years of joining.
Inclusion
Embed inclusive systems and practices that secure belonging, improve pupil experience, and ensure strong outcomes, including attendance, for all pupils, particularly those who are vulnerable. Reduce barriers to learning by strengthening adaptive teaching and improving outcomes, including attendance, for pupils with SEND.
Leadership
Strengthen leadership capacity and expertise across all schools particularly in SEND, Pupil Premium, Early Years and curriculum so that every school has consistently strong, ambitious and accountable leadership at all levels, underpinned by effective Trust oversight and a clear pipeline of future leaders.
Strategic delivery and development
• Work collaboratively with the senior central team to determine the Trust’s Strategic Objectives
• Lead and quality assure the Trust’s School Improvement Strategy through the Trust’s Phases of Support framework, ensuring timely intervention, sustainability and measurable impact
• Ensure that all schools within the Trust align to the Trust’s vision and values
• Lead on educational due diligence process for schools wishing to join the Trust
• Lead and evaluate the Trust’s professional development strategy, ensuring alignment with school improvement priorities and demonstrable impact on practice and outcomes
• Analyse Trust wide pupil performance data and use this to advise on appropriate intervention strategies
• Report regularly to the CEO, Trustees and relevant committees on standards, outcomes inclusion, school improvement and risk.
• Keep abreast and share up to date educational research and development, so that Trust practice has a secure and reliable evidence base.
Trust collaboration and the sharing of expertise
• Facilitate the sharing of best practice and further develop staff mobility within the Trust to enable the sharing of excellence
• Design, deploy and quality assure a Trust-wide SLE and lead practitioner model to build internal capacity and deliver targeted school improvement support
• Provide leadership to Trust-wide subject and phase networks, using intelligence from these groups to inform Trust priorities and targeted support
• Provide senior leadership support to individual schools as required (e.g. time-limited Executive Headship if needed) and coaching/mentoring for those new to the role
• Supporting local academy board representativeswith their professional development and inspection preparation
• Facilitate or co-ordinate cross school moderation for all 3 key stages.
Support for School Improvement
• Design, undertake and quality assure a programme of school visits and reviews, providing clear evaluative feedback aligned to Trust expectations and Ofsted Education Inspection Framework expectations
• Work alongside leaders to quality assure effective self-evaluation of their schools and identify strengths and areas for development
• When areas for improvement/development are identified, ensure robust improvement planning, timely intervention and ongoing monitoring of impact
• Advise on strategies for improving school management and leadership, where there are identified areas for development
• Ensure that a broad, balanced, ambitious and coherent curriculum is in place within all schools, supported by suitable plans and resources that align with the National Curriculum
• Work alongside leaders to quality assure that robust assessment is in place and is used effectively to enhance teaching and learning
• Provide and further develop training and coaching for subject leaders including developing practice, monitoring implementation, identifying areas for improvement, as well as signposting staff to expertise both within and beyond the Trust
• Lead reviews of schools and provide leaders with quality assurance in evaluating strengths and areas for development in line with the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework
• Support schools to ensure that they are fully prepared for inspection, including preparation for leaders, Governors, inspection planning and general leadership support
• Ensure schools meet Ofsted expectations for inclusion, evidencing early identification, adaptive teaching, personalised planning and can clearly identify impact
• Ensure that schools have effective systems and processes in place for early identification of pupils’ needs (including vulnerable groups)
• Monitor, evaluate and quality assure SEND provision across the Trust, ensuring early identification, adaptive teaching, reduced barriers to learning and strong outcomes
• Enhance leadership capacity in SEND and inclusion, ensuring SENCos have the authority, expertise and influence to drive and monitor improvement
• Provide strategic oversight of EYFS provision across the Trust, ensuring strong foundations for learning, alignment with Trust priorities and readiness for the next key stage
• Ensure that all schools have effective processes for the management of pupil attendance, ensuring alignment with safeguarding and inclusion
• Produce timely records of visits for Trustees, Headteachers and Local Academy Boards development.
Please note that this job description is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks, and the post holder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role.
Desirable and Essential Criteria
Essential
• Qualified Teacher Status
• Experience as a substantive Primary Headteacher
• Substantial leadership experience
• Excellent understanding of early years education and development
• Experience of providing support for Primary school improvement beyond their own organisation
• Demonstrative impact from data analysis and assessment to drive improvement
• Strong understanding of the Primary curriculum, teaching, learning and how this has driven improvement in outcomes
• Ability to model and lead practitioners and leaders to demonstrate how to enhance practice
• Experience leading, influencing, supporting, guiding and challenging senior leaders
• A clear understanding of how to ensure SEND and vulnerable pupils are fully included and have a curriculum and environment that fully meets their needs
• A robust understanding and implementation of safeguarding procedures and processes
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build professional partnerships
• Ability to coach, challenge and support leaders across multiple schools
• High integrity, strong organisational skills, and alignment to Trust values
• Understanding of the relevant, regulatory frameworks
• Experience of being a senior leader during inspections
• Awareness of national policy landscape and how to translate this at scale
Desirable
• NPQH/NPQEL or equivalent leadership qualification
• Experience as an Ofsted Inspector, NLE, LA adviser or external school improvement partner
• Experience delivering CPD at Trust or multi-school level
• Experience supporting schools through Trust growth or due diligence
• Expertise in a specialist area (e.g., EYFS, SEND, subject leadership).
What the school offers its staff
Job Summary
Salary: £98,106 - £105,595 plus Pension
Hours per week: 37
Weeks: 52 (flexibility within school holidays)
School: Trust Central Team
Contract Type: Permanent
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Start date: September 2026 (negotiable)
Working with us as Director of Education includes:
• A fantastic and friendly team environment
• Pension Scheme
• Performance related pay
• Health care benefits
• 30 days holiday plus public holidays.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Role Introduction
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing, ambitious and aspirational Trust at a pivotal time. As Director of Education, you will help shape and deliver our Trust-wide approach to school improvement, providing high-quality support and constructive challenge to schools within the Trust and to those considering joining us.
You will hold Trust-wide responsibility for educational standards, inclusion and school improvement, working closely with the CEO, headteachers and senior leaders to secure strong outcomes for every child.
Working in close partnership with the central team and Trustees, you will help ensure our strategy is coherent, well-supported and making a measurable difference for pupils.
At the heart of the role is building strong professional relationships with headteachers, creating the conditions for children to thrive. You will combine encouragement with honest professional dialogue to our leaders, and you will quality assure that provision across all schools is consistently as strong as it can be.
You will be a visible and approachable Trust leader, someone who is credible in schools, facilitates or models exemplary practice and works alongside teams to strengthen what they do best.
You will take time to get to know each school’s context, strengths and priorities including schools that are intending to join Concordia.
Keeping up to date with the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, current research and national guidance and developments, you will be expected to translate key messages into practical, usable support for leaders across the Trust.
To succeed in this Trust-wide role, you will bring current or previous successful experience as a primary headteacher.
Quality of Education Strategic Objectives:
Sustained Excellence
All schools within the Trust consistently aspire to and progress towards the Optimise phase within the Phases of Support Framework. All new schools joining the Trust are evaluated against the Phases of Support Framework and achieve Develop or Optimise within three years of joining.
Inclusion
Embed inclusive systems and practices that secure belonging, improve pupil experience, and ensure strong outcomes, including attendance, for all pupils, particularly those who are vulnerable. Reduce barriers to learning by strengthening adaptive teaching and improving outcomes, including attendance, for pupils with SEND.
Leadership
Strengthen leadership capacity and expertise across all schools particularly in SEND, Pupil Premium, Early Years and curriculum so that every school has consistently strong, ambitious and accountable leadership at all levels, underpinned by effective Trust oversight and a clear pipeline of future leaders.
Strategic delivery and development
• Work collaboratively with the senior central team to determine the Trust’s Strategic Objectives
• Lead and quality assure the Trust’s School Improvement Strategy through the Trust’s Phases of Support framework, ensuring timely intervention, sustainability and measurable impact
• Ensure that all schools within the Trust align to the Trust’s vision and values
• Lead on educational due diligence process for schools wishing to join the Trust
• Lead and evaluate the Trust’s professional development strategy, ensuring alignment with school improvement priorities and demonstrable impact on practice and outcomes
• Analyse Trust wide pupil performance data and use this to advise on appropriate intervention strategies
• Report regularly to the CEO, Trustees and relevant committees on standards, outcomes inclusion, school improvement and risk.
• Keep abreast and share up to date educational research and development, so that Trust practice has a secure and reliable evidence base.
Trust collaboration and the sharing of expertise
• Facilitate the sharing of best practice and further develop staff mobility within the Trust to enable the sharing of excellence
• Design, deploy and quality assure a Trust-wide SLE and lead practitioner model to build internal capacity and deliver targeted school improvement support
• Provide leadership to Trust-wide subject and phase networks, using intelligence from these groups to inform Trust priorities and targeted support
• Provide senior leadership support to individual schools as required (e.g. time-limited Executive Headship if needed) and coaching/mentoring for those new to the role
• Supporting local academy board representativeswith their professional development and inspection preparation
• Facilitate or co-ordinate cross school moderation for all 3 key stages.
Support for School Improvement
• Design, undertake and quality assure a programme of school visits and reviews, providing clear evaluative feedback aligned to Trust expectations and Ofsted Education Inspection Framework expectations
• Work alongside leaders to quality assure effective self-evaluation of their schools and identify strengths and areas for development
• When areas for improvement/development are identified, ensure robust improvement planning, timely intervention and ongoing monitoring of impact
• Advise on strategies for improving school management and leadership, where there are identified areas for development
• Ensure that a broad, balanced, ambitious and coherent curriculum is in place within all schools, supported by suitable plans and resources that align with the National Curriculum
• Work alongside leaders to quality assure that robust assessment is in place and is used effectively to enhance teaching and learning
• Provide and further develop training and coaching for subject leaders including developing practice, monitoring implementation, identifying areas for improvement, as well as signposting staff to expertise both within and beyond the Trust
• Lead reviews of schools and provide leaders with quality assurance in evaluating strengths and areas for development in line with the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework
• Support schools to ensure that they are fully prepared for inspection, including preparation for leaders, Governors, inspection planning and general leadership support
• Ensure schools meet Ofsted expectations for inclusion, evidencing early identification, adaptive teaching, personalised planning and can clearly identify impact
• Ensure that schools have effective systems and processes in place for early identification of pupils’ needs (including vulnerable groups)
• Monitor, evaluate and quality assure SEND provision across the Trust, ensuring early identification, adaptive teaching, reduced barriers to learning and strong outcomes
• Enhance leadership capacity in SEND and inclusion, ensuring SENCos have the authority, expertise and influence to drive and monitor improvement
• Provide strategic oversight of EYFS provision across the Trust, ensuring strong foundations for learning, alignment with Trust priorities and readiness for the next key stage
• Ensure that all schools have effective processes for the management of pupil attendance, ensuring alignment with safeguarding and inclusion
• Produce timely records of visits for Trustees, Headteachers and Local Academy Boards development.
Please note that this job description is illustrative of the general nature and level of responsibility of the role. It is not a comprehensive list of all tasks, and the post holder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level of the role.
Desirable and Essential Criteria
Essential
• Qualified Teacher Status
• Experience as a substantive Primary Headteacher
• Substantial leadership experience
• Excellent understanding of early years education and development
• Experience of providing support for Primary school improvement beyond their own organisation
• Demonstrative impact from data analysis and assessment to drive improvement
• Strong understanding of the Primary curriculum, teaching, learning and how this has driven improvement in outcomes
• Ability to model and lead practitioners and leaders to demonstrate how to enhance practice
• Experience leading, influencing, supporting, guiding and challenging senior leaders
• A clear understanding of how to ensure SEND and vulnerable pupils are fully included and have a curriculum and environment that fully meets their needs
• A robust understanding and implementation of safeguarding procedures and processes
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build professional partnerships
• Ability to coach, challenge and support leaders across multiple schools
• High integrity, strong organisational skills, and alignment to Trust values
• Understanding of the relevant, regulatory frameworks
• Experience of being a senior leader during inspections
• Awareness of national policy landscape and how to translate this at scale
Desirable
• NPQH/NPQEL or equivalent leadership qualification
• Experience as an Ofsted Inspector, NLE, LA adviser or external school improvement partner
• Experience delivering CPD at Trust or multi-school level
• Experience supporting schools through Trust growth or due diligence
• Expertise in a specialist area (e.g., EYFS, SEND, subject leadership).
What the school offers its staff
Job Summary
Salary: £98,106 - £105,595 plus Pension
Hours per week: 37
Weeks: 52 (flexibility within school holidays)
School: Trust Central Team
Contract Type: Permanent
Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer
Start date: September 2026 (negotiable)
Working with us as Director of Education includes:
• A fantastic and friendly team environment
• Pension Scheme
• Performance related pay
• Health care benefits
• 30 days holiday plus public holidays.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) medical online and social media prohibition from teaching right to work satisfactory references suitability to work with children You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.