Director of Education

Brunel Academies Trust and its subsidiary organisation Brunel Education (BE) are a proud, growing educational community with a vision to be an exceptional creative education family opening doors, opening minds and changing lives.

This is a rare opening and exceptional opportunity for a new Director of Education to join us September 2023, an exciting and crucial time in the MAT’s journey to success. With the organisation’s ambitious aims to develop at pace into mainstream and diocese, our new Director of Education will confidently lead the Brunel education support & improvement services so that each Education Provision makes outstanding progress and achieves positive outcomes, securing good to outstanding Ofsted ratings and are recognised as centres of excellence.

In addition, you will have current or previous experience of Ofsted inspection and be a successful school leader preferably with a track record of improving outcomes for CYP in either mainstream primary and/or SEND settings.

If you are ready to grow and develop with a collaborative and supportive professionals this will be the best career move you make.

Duties and Key Responsibilities:

Leading and Managing Education Services Performance:

To support the HoEPs to develop robust self-assessment reports and to implement challenging improvement plans to support the development and delivery of high-quality education provisions
To contribute to the development of the organisation’s overall strategy and operational plan, as a member of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT)
To work with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to ensure that the Trust’s Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework continues to be fit for purpose, is understood and implemented across all education provisions and is an effective indicator of Ofsted outcomes
To uphold, strengthen and develop the Trust’s commitment to exceptional educational provisions with true inclusion at their core
To ensure that all EPs consistently deliver their Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and are compliant in terms of Safeguarding and Health & Safety
The DoE needs to promote the values of the trust and ensure they remain at the forefront of decision making.
To line manage the Deputy Director of Education (DDoE)
To work closely with the DdoE and ADoE to develop and innovate the education offered and ensure Brunel is at the forefront of curriculum development and new technology
To work with the CEO to recruit, manage, develop and motivate the Heads of Education Provisions (HoEPs)
To be the overall Safeguarding lead for the Trust, leading on development of policies, procedures and developments in this area to ensure that CYP’s safety and welfare is always paramount and the Trust exercises best practice in this area
To work with the CEO and the Executive team to develop a leadership and management model to support HoEPs to deliver good to outstanding quality education
To carry out due diligence activity regarding EPs expressing an interest in joining the Trust and advise the CEO and Board as to their suitability.
To support HoEPs to understand the impact of individual School/college budgets to ensure value for money within education services
To develop the policies and processes relating to education services within the Brunel
To work with the CEO to ensure EPs are managed in line with organisational policy, statutory requirements and best practice guidance
To produce reports and presentations for the CEO and the Board as required
Oversee school self-evaluation documents, development/action plans and keep the Trust up to date with school progress and development
Use classroom observations, developmental feedback and support to ensure that teaching in the majority of lessons is outstanding and never less than consistently good in all schools.
To contribute to and facilitate the professional development of staff, leaders, ECTs and trainee teachers.

Engaging with a range of Stakeholders:

As part of the ELT work with all users, including children and young people (CYP) and their parents/carers, to help understand and support their needs and in turn inform the Trust’s service planning
To drive strategic thinking and creativity, being well-informed of the wider educational landscape and up-to-date research; disseminating that awareness, promoting scholarship and contributing to strategic educational debate within the Trust.
Support the understanding of best practice in SEN education and promote the Brunel’s practice externally with key influencers
Support the development of the Trust’s Local Governing Committees and other governance meetings
To represent / act as an ambassador for the Brunel and its EPs where appropriate
The ability to work in partnership with Governors, the LA, other schools and wider professional networks.
To continue to act as an Ofsted contracted inspector, thus sharing insights into the implementation of the EIF and broader reviews on best practice and pedagogy

Developing and managing a personal work programme:

Actively participate in the organisation’s performance management processes including the appraisal and competency review process and the induction
Proactively maintain the knowledge, skills and networks needed to deliver this role
Support the Trust’s core values and carry out all responsibilities with due regard to Safeguarding Children/Adults, Health and Safety and Equal Opportunities policies and procedures

The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description. The particular duties and responsibilities attached to posts may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and would not themselves justify the re-valuation of a post. The job description and allocation of particular responsibilities may be amended by agreement from time to time.

Other duties:

Please note that Brunel Academies Trust is based over several sites in and around the Swindon area and you may be required to work from different sites.

The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description. The duties and responsibilities attached to posts may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and would not themselves justify the re-valuation of a post.

Brunel retains the right to implement changes to this job description to reflect changes in the demands of the post and this will be done in consultation with the post holder.

This job description is not an exhaustive list. The post holder may be required to undertake other duties as directed by the CEO or Brunel Academies Trust Board.

Personal Specification:

Tasks/duties	Essential skill	Desirable skill
Qualifications and Training	Educated to degree level, or equivalent written and analytical skills Qualified teacher Education leadership or post-graduate qualification National Professional Qualification for Headship (or working towards this) or evidence of other successful post- graduate study (e.g. MA in Education).	Additional training in SEND
Knowledge & Experience	Up to date knowledge in the field of education, including a range of phases and sectors Knowledge of Ofsted at a senior level and a strong track record with inspections Knowledge and understanding of strong teaching quality and curriculum intent, implementation and impact The policy, practice and regulatory issues affecting the education of Primary aged children and young people and their families Commissioning and service delivery for these children and their families The ability to plan, prioritise and delegate responsibilities according to both the long term and day-to-day needs of the Trust, monitor their implementation and ensure feedback on their effectiveness. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the teaching skills required to achieve high standards and experience of raising pupil attainment and ensuring strong pupil progress. Demonstrate an ability to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching, learning and assessment with a demonstrable impact on improving pupils’ outcomes Demonstrable current knowledge of Ofsted and Education Inspection Framework (EIF) Track record of working as part of an executive team and working with a board/governing body	Supporting children and young people with SEND in education Have experience and understanding of practice and principles for Safeguarding children, young people (CYP) or vulnerable adults within an educational setting
Skills & Abilities	The ability to inspire, motivate, enthuse and empower both staff and pupils and encourage enthusiastic and positive attitudes in others The ability to promote high levels of attendance, behaviour, discipline and safeguarding Follow the Trust’s Safeguarding Policy and procedures and undertake mandatory Safeguarding training where required