Assistant Director for Educational Access, Quality and Improvement
Details
* Reference: SCC/TP/287911/2620
* Positions: 1
* Salary: The salary range for this post is £87,561- £98,431 per annum
* Category: Executive Senior Management
* Contract type: Permanent
* Working hours: 36 hours per week
* Posted on: 24 February 2025
* Location: Woking Surrey but with travel around the county
Description
This role has a salary range of £87,561- £98,431 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.
Are you passionate about influencing and supporting positive progress in education?
Are you a dynamic leader with a proven track record and senior management experience in a school, college or local authority education department and looking for your next opportunity?
Join our forward-thinking team as our next Assistant Director of Educational Access, Quality and Improvement, under our newly appointed permanent Director for Education and Lifelong Learning, Julia Katherine. This is a career-enhancing opportunity that offers the scope and breadth for the right individual to drive positive change and improvements that ensure excellence across the educational system in Surrey, bringing together key stakeholders to collectively meet the evolving needs of learners.
About the role:
Surrey County Council (SCC) is unashamedly ambitious about what we can achieve and the difference we can make to the children and young people of Surrey.
Our guiding principle of 'No One Left Behind' runs through the way we seek to achieve our priority objectives and the way we deliver services. You will be a pivotal part of the senior leadership team in our Education and Lifelong Learning service, at the heart of maximizing options for children and young people to access high-quality educational opportunities that enhance their sense of purpose, fulfilment, and future prospects.
We are looking for a motivated and highly skilled individual with strong leadership abilities, and the capacity to provide professional and strategic transformative direction to elevate performance, accountability, and standards for education.
This role requires someone with the capacity to tackle short-term education challenges alongside long-term transformative change that cuts across a complex education system. You will be required to work constructively with a range of key stakeholders, sometimes in challenging circumstances, as we consider the ways in which we could be working differently to positively shape education in Surrey, developing opportunities for shared learning and best practice.
This is a statutory role for Surrey County Council which holds a number of key responsibilities including:
* School Improvement Activity: You will lead the continuing strategic change across the estate of schools by developing a school-led system of improvements in conjunction with educational leaders.
* School Admissions: You will ensure the delivery of the statutory functions related to school admissions, for both mainstream pupils and those with special educational needs. This includes the underpinning policy development and strategic approvals.
* School Place Planning: You will lead the organization and commissioning of places in settings such as maintained nurseries, mainstream schools, specialist provision, post 16/FE. This includes the opening and closure of schools, as well as statutory returns.
* Early Years Education: You will develop strong relationships with education providers and system leaders to support the improvement of outcomes and drive high-quality early years provision locally.
* Delivery and Management of the SaFE contract: This role holds the responsibility for managing the commissioned contract for statutory and non-statutory Schools Improvement. This contract is currently commissioned through Schools Alliance for Excellence (SAfE). Responsibilities include regular monitoring and contract management meetings (alongside the contract manager for Commissioning) as well as the operational activity to ensure that communications and referral processes are effective and that KPIs are met.
We are looking for someone with gravitas and credibility, capable of inspiring and building trust and advancing our performance. Your ability to foster collaboration and drive innovation will be crucial in our work with school communities and with key stakeholders.
To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your application will clearly evidence the following:
* Proven senior leadership experience in education in either a school/setting or local authority with a focus on school improvement
* Expertise in managing school admissions processes and place planning strategies.
* Knowledge of early years education principles and practices.
* Exceptional communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
* Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to constructively challenge and influence.
* Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate and interpret insights to make decisions.
* Good political acumen.
Contact Us
Please contact us for any questions relating to role requirements, flexible working requests, transferable skills, or barriers to employment.
The contractual base for this role is our Quadrant Court office in Woking; however, travel around the county to meet with your team, school leaders, and other partners across the education system will be required. Agile working is supported meaning you can work however, whenever, and wherever suits you best around requirements to physically attend a Surrey location.
An enhanced DBS 'Disclosure and Barring Service' check for regulated activity (formally known as CRB) and the Children's and Adults' Barred List checks will be required for this role.
This post has been designated as a politically restricted post in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
We look forward to receiving your application; please click on the apply online button below to submit.
Rewards and Benefits
* 26 days' holiday (prorated for part-time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 30 days after 5 years' service.
* Buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave.
* Up to 5 days of carer's leave per year.
* An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) supporting health and wellbeing.
* A generous local government salary-related pension.
* Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping, and many more.
* Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources.
* Paternity, adoption, and dependents leave.
Key Dates
* Job advert closes at 23:59 on Sunday the 16th of March 2025.
* Shortlisting is planned for W/C 17th of March 2025.
* Technical interviews will be held via MS Teams on the 20th and 21st March 2025.
* Final assessment planned for 28th March 2025.
Final assessment is anticipated to be held face to face at our Woodhatch office in Reigate.
Our Values
Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values.
Our Commitment
Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where:
* The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application.
* The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form.
Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role.
We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.
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