Hillingdon Council

About the role Are you passionate about transforming education and making a lasting impact on the lives of children and young people? As the Head of Education Improvement and Partnership , you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of education in Hillingdon. This is your opportunity to lead a high-quality education improvement service, drive standards, and foster strong partnerships across all educational stages. Join us in our mission to ensure every child in Hillingdon has access to an outstanding education and the chance to thrive. We are seeking a dynamic and experienced individual to join our Education Services management team as the Head of Education Improvement and Partnership. This role is pivotal in leading the overall operation of a high-quality education improvement, standards, and partnership service across Early Years, Primary, Secondary, Post-16, and the Music service. The ideal candidate for this position will possess a robust background in education improvement, with substantial experience within a local authority, school, Academy, or further/higher education setting. They will have a proven track record of successful senior leadership, demonstrating the ability to manage, lead, and motivate high-performing teams. The candidate will exhibit exceptional strategic planning skills and the capability to achieve identified objectives in education. The candidate will have a comprehensive understanding of key national and local education priorities and the funding landscape. They will be adept at data analysis, enabling them to identify strengths and weaknesses in school performance and provide appropriate solutions. Strong professional credibility and the ability to build and develop partnerships with school leaders are essential attributes. Furthermore, the ideal candidate will be passionate about making a difference, possess a positive and proactive attitude, and be capable of leading and inspiring others. They will be a strategic thinker, willing to make difficult decisions, and able to work effectively in a multi-agency and multi-disciplinary setting. They will be committed to improving educational outcomes for all children and young people, particularly the most vulnerable and disadvantaged, and will effectively lead the Education Improvement and Partnership Service to achieve high-quality educational outcomes. Key Responsibilities: Provide management capacity for education improvement, standards, and partnership across various educational stages and services. Support the Director of Education & SEND and the Assistant Director for Education in implementing operational work related to improvement, standards, and school partnership. Ensure all teams within the Education Improvement and Partnership Service work coherently to deliver a high-quality service. Develop and maintain strong links with school leaders and local school improvement partnerships. Support key partners and external consultants in contributing to the borough-wide education improvement strategy. Plan and implement a professional development programme for Education Services. Establish and maintain strong working relationships with school leaders, Academy Trusts, Regional School Commissioner, Ofsted, and DfE. Champion educational excellence and promote the Hillingdon Learning Partnership. Manage the Education Improvement and Partnership Service to secure effective operational implementation. Lead the development and implementation of the borough's School Causing Concern policy. Apply an evidence-based approach to monitor and improve school performance. Address under-performance in Local Authority schools and plan interventions where necessary. Collaborate with relevant Council departments and service partners to achieve high-quality educational outcomes. Qualifications and Experience: Qualified Teacher Status. Successful track record in education improvement within a local authority, school, Academy/free school, or further/higher education. Senior leadership experience in a school or local authority. Experience in managing, leading, and motivating high-performing teams. Strong knowledge of national and local education priorities and funding landscape. How to Apply: If you are passionate about making a difference in education and have the skills and experience required for this role, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application, including a CV detailing your suitability for the role. About us We value our employees and are committed to ensuring that they enjoy a fulfilling and rewarding career with us. We understand that a happy and motivated workforce is essential for the success of our organisation. That is why we offer a wide range of employee benefits to enhance your work-life balance, financial wellbeing, health, and professional development. Here's a comprehensive overview of the fantastic benefits we provide: Flexible Working Hours - We recognise the importance of flexibility in managing your work and personal life. 36 Hour Week - Enjoy a standard 36-hour workweek for all full time staff. Generous Holiday Entitlement - increasing with length of service (for non-casual roles). Hillingdon Sports & Leisure - Stay active and healthy with discounts at council owned leisure centres and swimming pools across the borough. Salary Sacrifice Schemes - option to join schemes for cycle purchase, electric vehicle leasing and additional voluntary pension contributions (subject to scheme rules). Cycle to Work - Eco-friendly commuting with our cycle purchase scheme. We also provide bicycle parking, lockers, and showers at the Civic Centre. Local Government Pension Scheme - access to Local Government Pension Scheme and membership to the Credit Union. Vivup Benefit s - Access a variety of offers and discounts through our Vivup Benefits. Mental Health Support and Counselling Services - Our mental health first aiders are trained to identify, understand, and help employees experiencing mental health issues. Access free 24-hour confidential advice and counselling as well as a legal advice service for you and your immediate family. Travel Support - Make your daily commute easier with our season ticket loans and free car parking. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Statement At the London Borough of Hillingdon, we are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. This commitment means that all employees, job applicants and others who work for us will be treated fairly. The aim is for our workforce to be representative of all sections of society and Hillingdon residents so we welcome applicants from a wide variety of backgrounds. We strive to ensure that our recruitment process is free from discrimination and bias, and we are dedicated to providing reasonable adjustments to applicants with disabilities. Join us in building a workplace where everyone feels respected, able to give their best and be themselves at work, whilst contributing meaningfully to our organisation's success. Recruitment Information Hillingdon Council operates a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities that meet the essential criteria for the role and wish to be considered under this scheme. We believe in the option to choose, so candidates declaring a disability have the choice to opt in for consideration under this scheme, on a 'per application' basis. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable groups and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts are subject to The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2019 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service. In addition to verifying Right to Work in the UK and a new starter health questionnaire, the post is subject tothe following pre-employment screening: Basic/ Standard/ Enhanced DBS Check Qualifications Check Professional Registration Check 3/ 5 years of Referencing Please note: Priority will be given to those at risk of redundancy within Hillingdon Council. Current employees who are part of the redeployment pool must meet the essential criteria for shortlisting to be prioritised. It may be necessary due to a high volume of applications to close this role early. We therefore recommend you apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.