Assistant Director, Education Strategy, Access and Inclusion

Interim Assistant Director – Education Strategy, Access & Inclusion

Based in London, hybrid working

Inside IR35

Length: 3 months initially

You will play a pivotal role in shaping the borough’s education strategy, ensuring sufficient and high-quality education provision, effective school admissions and access, and strong support for vulnerable pupils and children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

You will have strategic oversight of:

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• Education strategy, pupil place planning and education sufficiency
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• School admissions, access and Fair Access arrangements
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• SEND and inclusion services
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• Educational Psychology services
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• Outreach services, including behaviour and sensory support
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• Services for vulnerable pupils and excluded pupils
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• School policy, performance and improvement
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• Traded services to schools
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• Partnership working with schools, health, voluntary organisations and other agencies
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Key Responsibilities:

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• Lead the development and delivery of education strategy, ensuring it reflects local priorities, national policy and the changing needs of children and families
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• Lead SEND, Educational Psychology, inclusion, outreach and other pupil-facing services
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• Ensure school admissions and Fair Access processes are effective, equitable and compliant with statutory requirements
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• Develop strong relationships with schools, academies, colleges, health partners, voluntary organisations and other stakeholders
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• Lead preparation for Ofsted, CQC and other regulatory and inspection activity
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• Ensure safeguarding, quality assurance, data management and information governance requirements are consistently met
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Key Requirements:

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• Proven experience managing professionally qualified staff and complex education services
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• Strong knowledge of the statutory and legislative framework governing education, school admissions, school place sufficiency, SEND and inclusion
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• Detailed understanding of relevant education legislation, including the Children and Families Act 2014, Education and Inspection Act 1996 and Academies Act 2010
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• A degree-level qualification or above, ideally alongside a PGCE or equivalent
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