Head Of School Improvement & Standards

Grade: EAI 36-39 (£85,784 - £89,691 per annum), with the potential to earn up to £93,585 through the Structured Professional Assessment (SPA) process.

Are you passionate about making a tangible difference in Cardiff's schools? Do you have a proven track record of driving educational change? Could you lead exciting transformative school improvement initiatives to benefit our learners and staff?

Thank you for your interest in this exciting and challenging new role to Cardiff.

Cardiff, the largest local authority in Wales, has seen continuous improvement in its schools' performance, with many now among the best in Wales according to Estyn, the education inspectorate. The Council's "Stronger, Fairer, Greener" plan prioritises children and young people, emphasising education as key to long-term prosperity and poverty reduction. The Cardiff 2030 strategy has significantly impacted educational quality, though challenges remain in meeting post-pandemic demands.

The Head of School Improvement and Development will play a crucial role in achieving national and council priorities.

Cardiff City is the first UNICEF Child Friendly City in the UK which publicly recognises that the council along with its partners have taken significant and sustainable steps in key areas in advancing the rights of children and young people. In leading the school improvement service, you will ensure the child and young person is at the centre of everything of everything that you do.

The Head of School Improvement and Standards will collaborate with school leaders across the city. This role involves designing and implementing changes in response to Welsh Government’s review of school improvement across Wales.

The primary focus will be on ensuring excellence in teaching and learning, and equity for all, through continuous school improvement and collaboration. Building on the initial co-construction between the Local Authority and Headteachers, the role will enhance school improvement through school-to-school support and develop self-improving school systems in Cardiff.

The role requires a deep understanding of schools, a passion for education, and strong leadership skills. You will build on existing relationships with schools, governors, partners, and communities to ensure inclusive education in safe environments. The focus is on innovative service development for vulnerable children, high-quality service provision, and support to schools. Strong communication, negotiation, and advocacy skills are essential. The role demands programme management and resilience to implement impactful strategies.

Determination is also key with an ability to work swiftly to support Cardiff Schools in all aspects of the role.

This is an exciting new role, where you will:

• Collaborate with school leaders who embody the values of Trust, Integrity, Excellence, and Equity.
• Design and implement changes in response to Dylan Jones’s Middle Tier Review and the planned School Partnership Programme from Welsh Government.
• Ensure excellence in teaching and learning and equity for all through continuous school improvement and collaboration.
• Build on the initial co-construction between the Local Authority and Headteachers for school improvement through school-to-school support
• Develop and implement self-improving school systems in Cardiff.
• Enhance teaching quality and raise educational outcomes for all learners.
• Lead the effective delivery of the county council’s statutory and non-statutory school improvement services for local authority-maintained schools.
• Work with system leaders to strengthen the county council’s work with schools.
• Drive inclusive practices across the local education system.
• Lead strategic school improvement initiatives.
• Support schools in meeting the evolving needs of learners with a focus on inclusivity, innovation, and professional development.

As a member of the Cardiff’s Education Directorate’s senior leadership team, you will work collaboratively and closely with fellow Officers and the Director and Assistant Director of Education, leading your service delivery to play its role in developing, improving and…