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:

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

Key Responsibilities:

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

Key Requirements:

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