Head of Education

Our new Head of Education will join us at a time when we can see sustained improvement in a number of our schools, and we are keen to maintain and extend this progress across all of our education provision. But we are acutely aware of some areas that demand close attention. You’ll take on a quality assurance role for school performance working closely with head teachers to encourage a culture of peer support and challenge, and raise quality of provision and attainment in Reading. You will also be responsible for SEND provision, which is an area where we recognise there is a need to change how we work, to modernise our approach and ensure financial sustainability.

The ability to engage, inform and work successfully with a range of stakeholders will be essential to success. You’ll promote a culture of openness and transparency, ensuring that head teachers and elected members are encouraged to contribute to service design, investment decisions and that two-way communication supports effective decision-making. The ability to engage confidently and win trust will be key – and you’ll achieve this by listening to schools, being clear on expectations and promises, and delivering what is agreed. You’ll be visible and accessible to schools and ready to ask difficult questions to encourage innovation, improvement in performance and accountability.

In a professional arena with extensive and fluid legislative and policy requirements, we won’t expect you to have expert knowledge in all areas. But you should understand what good practice looks like, be relentless in your desire to improve attainment and be ready to invest the time and commitment into key relationships to achieve this. 

Visit www.readingrefresh.co.uk to find out more or contact Steve Guest at Solace in Business on 020 7976 3311 for a confidential discussion.

Closing date: 14 August.