Director of Secondary Curriculum and Assessment (Impact)

Are you an experienced and successful secondary senior leader with a commitment to using evidence-informed approaches to secure the best possible outcomes for all pupils? Are you ready to play a key role to ensure excellent practice in a high-performing multi-academy trust?

About Star Central

Star Central, which is headquartered in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies, Star Institute and our schools.

​​​​​​​The Star Central team includes experts from a range of professional backgrounds, who work together to provide an outstanding support service to the Star community. We support our schools to provide educational and operational excellence and to cultivate a strong Star community, with the aim of nurturing today’s young people and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders.​​​​​​​

​​​​​​​Who we’re looking for

We are looking for an experienced secondary school senior leader with the ability to drive school improvement through the intelligent implementation of the Star curriculum and associated intervention programmes. You will play a crucial role in the trust-wide strategy to secure gains in pupil outcomes.

The position requires an individual who is comfortable with data, has a track record of securing improvement in outcomes, and has excellent analytical and communication skills.

You will lead the implementation of the trust’s assessment arrangements and ensure that schools’ curriculum pathways and tuition arrangements meet the needs of their pupils. You will also be an excellent line manager who can work with people to develop their skills and ensure that they are highly effective in their roles.

You will have:

• Credibility as an experienced and successful secondary school senior leader with a demonstrable track record of success, particularly with pupil outcomes.
• The ability to analyse school and subject level data to identify gaps and develop a strategy for improvement.
• The ability to work proactively in partnership with trust colleagues, school leaders, and external partners to plan and deliver effective intervention programmes.
• Detailed knowledge of national assessment and reporting requirements.
• The ability to use instructional coaching to support school leaders’ implementation of Star’s assessment, recording and reporting policy.
• The ability to lead and manage the trust’s improvement leads to boost outcomes in their subjects.
• ​​​​​​​Full commitment to our vision and values.

​​​​​​​About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our learning and development centre, Star Institute. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level. 

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

​​​​​​​Find out more

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role.  For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please contact Daniel Burgess by calling 0330 313 9150 or email daniel.burgess@staracademies.org. ​​​​​​​

Key Dates

Closing Date: Friday, 17 February 2023 at midday

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Proposed Start Date: ​​​​​​​September 2023 (or April 2023 if available).

Application Process

To apply for this vacancy please use the 'Apply for job' link below. You should ensure your application form and supporting statement address all elements of the person specification. We will only consider candidates who meet the vast majority of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.