Head of Curriculum

The Difference is a dynamic new charity which believes that children with chaotic home lives, mental health challenges and learning difficulties deserve support not exclusion. The majority of today’s prison population were excluded when at school. We exist to change this story. 

The Difference is creating a new generation of leaders to bring the best in education to the children who need it most. We work to develop new expertise in the teaching profession, connect exceptional teachers to schools for excluded pupils, and create a community of leaders to drive change throughout England’s education system. 

This is an exciting time for The Difference. Following the success of Teach First, we are the latest in a number of public service innovations – such as Frontline for children’s social work, the Institute for Teaching and Unlocked Grads – whose policy designs are being translated into action. Last year, The Difference’s report into school exclusions – our case for change – was published by think tank IPPR. It received acclaim in the sector, attention in the press, and interest from policymakers. The Difference is now in its set up phase, developing our training programme, and recruiting our first cohort of Difference Leaders from October 2018.

Read more about us in this Guardian article, the attached Who We Are document, or on our website: www.the-difference.com.

What is the role?

We are looking for an inspiring Head of Curriculum who can join our founding team to design and deliver The Difference’s innovative training programme, which will transform outcomes for these children. The ideal candidate will be committed to our mission to create a new generation of school leaders, equipped to support pupil mental health, improve literacy, and reduce exclusion from school. They will have experience working as a senior leader in a school serving disadvantaged pupils, and designing and delivering effective teacher training.

This is an opportunity to be a founding member of The Difference, creating our pioneering new programme to bring the best in education to the children who need it most. As Head of Curriculum: Mental Health & Safeguarding or Literacy & Agency, you will lead the development and delivery of The Difference’s Inclusive Leadership Programme. Read more about our programme in the attached Programme Overview document.

The Head of Curriculum will:

• Synthesise the existing evidence base and best practice in working with complex young people into a high-quality curriculum with capacity to change our leaders’ practice;
• Develop and pilot training sessions, ready for delivery from July 2019;
• Lead delivery of the two-year curriculum to 30 senior leaders, including lectures, seminars, coaching and bespoke school improvement support for leaders within their placement alternative provision schools;
• Commission and quality-assure specialist delivery partners;
• Design and assure course accreditation;
• Work with research bodies (e.g. EEF, University of Durham), and educational organisations (e.g. Chartered College of Teaching, Teacher Development Trust) to distil learning from our two-year programme and communicate it through publications and conferences;
• Work flexibly within the small founding team to deliver our core objectives.

For full Person Specification, please see attached job advert, or visit: www.the-difference.com/work-for-us.

To apply

To apply for the role please email the following no later than 4th April at midnight, including the job title in the subject line and confirmation of where you saw the job role in the body of the email:

1. A supporting letter (no more than 2 sides) outlining how your knowledge, skills and experience meet the requirements of the role;
2. Your CV including references (maximum 2 sides).

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 9th April. Please indicate if your availability will be limited during this time, in the body of your email. 

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role prior to application, please contact by email given on our website: www.the-difference.com/work-for-us.