Head of School Improvement & Development

Head of School Improvement and Development

Grade: EAI 36-39 (£85,784 - £89,691 per annum)

About the Service

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.

About the Job

The Head of School Improvement and Development 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.

Pennaeth Datblygu a Gwella Ysgolion

Ystod Cyflog: EAI 36-39 (£85,784 - £89,691 per annum)

Am Y Gwasanaeth

Ydych chi'n angerddol am wneud gwahaniaeth go iawn yn ysgolion Caerdydd? Oes gennych chi hanes profedig o ysgogi newid addysgol? A allech chi arwain mentrau trawsnewidiol a chyffrous i wella ysgolion er budd ein dysgwyr a'n staff?

Diolch am eich diddordeb yn y rôl newydd gyffrous a heriol hon yng Nghaerdydd. 

Mae Caerdydd, yr awdurdod lleol mwyaf yng Nghymru, wedi gweld gwelliant parhaus ym mherfformiad ei hysgolion, gyda nifer bellach ymhlith y gorau yng Nghymru yn ôl Estyn, yr arolygiaeth addysg. Mae cynllun "Cryfach, Tecach, Gwyrddach" y Cyngor yn blaenoriaethu plant a phobl ifanc, gan bwysleisio bod addysg yn allweddol i ffyniant hirdymor a lleihau tlodi. Mae strategaeth Caerdydd 2030 wedi cael effaith sylweddol ar ansawdd addysgol, er bod heriau'n parhau o hyd o ran bodloni gofynion ar ôl y pandemig. Bydd y Pennaeth Gwella a Datblygu Ysgolion yn chwarae rhan hanfodol wrth gyflawni blaenoriaethau cenedlaethol a blaenoriaethau’r cyngor. 

Caerdydd yw’r ddinas gyntaf yn y DU i gael teitl Dinas sy’n Dda i Blant UNICEF, sy'n cydnabod yn gyhoeddus bod y cyngor, ynghyd â'i bartneriaid, wedi cymryd camau sylweddol a chynaliadwy mewn meysydd allweddol wrth hyrwyddo hawliau plant a phobl ifanc. Wrth arwain y gwasanaeth gwella ysgolion, byddwch yn sicrhau bod y plentyn a'r person ifanc wrth wraidd popeth a wnewch.

Am Y Swydd

Bydd y Pennaeth Gwella a Datblygu Ysgolion yn cydweithio ag arweinwyr ysgolion ar draws y ddinas. Mae'r rôl hon yn cynnwys cynllunio a gweithredu newidiadau mewn ymateb i adolygiad Llywodraeth Cymru o wella ysgolion ledled Cymru.

Y prif ffocws fydd sicrhau rhagoriaeth mewn addysgu a dysgu, a thegwch i i bawb, trwy gydweithio a gwella ysgolion yn barhaus. Gan adeiladu ar y cyd-ddatblygu cychwynnol rhwng yr Awdurdod Lleol a Phenaethiaid, bydd y rôl yn hybu’r broses gwella ysgolion trwy gefnogaeth ysgol i ysgol ac yn datblygu systemau hunan-wella ysgolion yng Nghaerdydd.  

Mae'r rôl yn gofyn am ddealltwriaeth ddofn o ysgolion, angerdd am addysg, a sgiliau arweinyddiaeth cryf. Byddwch yn adeiladu ar y berthynas bresennol gydag ysgolion, llywodraethwyr, partneriaid a chymunedau i sicrhau addysg gynhwysol mewn amgylcheddau diogel. Mae'r ffocws ar ddatblygu gwasanaethau arloesol ar gyfer plant sy'n agored i niwed, darparu gwasanaeth o ansawdd uchel, a chefnogi ysgolion. Mae sgiliau cyfathrebu, negodi ac eirioli cryf yn hanfodol. Mae'r rôl yn mynnu sgiliau rheoli rhaglenni a gwydnwch i weithredu strategaethau effeithiol. Mae’n allweddol hefyd bod yn benderfynol, gyda’r gallu i weithio'n gyflym i gefnogi ysgolion Caerdydd ym mhob agwedd ar y rôl.

Mae hon yn rôl newydd gyffrous, lle byddwch yn:

• Cydweithio ag arweinwyr ysgolion sy'n ymgorffori gwerthoedd Ymddiriedolaeth, Gonestrwydd, Rhagoriaeth a Thegwch. 
• Dylunio a gweithredu newidiadau mewn ymateb i Adolygiad Haen Ganol Dylan Jones a'r Rhaglen Partneriaeth Ysgolion arfaethedig gan Lywodraeth Cymru.
• Sicrhau rhagoriaeth mewn addysgu a dysgu a thegwch i bawb trwy gydweithio a gwella ysgolion yn barhaus.
• Adeiladu ar y cyd-ddatblygu cychwynnol rhwng yr Awdurdod Lleol a Phenaethiaid ar gyfer gwella ysgolion trwy gefnogaeth ysgol i ysgol.
• Datblygu a gweithredu systemau hunan-wella ysgolion yng Nghaerdydd.
• Codi ansawdd addysgu a gwella deilliannau addysgol i bob dysgwr.
• Arwain y gwaith o ddarparu gwasanaethau gwella ysgolion statudol ac anstatudol y cyngor sir yn effeithiol ar gyfer ysgolion a gynhelir gan yr awdurdod lleol.
• Gweithio gydag arweinwyr y system i gryfhau gwaith y cyngor sir gydag ysgolion.
• Hybu arferion cynhwysol ar draws y system addysg leol.
• Arwain mentrau strategol ar gyfer gwella ysgolion.
• Cefnogi ysgolion i ddiwallu anghenion datblygol dysgwyr gan ganolbwyntio ar gynwysoldeb, arloesedd a datblygiad proffesiynol.