Star Teachers’ SCITT Director and Trust Lead for Teacher Development

Do you want to join a team that provides outstanding leadership, strategic direction and support to some of the best schools in the country?  Do you want to play your part in delivering outstanding learning and teaching to young people in disadvantaged communities? If so, joining the Star team might just be the best career move you ever make.

About Star Central

Star Central, which is based at our head office 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

The Star Institute - the learning and development centre of Star Academies - is searching for a skilled and experienced leader who is passionate about making a difference to the lives of children and young people through teacher training and development. This post will involve responsibility for the Institute’s SCITT and its hubs, and for wider teacher development in schools both within and outside of the Trust.

We are seeking to recruit an aspirational leader of teacher development with the capacity to develop further the Institute’s Initial Teacher Training provision and to take forward its wider teacher development strategy, including provision for Early Career Teachers. The successful post-holder will have a strong track record in leading and managing partnership-based teacher development programmes. You will be responsible for maintaining and exceeding the high standards of quality already achieved in the Star Institute’s teacher development provision. You will take a lead in growing and sustaining our ITT and teacher development programmes through opening new Hubs and engaging in partnership arrangements on a local, regional and national basis. You will engage positively and creatively with school leaders to help shape the provision and ensure that it meets schools’ needs and priorities. You will ensure that SCITT trainees and participants in the Institute’s teacher development programmes are fully supported in their learning and consistently experience a rich and rewarding developmental experience with successful outcomes.

The successful applicant will be an aspirational and enthusiastic professional who is seeking to experience the additional responsibilities and challenges of a senior role within an organisation that is at the forefront of national sector developments.

You will have:

• A passionate belief in the potential of high quality ITT and teacher development to transform outcomes for children and young people;
• An ability to inspire teachers, trainees, mentors, centrally-based staff, partners and school senior leaders;
• A track record of success as a leader of ITT and teacher development with demonstrable outcomes;
• Knowledge of current policy and provision in ITT and teacher development;
• A willingness to embrace challenging targets for your personal professional development and for those 2 whom you manage; and
• Full commitment to our vision and values

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 25 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 Star Central by calling 0330 313 9800.​​​​​​​

Key Dates

Closing Date: Friday, 13 August 2021 at midnight

Interview Date: To be confirmed

Proposed Start Date: January 2022 (or sooner if possible)

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.