Director of Secondary Education

Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust; Smethwick; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust in the Black Country is seeking an exceptional Director of Secondary Education to lead school improvement, standards and educational excellence across our secondary academies. This executive leadership role works with the CEO, Executive Team and secondary Principals to secure strong outcomes, ambitious curricula, excellent teaching and inclusive provision.

You will build a coherent improvement model, strengthen senior leadership, use data effectively and ensure

Qualifications

• Proven track record of improving schools and outcomes.
• Ability to lead strategic improvement across multiple academies.
• Strong data-use, inspection readiness and high standards.
• Credible, values-driven leadership with emotional intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Lead secondary improvement across the Trust’s academies and ensure high standards.
• Work with CEO, Executive Team and Principals to secure outcomes and ambitious curricula.
• Develop inclusive provision, attendance, behaviour and teaching quality.
• Prepare academies for inspections and deploy support where it makes the most difference.

Job description

Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust is seeking an exceptional Director of Secondary Education to lead school improvement, standards and educational excellence across our secondary academies.

This is a significant executive leadership role at an important moment in the Trust’s development. Building on strong foundations, distinctive curriculum approaches, technology-rich education and a deep commitment to inclusion, the successful candidate will help shape the next phase of secondary improvement across the Trust.

You will work closely with the CEO, Executive Team and secondary Principals to secure strong outcomes, ambitious curricula, excellent teaching, high attendance, positive behaviour and inclusive provision. You will lead a coherent secondary improvement model, strengthen subject and senior leadership, use data intelligently, prepare academies for inspection, and ensure that support is deployed where it will make the greatest difference.

We are looking for a credible and values-driven secondary leader with a successful track record of improving schools and outcomes. You will bring strategic insight, educational authority, emotional intelligence and the courage to combine support with challenge.

At Shireland, every individual matters. Our academies have the freedom to flourish, but no school stands alone. If you share our commitment to high standards, innovation, collaboration and improving life chances across the Black Country, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects its entire staff to share this commitment. All post-holders will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), including a Children’s Barred List check for posts carrying out a regulated activity.

For an informal discussion please contact our HR Director Melanie Adams on 0121 281 1630

Closing date: Wednesday 7 October 2026

Interviews: Thursday 15 October 2026