Education Development Officer

Sandwell Local Area Partnership; Smethwick; Remote; GBP 39,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

Sandwell Council is seeking an Education Development Officer to support vulnerable children within Sandwell Virtual School in Smethwick. The role focuses on delivering personalised education plans and coordinating educational interventions with carers, schools and partner agencies.

The post is a fixed-term secondment to 31 August 2027 with a salary band of £38,510–£43,149 per annum. Applicants should have 5 GCSEs including Maths and English and experience in multi-disciplinary settings.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs A-C including Maths and English.
• Minimum level 4 qualification in a relevant discipline.
• Three years’ experience working with vulnerable young people in a range of settings.

Responsibilities

• Support vulnerable children to reach their potential.
• Lead on Personal Education Plans to maximise educational outcomes.
• Collaborate with foster carers, parents, schools and professional agencies to deliver interventions and support packages.

Skills

Communication skills

Relationship building

Multi-disciplinary teamwork

Experience with vulnerable young ppl

Education

GCSEs including Maths and English

Level 4 qualification in a relevant discipline

Job description

Education Development Officer

Grade/Salary: Band F, SCP 26-31 (£38,510-£43,149 per annum)

Contract Type: Fixed Term (Secondment Opportunity)

Hours: 37 flexible working hours

Location: Sandwell Virtual school, the Hollies, Coopers Lane, Smethwick

Job Summary:

• To support Vulnerable Children (inc Children we Care for, Previously Looked after Children (PLAC) and Children with a Social Worker (CWSW) to reach their potential.
• Lead on the effective use of Personal Education Plans to deliver an individual plan of support to maximise the educational outcomes for vulnerable children, including determining how best to allocate pupil premium plus expenditure.
• Collaborate with foster carers, parents, schools and professional agencies in the creation and delivery of educational interventions and support packages.

What We're Looking For

Essential Requirements:

• 5 GCSEs A-C or equivalent-including Maths and English.
• Minimum level 4 qualification in a relevant discipline
• Three years’ experience working with vulnerable young people in a range of settings, inside and outside school.
• Knowledge of the complexities of working in multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to build good relationships with adults and relate well to children.

The Virtual School has a statutory role to promote the educational achievement for children in the care of the local authority and as such require an individual who can demonstrate excellent relational and communication skills. The ability to interpret and respond to the complexities of childhood trauma within the education setting is critical.

This is a secondment opportunity to the 31 August 2027 in the first instance.

Closing Date: 12th November 2026

Interviews date: 27th November 2026

Sandwell Council welcomes applications from Armed Forces veterans and values the transferable skills and experience they bring. Under our Veterans’ Guaranteed Interview Scheme, eligible veterans who demonstrate that they meet all the essential criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview. Please indicate in your application that you wish to be considered under the scheme.

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