HEAD OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT & DEVELOPMENT

Cyngor Caerdydd/Cardiff Council; Cardiff; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading local authority in Wales seeks a Head of School Improvement and Development to drive educational change and enhance teaching quality across Cardiff's schools. This role involves collaboration with school leaders, implementing innovative strategies, and ensuring equitable access to education for all learners.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in enhancing performance across schools.
• Experience in leading significant change projects.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with school leaders to improve educational outcomes.
• Design and implement changes in response to governmental reviews.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Negotiation

Advocacy

Education

Master's Degree in Education

Job description

Grade: EAI 36-39 (£85,784 - £89,691 per annum), with the potential to earn up to £93,585 through the Structured Professional Assessment (SPA) process.

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.

What We Are Looking For From You

As a member of the Cardiff’s Education Directorate’s senior leadership team, you will work collaboratively and closely with fellow Officers and the Director and Assistant Director of Education, leading your service delivery to play its role in developing, improving and supporting Cardiff schools in creating and sustaining a high quality and inclusive education system which drives school improvement through school-to-school support.

You will have:

• A proven track record in enhancing and developing performance across early years, schools, and colleges, including governance, curriculum, assessment design, and provision.
• A clear and effective vision for school improvement, and support models at both individual and system levels, recognising the Local Authority’s statutory roles and responsibilities
• Experience in leading significant change projects, successfully guiding teams through transitions, and providing ambitious and credible leadership when collaborating with senior leaders in schools
• Comprehensive knowledge of statutory and legislative requirements related to safeguarding and school performance, ensuring the Local Authority’s statutory duties are met.

You will be:

• A champion a culture of inclusion, wellbeing and excellence, with the skills to support change and a new way of working
• You will work collaboratively and constructively, across directorate or team boundaries, to implement the directorate’s strategic direction.
• Commitment to customer service excellence as well as the ability to within the council’s policies and procedures, recognising that the council is a political organisation.

The goals of this new role will be:

• Establishment of Collaborative Learning Partnerships and a self-improving school system.
• Embed and sustain a culture of continuous improvement and innovation, supported by advanced data analytics and peer-to-peer support.
• Active engagement with school leaders, teachers, parents/carers and the wider community to support school improvement initiatives.
• Reduced disparities in educational outcomes, ensuring equitable access to high-quality education for all students, including those with Additional Learning Needs (ALN), disadvantaged, and vulnerable students.
• Successful implementation of Cardiff’s School Improvement Strategy, aligned with Welsh Government priorities by March 2026
• Clear, ambitious targets for school performance and learner outcomes, leading to measurable improvements in educational standards.
• Development and execution of innovative educational programs, particularly in Reading, Writing, Maths, digital learning, and STEM education.
• Robust performance monitoring and accountability frameworks, ensuring transparency and continuous improvement in school performance in areas such as attendance, exclusion, progress measures and outcomes of learners.
• Regular monitoring and evaluation of school improvement initiatives, ensuring their effectiveness and impact.
• Raised standards in teaching and learning through evidence-based approaches and innovative pedagogical strategies.
• Effective models for professional learning, coaching, and mentoring and career path progression.

Additional information

Grade: EAI 36-39 (£85,784 - £89,691 per annum), with the potential to earn up to £93,585 through the Structured Professional Assessment (SPA) process.

If you wish to have an informal discussion about the post, please contact Helen Williams, Assistant Director of Education and Inclusion on Tel [phone] or email [e-mail] to arrange a conversation.

Assessment Centre Day and Interview: Wednesday 4th June 2025

This post is advertised offered as a permanent position with agile working/home working. We will consider applications for secondment from Headteachers for a minimum of 2 years.

Internal candidates who wish to apply for this position on a secondment basis must obtain approval prior to application using Form SEC1 (4.C.081). Requests may only be approved by the relevant Director/ Assistant Director/ Chief Officer or senior nominated officer graded no lower than OM2 or in the case of schools-based staff the Headteacher / Governing Body.

This post is suitable for post share.

This post will require an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Safeguarding and Child Protection are key priorities for the Council. We aim to support children and vulnerable adults to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. Our services and schools are committed to ensuring the safety and protection of all children and vulnerable adults, and will take action to safeguard their well-being, and acknowledge that children and vulnerable adults have a right to protection. This is supported in the general ethos of the Council and all schools.

We understand you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, original and does not include ideas or work that is not your own.

We welcome applications in both English and Welsh. Applications received in Welsh will not be treated less favourably than English applications.

Please note the Council does not accept CV’s. When completing the supporting information section of your application, please ensure you refer to the below located on our website :

Important information you need read in order to complete your application:-

Job Category Education - Professional / Support

Department Education & Lifelong Learning

Working Pattern/Contract Type Full Time Permanent