Local Education Systems Leader (14-19)

London Borough of Bexley; Bexleyheath; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Coaching and mentoring programmes

Excellent pension scheme

Generous annual leave

Job summary

London Borough of Bexley invites applications for a senior school improvement role. You will oversee 14-19 provision with a focus on strategic leadership, partnerships, and improving outcomes for children and young people.

The role requires substantial senior leadership experience in a school or trust, with a track record of driving improvement and developing the workforce. Office-based at least three days per week in Bexley.

Qualifications

• Experience leading school improvement initiatives at senior level.
• Strong strategic leadership and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Experience working with KS4/KS5 settings and partner organisations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership focusing on academic and vocational pathways.
• Collaborate with Careers Network and support schools/colleges.
• Oversee NEET data reporting trends to DfE and Ofsted.
• Oversee the wider post-16 offer in Bexley.
• Review and update policies related to 14-19 provision.
• Provide training to schools and education teams within the council.
• Deliver school improvement support for an allocated cluster of schools.
• Lead transitions at KS4 and KS5.
• Contribute to traded services, teaching and governance training.

Skills

School improvement

Strategic leadership

KS4/KS5 leadership

Partnership development

Communication & coaching

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Senior leadership experience in school/trust

Job description

About The Role

We are keen to recruit a new member to our school improvement team. The successful candidate will have oversight of 14-19 provision as well as a school improvement focused role. You will join a dedicated and supportive directorate who are passionate about making a difference.

You will be an experienced school senior leader with the energy, commitment and drive to build on our school improvement partnership work. You will have a track record of delivering significant improvement at senior leadership or headship level and be knowledgeable and experienced in school improvement. You will be innovative in response to challenges as well as a key driver in ensuring that Bexley becomes a forerunner and leader in new initiatives and ways of thinking about improving outcomes and experiences for children, young people and the wider workforce.

You will also have strong communication and influencing skills, with an ability to use coaching and other leadership approaches to secure improvement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership with a focus on academic and vocational learning pathways
• Working in partnership with the Careers Network and providing related support to schools and colleges
• Providing strategic oversight of NEET data and reporting trends to the DfE and Ofsted
• Overseeing the wider post 16 offer in Bexley
• Reviewing and updating policies in relation to 14 -19 provision
• Providing training to schools, and education teams within the council
• Providing school improvement support for an allocated cluster of schools
• Providing strategic leadership with a focus on transition points (end of KS4 and end of KS5)
• Contributing to traded services, delivering training on teaching and learning, leadership and governance.

We look forward to welcoming a new member to our team who shares our commitment to excellence in education.

Please refer to the Job Description attached for more information.

Please note that the successful candidate will be required to be office based at least 3 days a week.

For an informal discussion about the role please contact Joan Woodham, Head of Education Improvement and Partnerships, 02030455037, [e-mail]

Candidate Profile

We are seeking a qualified teacher with substantial senior leadership experience in a school or trust, who has had responsibility for overseeing the quality of education, demonstrates exceptional leadership skills, and values the importance of team collaboration. The ideal candidate will have:

• Extensive knowledge and experience in school improvement.
• Strong strategic leadership skills.
• Extensive leadership experience working within KS4 and KS5 settings.
• Experience in working with partner organisations.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills.

For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role, please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description attached. Please note that candidates must meet the essential criteria to be considered for this post

For the full list of essential and desirable criteria for this role then please refer to the Person Specification within the Job Description attached.

Appointment to this post will be subject to the outcome of an Enhanced Disclosure obtained through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Interviews are scheduled to be held on 30th September 2026.

About Us

Bexley is a vibrant and diverse outer London Borough nestled in the Thames Gateway between London and Kent which means it combines the perfect blend of city vibe and the tranquillity of Kent. It's got award-winning parks, open spaces, and heritage sites. The borough has excellent transport connections, including the Elizabeth Line and proximity to the M25. Bexley offers fantastic amenities such as libraries, leisure centres, and shopping areas. Our borough is also home to numerous primary and secondary schools, as well as further education institutions.

Our Offer to you

We will offer you in return a package that includes:

• competitive salary
• coaching and mentoring programmes
• an excellent pension scheme
• generous annual leave plus bank holidays

For more information on the benefits package on offer please refer to the Candidate Information document attached.

Recruitment Information

As a disability confident employer Bexley welcomes applications from people with all disabilities, including hidden disabilities and mental health conditions. We will interview any disabled applicant who meets the minimum criteria. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made to any part of the recruitment process due to your disability, please contact us on [e-mail]

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This role may be available as a development opportunity through secondment for the Council’s existing employees. The Council’s Secondment Scheme can be found here. If this option is of interest, please contact the recruiting manager.

We reserve the right to close adverts earlier than the closing date.