School Improvement Advisor

Hoople Group; Hereford; On-site; GBP 64,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Contributory pension

Staff benefits scheme

Job summary

Herefordshire Council is seeking a School Improvement Advisor to join the Learning and Achievement Team. The role provides strategic direction to strengthen governance of schools across Herefordshire, challenging schools to foster a self-improving system and ensuring statutory responsibilities are met for all schools and settings.

You will work with senior leaders to monitor and support local authority maintained schools in need of improvement, and contribute to the traded offer for school

Qualifications

• Qualified teacher with senior leadership experience
• Proven track record of leading school improvement
• Experience delivering and coordinating improvement activities
• Safeguarding and DBS checks are required

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction to strengthen governance of schools in the county
• Challenge schools to develop a self-improving system
• Ensure statutory responsibilities for performance of all schools/settings are met
• Monitor and support LA maintained schools identified as needing help
• Provide a traded service for school improvement
• Ensure oversight and QA of standards in alternative provision and specialist settings
• Ensure all children in Herefordshire have full-time education under section 19

Skills

Qualified teacher

Senior leadership

Track record of improvement

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

Job Title: School Improvement Advisor – Learning and Achievement Team

Contract: 3 Year Fixed Term

Hours: 37

Salary: Soulbury point 14-16 £63,900 - £66,967 per annum

Location: Herefordshire

Closing date: 04/10/2026

The Role

In Herefordshire, we care about our people and how we deliver services to our community. We want to attract the best talent. In the Education, Skills and Learning Service we encourage a culture that puts children and young people at the heart of everything we do, by empowering our people to collaborate, think innovatively, make decisions and find solutions. Join us and be part of something better.

• Providing strategic direction to strengthen and support the governance of schools in the county.
• Providing challenge to all schools to support the development of a self-improving school system in the county.
• Ensuring that statutory responsibilities concerning the performance of all schools/settings in Herefordshire (including academies) are met.
• Working alongside heads of service in the Children and Families Directorate, to monitor, support and provide challenge to all local authority (LA) maintained schools where a need is identified.
• Providing a traded service for school improvement within the county.
• Ensure effective oversight and quality assurance of standards in alternative provision and specialist settings.
• Ensure all children and young people are in receipt of a full-time education under section 19 of the Education Act including those with medical needs, those who have been permanently excluded and those without a school place.

Come and join us on our Restorative Journey of Improvement to gain the best for children and families in Herefordshire.

About You

We wish to recruit an experienced school improvement adviser to join the team.

You will be a qualified teacher with experience of delivering and coordinating school improvement activities either within a school or local authority in a senior leadership role.

You will have a proven track record of leading improvements within your current educational role and of supporting more than one school.

The successful candidate will have the requisite skillset to support the local authority to embed a performance culture which leads to improved outcomes for children.

Safeguarding of children and young people is taken seriously by the council and a disclosure and barring services check will be undertaken for successful applicants.

To arrange an informal discussion, or ask any questions about the role, please contact [email protected]

We Offer

A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme, which includes:

• Salary range of £63,900 - £66,967 per annum pro rata
• Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum during the request period
• Flexible working: including the potential for job-sharing, part-time hours and agile working.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling
• Pick your perks - our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits. This includes savings, cash back and discounts.

Why Choose Us?

We're proud and excited to unveil our new recruitment video, a celebration of Herefordshire's people, places, and purpose. Set in the heart of England and filled with pride, compassion and possibility, the video brings to life what it means to work somewhere you truly belong.

At Herefordshire Council, every role matters and every person makes a real difference for our communities. We’re a team where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow together.

Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community.

Our priority is clear: to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families, and partners to make a lasting difference.

It’s an exciting time to join us. We’re investing in our people and our relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner, Leeds City Council. You’ll be supported by experienced managers, continuous professional development, and a genuine team ethos that values collaboration and care.

If you’re committed to helping children and young people thrive, come and join the journey in Herefordshire - where your work truly matters.

Herefordshire Council Plan

The Council Plan Sets Out How We Will Make Our Contribution To Achieving a Better And More Successful Herefordshire, Please See The Link Below To Find Out More:

Herefordshire Council Plan 2024-2028

Reasonable Adjustments

If you’re shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments, our Children & Young People Recruitment Team will be happy to support you.

Creating an inclusive workplace

We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to help embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups, collectives of colleagues who often share identities, life experiences or cultures and offer support and community. They also play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council. Embedded in the Council's values is a commitment to listen to people's views and needs.

For more information on our Employee Network Groups please view our dedicated recruitment website: www.spiritofherefordshire.com.

Commitments, Covenants and Statutory Obligations

The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability. This is part of our commitment to the “Disability Confident” scheme.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist. This is part of our pledge to support the Armed Forces Covenant.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver. This is part of our commitment to supporting young people leaving our care.

We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children & young people and vulnerable adults. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks.