School/Settings Leadership Advisor

Durham County Council; North East; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Durham County Council is seeking an outstanding Leadership Advisor to work within Education Durham, providing strategic input and practical support to raise the quality of provision across schools and settings.

This fixed-term role runs from 1 January 2027 to 31 August 2028. The post involves challenging schools on capacity to improve, reviewing self-evaluation, performance data and school improvement plans to ensure ambitious yet realistic targets.

Qualifications

• You will need a relevant degree and to hold current Qualified Teacher Status.
• Experience leading in a school or academy and managing change is essential.
• Ability to analyse school performance data and use evidence to drive improvement.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic input to Education Durham and challenge schools to improve outcomes.
• Review self-evaluation and improvement plans against evidence including Ofsted where available.
• Discuss targets and priorities for the coming year to ensure ambition and realism.
• Support and advise schools on capacity to improve and focus on key priorities.

Skills

Leadership in schools

Data analysis

Change management

Strategic input

Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Relevant degree

Job description

We are looking to recruit an outstanding school leader to work effectively within Education Durham to provide strategic input and practical support which will enhance the quality of provision across schools and settings. This post is for a fixed term period starting on 1st January 2027 and ending 31st August 2028.

WHAT IS INVOLVED?

As a Leadership Advisor, you will provide challenge to schools and settings within the current educational policy context particularly on their capacity to improve outcomes, attainment and progression.

• Discussing and assessing a school’s self-evaluation and school improvement plan against available evidence including the Ofsted report, and commenting on the accuracy and effectiveness of these.
• Providing an objective review of the school’s performance data by considering its most recent national test results, trends over time, other pupil achievement and progress data, and analysing the evidence of the school’s improvement.
• Discussing the school’s targets and priorities for the coming year, based on the analysis of the data above, to ensure that they are ambitious but realistic
• Challenging the school where necessary, particularly on its capacity to improve and whether it is focusing on the most important priorities for improvement and development

We encourage you to contact David Grimes via email at [e-mail] to arrange an informal discussion about the role.

WHAT WILL I NEED?

You will need a relevant degree and to hold current Qualified Teacher Status.

Alongside this, a proven record of effective leadership in a school or academy setting alongside managing and implementing change is also essential to thrive in the post.

Please refer to the attached person specification for the full criteria.

If successful, you will be required to apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service Enhanced Disclosure.

INTERVIEWS

Interviews will be held from 29th October 2026.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that can show they meet all the essential criteria and have indicated they have a disability, are a looked after young person, care leaver or a veteran.

OUR OFFER TO YOU

We offer a competitive rewards package that includes attractive salaries, a generous annual leave entitlement of 27 days (rising to 32 after five years’ continuous local government service), membership of the excellent contributory career average Local Government Pension Scheme, and a range of flexible working arrangements including hybrid working (home and office) where applicable. Explore the full range of rewards and benefits on our website.

Rewards and benefits are subject to individual terms and conditions.

EQUALITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION

We are a proud equal opportunities employer and believe a diverse workforce brings fresh ideas and drives service improvement. We welcome applications from everyone and make employment decisions based on skills and ability. As a Disability Confident Leader, we actively encourage applications from disabled people and offer support throughout the recruitment process.

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