Virtual School Lead Progress and Achievement Officer

Northumberland County Council; Morpeth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 48,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

26 days annual leave +Public/bankhols

Flexi leave (if applicable)

Job summary

Northumberland County Council’s Virtual School is seeking a Lead Progress and Achievement Officer to lead strategic initiatives for vulnerable learners. The role is Band 8, four days per week, term time plus 10 days, with a fixed term until March 2029.

The post focuses on shaping attendance, attainment, and progress for looked-after and care-experienced children, alongside CWSW and kinship care cohorts. You will work with schools, designated teachers, safeguarding leads, and Children’s Social

Qualifications

• Strategic leadership experience in education or local authority.
• Ability to analyse cohort data and translate into actions.
• Experience working with safeguarding, schools, and social care.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and advisory support to improve attendance and attainment for cared-for children and care-experienced young people.
• Establish robust multi-agency partnerships and monitor data trends to shape interventions.
• Work with SIS Headteacher to plan, monitor, and drive positive outcomes for the cohort.

Skills

Strategic planning

Multi-agency collaboration

Data analysis

Trauma-informed practice

SEND knowledge

Educational leadership

Job description

Northumberland County Council’s (NCC) vision is ‘Land of Great Opportunities’, for current and future generations. We believe there is no better place to live and work.

Are you an ambitious education leader passionate about breaking down barriers for vulnerable learners? Northumberland Virtual School have an exciting opportunity to join our team as Lead Progress and Achievement Officer.

The role is NCC salary Band 8, is 4 days, term time + 10 days (Monday - Thursday) and is fixed term until March 2029).

Following the Department for Education’s expansion of the Virtual School Head (VSH) remit, this vital role moves beyond our cared for children to champion the educational attendance, attainment, and progress of children with a social worker (CWSW) and those in kinship care arrangements across the local authority Northumberland Virtual School are seeking a dedicated Progress and Achievement Lead.

What you’ll be doing:

This is a strategic leadership and advisory role rather than working directly with children. You will act as an educational advocate, establishing robust multi-agency partnerships, analysing cohort data, and embedding trauma informed practices across all local educational settings

Working closely with the Virtual School Headteacher to plan, monitor, and drive positive outcomes for cared for children and previously cared for children, alongside the extended duty cohorts CWSW, and those in kinship care. The successful applicant will work strategically with schools, designated teachers, safeguarding leads, and Children’s Social Care to dismantle barriers to school attendance and inclusion, supporting to ensure schools have robust tracking and evaluate data trends using evidence‑based intel to shape local authority interventions and reporting.

The successful applicant will bring:

• A strong background in education or local authority leadership, with an understanding of the challenges faced by vulnerable learners and care experienced young people.
• Proven experience in strategic planning, multi‑agency collaboration, and translating complex pupil data into meaningful actions is an essential part of the role.
• A good understanding of educational procedures regarding Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), school admissions, and exclusions.
• Be resilient, highly organised, and collaborative professional who handles sensitive situations with care and drives high aspirations for every child.

Why choose us?

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part‑time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme (if applicable) – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part‑time employees)
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What you need to know

For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance notes here.

We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer.

We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria.

This information will be treated as confidential and will only be used to check that you meet the essential requirements of the post.

For further information about working for NCC, please visit our website here.

Additionally, we reserve the right to close this vacancy early or adjust the shortlisting criteria, including the pass mark for interview selection, to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process.