The key purpose of the Director of Education’s role is to promote and manage the educational work of the Archdiocese by providing effective leadership and direction to the Education Service in the development and implementation of a strategy and on-going management of the team, which delivers on the Archbishop’s core principles of Catholic education. 

 

 Director of Education

 

Location:                           Central London (SE1), plus travel within the Archdiocese

Reporting to:                    Episcopal Vicar for Education and the Chief Operating Officer 

Job Purpose:                    The key purpose of the Director of Education’s role is to promote and manage the educational work of the Archdiocese by providing effective leadership and direction to the Education Service in the development and implementation of a strategy and on-going management of the team, which delivers on the Archbishop’s core principles of Catholic education.  This is a senior role within the Archdiocese and as such is expected to work collaboratively with all other senior managers within the Archdiocese to meet the requirements of the Trustees.

 

Principal duties and responsibilities

 

The Director is responsible to the Episcopal Vicar for Education and Chief Operating Officer for:

• Developing and implementing the education strategy of the Archdiocese including the Academisation of Southwark’s Catholic Schools.
• The strategic development, promotion and effectiveness of Catholic education in the Archdiocese.
• Ensuring the quality of provision and standards of Catholic life and Religious Education of the schools and colleges.
• Ensuring that there are sufficient and suitable places in Catholic schools and colleges where they are needed.
• The oversight and monitoring of the inspection process.
• The recruitment and training of Academy Directors and Foundation Governors.
• Monitoring and maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of the Education Service.
• Receiving direction from the Trustees and translating that into annual priorities for work in the Education Service and ensuring these priorities are clearly understood by the team.
• Ensuring that the team is ‘fit for purpose’ at all times.
• Staff appraisal and development.
• Preparing, presenting and implementing an agreed annual budget and working within that budget during each financial year.
• Liaising with other diocesan agencies and departments as appropriate.
• The provision of accurate and regular management information about key performance indicators in education within the Archdiocese and the impact of changes, trends, etc on the strategy

 

The Director is also responsible for providing regular reports and advice, as appropriate, on:

• All aspects of current education legislation, policy and practice, including inspection.
• Risks and challenges associated with these areas and recommendations for tackling these successfully.
• Religious Education and the Catholic life of schools and other educational establishments.
• The recruitment, appointment and continuing professional development of heads, deputies and teachers in Catholic schools.
• The effectiveness of Academy Directors and Foundation governors and governor training.
• The quality of education in Catholic schools in the Archdiocese.
• The appropriate provision of school chaplaincy.
• The effectiveness of the Education Service team.

 

The Director has overall responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the interests of the schools and colleges of the Archdiocese by:

• Liaison with and responding to consultation exercises from the DfE, the ESFA and XXX, Local Authorities, other national and local bodies.
• Ensuring appropriate representation on LA committees and forums.
• Ensuring appropriate negotiation and liaison with the DfE, SFA, and EFA, LAs and the CES.
• Representing the Archdiocese externally as agreed with the Episcopal Vicar for Education and

 

The Director has overall responsibility for ensuring the provision of appropriate professional advice and support to Governors, Trustees, Head Teachers, Parish Priests and others in their respective roles in the following Statutory areas:

• Governance: Instruments of Government; appointment and training of governors.
• Academy Trusts of the Archdiocese: operational guidance.
• Pupils: admissions policies; appeals and exclusions; home-school agreements; special needs; school transport.
• Staff: appointment process for heads and deputies; recruitment of Catholic teachers; staff contracts; disciplinary procedures; appraisal and professional development.
• Curriculum: statutory requirements and complaints procedures.
• Religious Education: content, advice; inspection.
• Buildings: capital project negotiation and development; asset management plans; funding.
• Charity Law: Trust Deeds.

 

Person specification:    Director of Education

 

	ESSENTIAL	DESIRABLE
CHRISTIAN COMMITMENT	A practising and committed Catholic Involvement in the wider life of the Church Convinced of the place of the Church in education
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE       QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE	Graduate with teaching or other relevant professional qualification and experience Proven record of building strategies for delivering the aims and objectives of an organisation Proven record of deploying and managing staff efficiently and effectively Proven financial management and budget development experience	Evidence of the capacity to direct a small organisation serving a large stakeholder base (preferably in the education sector) Experience in the Catholic education sector (schools/colleges/administration) Experience of dealing with the media
KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING	Secure understanding of the distinctive nature of Catholic education Knowledge of Catholic education, its purpose and processes Knowledge and understanding of Catholic ethos and practice in schools and colleges An informed and articulate theological understanding Understanding of curriculum development and approaches to learning, teaching and the inspection of Catholic schools and colleges	Knowledge of current Church documents and recent developments relating to education Awareness of strategies for improving the quality of education Understanding of current educational policy and its significance for the management and governance of Catholic schools and colleges Familiarity with Canon Law relating to education Vision for the changing nature of education and its impact on Catholic education in general and the Archdiocese in particular.
SKILLS, EXPERIENCE & PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES	Good interpersonal skills and the ability to build and maintain good relationships, and win respect and trust at all levels Proven skills in strategic management Skilful in the effective monitoring of performance of people and policies Excellent communication skills including the ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing to a range of audiences Proven ability in effective leadership and organisational development Ability to devolve responsibilities and delegate tasks, whilst holding individuals to account, and to develop a confident, self-motivating team that can work with autonomy and moral purpose Ability to demonstrate the attributes possessed and displayed by all successful and effective leaders including: -        adaptability to changing circumstances  and new ideas -        ability to drive and implement strategically planned change -        energy, vigour and perseverance -        commitment, reliability and integrity -        creativity and imagination to anticipate and solve problems -        good judgement Ability to remain positive and enthusiastic when working under pressure Business minded	Demonstrable track record of developing and sustaining successful partnerships with internal and external bodies- locally, regionally and nationally
OTHER	Prepared to work evenings and weekends as the needs of the job demand Car driver Clear enhanced DBS
AREFERENCES	Positive and supportive reference from the priest where applicant regularly worships Positive recommendation in professional references

 

HOW TO APPLY

 

Interested candidates must complete an application form.
To request a copy, please email: recruitment@rcaos.org.uk

Please note: Applications submitted with only a CV and covering letter will not be accepted.