School Improvement Advisor

Recruitment agency: We Do Social Work Recruitment
Day rate: £430–£440 Ltd per day
Working pattern: 3–4 days per week
Location: Hybrid, with 2–3 days per week working in schools
Contract: Interim / Contract

We are recruiting

We Do Social Work Recruitment are currently recruiting for an experienced and dynamic School Improvement Advisor to join an education service in London on an interim basis.

This is a high-impact opportunity for an experienced education professional to work closely with school leaders, governors, education professionals and wider partners to improve outcomes for children and young people.

The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership, professional challenge and practical support across a range of schools, with a particular focus on identifying areas of risk, strengthening leadership capacity and securing sustainable school improvement.

About the role

Reporting to a senior education leader, you will work as part of an Education and Learning Senior Leadership Team to provide expert advice, challenge and support to schools.

You will play a key role in developing and delivering school improvement strategies, supporting vulnerable schools and ensuring that intervention and improvement activity leads to measurable and sustained improvements in educational outcomes.

The role will involve regular work within schools, alongside strategic and partnership work carried out remotely.

Key responsibilities

• Provide strategic school improvement advice, challenge and support to headteachers, senior leaders and governing bodies.
• Develop and implement strategies, training and professional development to strengthen leadership, management, curriculum delivery and pupil outcomes.
• Lead and contribute to targeted support and intervention for schools causing concern or experiencing multiple vulnerabilities.
• Undertake rigorous quality assurance of school improvement activity and monitor its impact.
• Analyse educational performance data, identify emerging risks and provide accurate intelligence to inform timely intervention.
• Work collaboratively with governance colleagues to strengthen governing bodies and develop effective governance support.
• Support schools experiencing financial difficulties, including advice on deficit recovery, sustainable financial planning and appropriate organisational or structural change.
• Develop positive and productive relationships with schools, academies, trusts and other education partners.
• Support school clusters to develop their capacity to deliver effective school improvement interventions.
• Keep up to date with national and local education policy, statutory requirements and emerging school improvement practice.
• Provide expert leadership, training, coaching and professional challenge to school leaders and staff.
• Contribute to the recruitment, induction and development of headteachers, teachers and other education leaders.
• Produce reports and analysis for senior leaders, demonstrating progress, impact and value for money.
• Identify opportunities to develop innovative approaches that improve outcomes and close attainment gaps.
• Contribute to bids, contracts and grant-funded opportunities where appropriate.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion and ensure services are responsive to the needs of diverse communities.

About you

You will be an experienced and credible education professional with a strong track record of school improvement and senior leadership.

You will hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and have substantial knowledge of the education system, school improvement and safeguarding frameworks.

You will understand the challenges facing school and system leaders and be confident providing both professional support and constructive challenge to senior stakeholders.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience as a Headteacher, senior school leader, School Improvement professional and/or Ofsted inspection experience, who can demonstrate a successful record of improving outcomes across multiple schools or settings.

Experience of school finance, deficit recovery planning and the relationship between financial sustainability and educational provision will also be highly valued.

Essential experience and knowledge

You should be able to demonstrate:

• QTS and evidence of continuing professional development.
• Substantial professional knowledge of education, school improvement and safeguarding frameworks, including KCSIE, the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework and SEND Code of Practice.
• Strong understanding of the challenges facing school and system leaders and effective approaches to school improvement.
• Knowledge of the financial, legal and regulatory environment in which schools operate.
• Understanding of the needs and challenges facing schools and communities in a diverse, inner-city context.
• Knowledge of public service delivery, including commissioning.
• Working knowledge of school finance systems and deficit recovery planning.
• Significant senior management experience within statutory education provision.
• A proven record of improving outcomes and/or delivering excellence across a range of schools or learning organisations.
• Experience as a Headteacher, senior school leader and/or Ofsted inspection experience.
• Demonstrable experience of working across multiple schools and settings to deliver school improvement.
• A successful track record of collaborative working with partners to improve outcomes for children and young people.
• Strong understanding of evidence-based approaches to improving teaching, learning, outcomes and inclusion.

What you'll bring

Strategic leadership – the ability to understand the bigger picture and translate strategy into practical action that delivers measurable improvement.

Professional credibility – confidence working with headteachers, governors, senior leaders and education partners, with the ability to provide effective challenge and support.

Analytical thinking – the ability to interpret complex performance, financial and contextual information and turn it into clear priorities and effective interventions.

Collaboration – a partnership-focused approach with the ability to build trusted relationships across schools, academies, trusts, governors and professional services.

Innovation and agility – the ability to respond effectively to changing priorities and identify new approaches to improving educational outcomes.

Commitment to inclusion – a strong commitment to equity, inclusion and ensuring that all children and young people have the opportunity to achieve their potential.

The opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced School Improvement Advisor to make a direct impact on educational outcomes across a diverse London school community.

If you are an experienced school improvement professional who combines strategic thinking with practical delivery and is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people, We Do Social Work Recruitment would love to hear from you.

Role details

£430–£440 Ltd per day
3–4 days per week
Hybrid working
2–3 days per week based in schools
London