Job Description
Diocesan Director of Education
June 2017
Job Description – Llandaff Diocesan Director of Education
Our Church Schools and our commitment to their pupils and staff are an important part of our life as a diocese. Our hope is that, in our schools, pupils may flourish within an environment which nurtures and supports them, provides high quality teaching and learning opportunities and allows them to develop as young people, created in the image of God.
Drawing on a rich inheritance of prayer, tradition, reflection and liturgy, our pupils are given the opportunity to explore their faith and, within a distinct Anglican ethos, to welcome, serve and cherish all members of their community, irrespective of their faith.
Job Title: Diocesan Director of Education
Reports to: Diocesan Secretary (Line management arrangements are currently under review)
Location: The Diocesan Office in Coychurch, Bridgend. The post holder will be expected to travel across the Diocese and the wider Province.
Key information: Salary: £45,000 per annum (pro rata if post filled at less than full-time). The post holder will be eligible to join the contributory pension scheme. Expenses will be reimbursed in line with diocesan policy.
Status of post: Permanent (subject to a six-month probationary period)
Hours of work: Minimum of 0.6fte (equivalent to 22.5 hours per week). The exact hours and full-time equivalence will be agreed at interview. The post holder will be expected to work flexible and unsocial hours, including occasional weekend and evening work.
Leave allowance: Full-time leave allowance is 20 days per annum plus Bank Holidays, rising by one day per annum to 25 days. Leave allowance for this post will be pro rata according to its full-time equivalence. Overtime is not payable, but an equivalent amount of time off in lieu may be taken.
Administrative support: The role is supported by a part-time Education Support Officer at the Diocesan office.
Key relationships: The Bishop & Senior Staff of the Diocese; Headteachers and school staff; Children; Diocesan Clergy including Ministry Area Leaders; Provincial Director of Education for the Church in Wales; Chair of the Diocesan Board of Education; Chair of the School Buildings Committee
Key groups: Llandaff Diocesan Board of Education (which the DDE serves as secretary); Llandaff Diocesan Board of Finance; Church in Wales Advisory Council for Education; Welsh DDEs (Six C-in-W, three Roman Catholic); National Society for England and Wales
Role Objectives:
1. To manage the statutory and organisational issues for the 25 Church-in-Wales schools in the Diocese (3 Secondary, 22 Primary, within Bridgend, Cardiff, Neath-Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taff, and Vale of Glamorgan LEAs)
2. To develop the distinctive Christian character of our Church schools, ensuring a context for high quality teaching and learning.
3. To develop and implement a strategic vision for the provision and impact of Christian education, within the network of Church schools and in the wider community of the Diocese.
4. To manage the Education team within the Diocesan Office (Schools Support Officer and Education Support Officer)
Year 6 Leavers’ Service in Llandaff Cathedral
Responsibilities:
· Statutory/Organisational
- Guidance and support to Diocesan Church schools, enabling each school to develop clarity of purpose in its life, work and witness as a Church in Wales school
- Develop constructive relationships with relevant bodies (eg Welsh Assembly; Local Authorities; School Improvement Consortia) and with ecumenical partners
- Guidance and support to schools, governors and diocesan officers on statutory responsibilities
- Guidance and support to schools and governing bodies on a range of issues including
o Appointment of foundation governors
o Admissions policies
o Section 50 inspections
o Appointment of staff
o Section 50 inspections
- Liaise with Lead Bishop for Education in the Church in Wales, Provincial Director of Education and Church-in-Wales Advisory Council for Education
- Member of Head teacher appointments panels; advise on other staff appointments
· School Culture/Curriculum
(It is anticipated that some activities within this section will be delivered by the Schools Support Officer)
- Support Church schools to deliver a vibrant curriculum, marked by excellence in teaching and learning and underpinned by explicit Christian values.
- Promote and contribute to the development of high quality Religious Education, collective worship, and distinctiveness of school
- Liaise with Diocesan Headteachers’ group
- Build rapport with Head teachers and Chairs of Governors of Church schools
- Explore opportunities for involvement (RE, assemblies) in state schools
- Develop a strategy for leadership development in schools
- Offer advice on financial matters/funding/grants (CRAMP)
- Offer advice on inspections and post-inspection action plans
- Visit schools, identify best practice, develop systems to transfer good practices
· Lead the Education Section in the Diocesan Office
- Supervise the work of the part-time Education Support officer in the Diocesan Office in the following areas:
Appointment of Foundation Governors
School admission processes
Head teacher meetings/events
Annual Year Six Leavers’ service
Agendas/minutes of meetings
Correspondence with LEAs/Diocesan Office/registrar/schools
Appointment of Section 50 Inspectors
Training for school staff, governors and others on a variety of topics including admissions, governor induction and CRAMP funding
CRAMP applications
- Supervise the work of the part-time Schools Support Officer in the following areas:
Curriculum support for RE teachers
Supporting schools during S50 inspections
Signposting Head teachers to resources and support materials
Person Specification: Essential
· Education
- Degree in a relevant discipline
· Experience
- Professional experience, knowledge and understanding of schools
- Demonstrable success in a senior leadership position, preferably in an education setting
- Evidence of developing school improvement strategies and raising standards
· Leadership & Management Skills
- Proven ability in strategic and people management
- Ability to organise own work and prioritise effectively
· Technical Skills
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to interpret school data, self-evaluations and inspections
- Ability to understand, interpret and explain the statutory requirements and give appropriate advice to schools and the diocese
· Relationship Skills
- Excellent inter-personal skills
- Ability to demonstrate success in building strong, sensitive relationships at all levels, including heads, teachers, school staff and clergy
- Demonstrable ability to build and develop partnerships with other stakeholders in education (local authorities, Welsh Government)
· Commitment
- Understand the strategic importance of the DDE role in the Llandaff Diocese
- Supportive of Christian ethos and distinctiveness of our schools
- Commitment to the role that Church schools play in formal education
- Commitment to raising standards within Church schools
· Other
- A current valid driving licence, use of a car and willingness to travel as needed
- Satisfactory DBS check.
- Understanding of and willingness to act in accordance with key policies (H&S; Safeguarding; Equal Opportunities, Data protection)
Person Specification: Desirable
· Leadership & Management Skills
- Ability to be an effective leader and team member
· Technical Skills
- Confidence and demonstrable ability to work in an advisory capacity
- Good IT skills (particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Able to recommend appropriate resource and support materials for schools
· Relationship Skills
- Able to work with training providers to enhance the opportunities for our schools
- Ability to maintain and develop professional links with DDEs across Wales
· Commitment
- Appreciation of strategy and vision for the diocese
- Commitment to all schools in the diocese, providing support in their exploration of vision and values
· Other
- Commitment to maintaining own professional development
- Communicant member of the Church in Wales or of a Church in communion with it