Regulatory and Unregistered Schools Casework Officer, Independent Education Unit

Overview

The Independent Education Unit (IEU) regulates all independent schools in England (approx. 2500). We register new independent schools and ensure that all independent schools offer a high-quality education and keep the children attending them safe. The IEU manages all aspects of the Department for Education\’s end-to-end relationship with independent schools by ensuring that all schools are registered correctly, they submit applications to amend registered details, they meet the Independent School Standards, and by acting against schools not complying with these standards. Your work will allow you to make a meaningful difference to children\’s life chances. The IEU ensures that every independent school in England promotes pupil\’s welfare and provides a quality education in a safe environment. The IEU is a fast-paced, highly supportive, friendly unit and encourages personal development at every level. The team manages high-profile cases, attracting Ministerial and outside attention. The role is interesting, challenging and will require flexibility and collaborative working across all aspects of the team\\\’s remit, but will offer many opportunities for personal development. The work on the team is often fast paced, high profile and you can expect every day to be busy but varied.

Duties / Responsibilities

• Commissioning and reviewing inspection reports relating to the likelihood of an independent school meeting the independent school standards and using these – and any other available evidence – to reach a decision on whether an application can be approved.
• Processing Disclosure and Barring Service applications for potential proprietors of independent schools, ensuring the correct checks are carried out at each point of the application.
• Ensuring that correct processes are followed for quick and decisive decision-making on the regulation of individual independent schools.
• Reviewing concerns received regarding schools and taking appropriate action regarding schools that fail to meet the Independent School Standards.
• Supporting the team\\\’s Business of State work, drafting Treat Official and Private Office correspondence, FOI responses, drafting citations for Honours cases and policy development (areas of policy include the Independent School Standards, National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools and Residential Special Schools, British Schools Overseas , Online Education Accreditation Scheme and Non-Maintained Special Schools).
• Acting promptly to keep the unit\\\’s work on track by assessing outstanding tasks and your allocated work; be a point of escalation if action required on a case is urgent. You will be a point of contact for senior leaders in relation to any cases within your team and will provide administration support (e.g. updates to guidance or letters) when required, working alongside senior leaders.
• Other duties could include: reviewing concerns and identifying safeguarding risks or other areas of under-performance; escalating concerns and making recommendations to senior colleagues; overseeing and processing independent school material change applications to determine whether approval can be granted on behalf of the Secretary of State; assessing evidence about a school\\\’s likelihood to meet the independent school standards; supporting the team\\\’s Business of State work.

Candidate profile / Qualifications

• You are someone looking to develop their skills in a fast-paced environment. You will be motivated to improve the life chances of all children who attend an independent school and confident in asking questions and raising concerns about the evidence in front of you.
• Proven ability to prioritise workloads and work to deadlines.
• Confidence in handling evidence to reach a decision and defending this decision to senior colleagues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, i.e., the ability to write clearly, concisely and logically and be able to explain difficult concepts to anyone that may need to know.
• The ability to work at pace, leading and owning tasks, working with autonomy and initiative, as well as collaborating as part of a team, reporting regularly to senior colleagues.
• Can build and manage strong, effective relationships internally and externally.
• Experience of working in small teams, in a fast-paced environment.

Rewards and benefits

• Salary: £31,479 with a Department for Education contribution of £9,119 towards Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
• New entrants join at the minimum of the pay band; Civil Service Pension Scheme is available.
• Annual leave: 25 days rising to 30 days after five years, plus King\\\’s Birthday holiday and 8 bank/public holidays.
• Flexible working arrangements: job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours; hybrid pattern with most time in office.
• Travel: travel to main location not paid by DfE; travel to other offices may be reimbursed.
• Professional development opportunities.

Additional information

Interviews may be via Microsoft Teams or in person. New applicants should remove identifying information (name, address, etc.) from their application. The advertisement explains name-blind recruitment. If you will be sending a criminal record check to DBS directly, advise the Department of Education of your intention. Criminal record checks apply. Nationality requirements and security checks apply. There are provisions about reasonable adjustments for disabled applicants. The job can only be worked in the UK from the stated location. A reserve list may be held for 6 months. Travel costs to interviews are not paid unless stated. This role is open to several categories of applicants and adheres to Civil Service recruitment and diversity guidelines.