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- Tasks: Support planning for school places and engage with local councils and developers.
- Company: Leicestershire County Council, committed to equality and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in education by ensuring quality school places for children.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and a passion for community engagement.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team focused on impactful projects in a growing area.
The predicted salary is between 30700 - 34300 £ per year.
Organisation: Leicestershire County Council
Work Location: County Hall, LE3 8RA
Worker Category: Hybrid Worker
Salary: £35,451 - £39,165 per annum (pro rata for part-time)
Working Hours: 37 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing Date: 8th February 2026
Interview Date(s): TBC
About the Role
We are looking for an exceptional individual to help Leicestershire to deliver our statutory responsibilities in ensuring all children can access a high-quality local school place following the retirement of the current post holder. The post is for one year as cover for the current post holder who is covering the maternity leave of a School Place Planning Officer within the team.
Leicestershire is in a period of significant growth with thousands of new homes being built and new schools planned. This is a varied role, and the successful candidate will carry out a range of functions relating to school organisation, capital projects and pupil place planning.
As Assistant School Place Planning Officer you will be supporting the School Organisation Team to ensure that education infrastructure can meet the demand for school places and where additional places are required, those places are delivered in the right place and at the right time.
This role would suit someone looking to develop their career working across the organisation towards a more strategic level in the future. You will be actively involved in the monitoring of funding for new projects, managing statutory processes, engaging with our delivery partners and key stakeholders from inception through to completion to ensure all projects are delivered on time and are aligned with the communities they serve.
The successful candidates will work in a small team helping to ensure that there are sufficient high quality school places in Leicestershire by delivering an ambitious Children and Families Capital Programme across all phases of Education. The work is interesting and varied and involves working closely with Schools and Academies.
About You
To apply for this post, you must be able to:
- Support School Place Planning Officers (SPPOs) to identify and appraise the need for additional places for children and young people at a local, District and County level.
- Support SPPOs in effectively engaging with District Councils, housing developers and their agents in respect of planned new housing/SUE’s to ensure that Leicestershire receives developer contributions needed.
- Take a lead role within the team for net capacity relating to School Organisation and Place Planning, providing high level advice and guidance where appropriate.
- Monitor requests and expenditure of S106 through Mastergov and produce reports for SPPOs, SMT and CSG.
- Organise and deliver key events including consultations, publicity events and member briefings in relation to school organisation matters.
- Support SPPOs to respond to requests for information from schools, other County Council officers, District Councils, developers, members of the public and external bodies.
- Manage areas of the Capital Programme as required.
You must also have an understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion. In addition, we expect you to share our commitment to our values and will ask you to evidence when you have demonstrated them as part of the interview process. Reasonable adjustments will be considered for applicants with a disability.
Interested in Flexible Working?
We are keen to support employees to balance their working life with other commitments. Therefore, wherever possible, we will consider working arrangements that suit an individual’s personal circumstances whilst still meeting the needs of the Council. If you would like to discuss the possible flexible working options that might be applicable to this role, please contact the person named below.
For more information or an informal discussion, please contact:
Ian Sharpe – School Organisation Service Manager
Telephone: 0116 305 9836
Email: ian.sharpe@leics.gov.uk
How to Apply
Leicestershire County Council is an inclusive organisation which is on a journey to embed and celebrate equality, diversity, and inclusion at every level. We warmly welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, as having a diverse workforce with different perspectives and ideas is fundamental to our values and enriches the services we offer our communities. We particularly welcome applicants from Ethnically Diverse and LGBTQ+ communities and people with disabilities to create a balanced workforce and one that reflects the communities we serve.
Applicants with a disability who meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above will be offered an interview under the Disability Confident Employer Scheme. To apply for this job, please click on the apply button. You will need to upload a supporting statement as part of your application which explains how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘About You’ section above.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
If you have any technical issues when trying to apply for this post or you want to request an application pack in an alternative format, please contact our Employee Service Centre by telephoning 0300 3030222 (select option 2) or raising a ticket via our online portal.
By applying for this post, you agree to our Terms and Conditions.
Assistant School Place Planning Officer employer: Golearnleicestershire
Contact Detail:
Golearnleicestershire Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Assistant School Place Planning Officer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current employees at Leicestershire County Council on LinkedIn or through mutual connections. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for the interview process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in school place planning and local education policies. This will show that you're genuinely interested and ready to contribute to the team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially those related to teamwork and project management. We want to hear how you can support the School Organisation Team effectively!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, you’ll find all the info you need about the role and the council there.
We think you need these skills to ace Assistant School Place Planning Officer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Supporting Statement: Make sure to customise your supporting statement to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the criteria listed in the job description. We want to see how you can contribute to our team, so be specific about your relevant experiences!
Showcase Your Passion for Education: Let us know why you're excited about this role! Share your enthusiasm for ensuring children have access to quality education and how you can help with school place planning. A genuine passion can really make your application stand out.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language and avoid jargon. We appreciate a well-structured application that’s easy to read and understand!
Apply Early!: Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. We might close the vacancy early if we get enough applications, so get yours in as soon as possible through our website. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Golearnleicestershire
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you understand the role of an Assistant School Place Planning Officer. Familiarise yourself with school organisation, capital projects, and pupil place planning. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're serious about the position.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Since this role involves working with various stakeholders like District Councils and housing developers, think about how you would approach these conversations. Prepare examples of how you've successfully engaged with different parties in the past, as this will demonstrate your ability to collaborate effectively.
✨Show Your Commitment to Inclusion
Leicestershire County Council values equality, diversity, and inclusion. Be ready to share specific instances where you've promoted these values in your previous roles. This will help you align with the council's mission and show that you’re a good cultural fit.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, team dynamics, and future projects. This not only shows your interest but also helps you gauge if this is the right fit for you. Plus, it gives you a chance to engage with the interviewers on a deeper level.
