School Improvement Advisor in Hereford

In Herefordshire, we care about our people and how we deliver services to our community. We want to attract the best talent. In the Education, Skills and Learning Service we encourage a culture that puts children and young people at the heart of everything we do, by empowering our people to collaborate, think innovatively, make decisions and find solutions. Join us and be part of something better.

As a School Improvement Advisor you will contribute to all matters related to the performance and strategic management of education within Herefordshire. In particular:

• Providing strategic direction to strengthen and support the governance of schools in the county.
• Providing challenge to all schools to support the development of a self-improving school system in the county.
• Ensuring that statutory responsibilities concerning the performance of all schools/settings in Herefordshire (including academies) are met.
• Working alongside heads of service in the Children and Families Directorate, to monitor, support and provide challenge to all local authority (LA) maintained schools where a need is identified.
• Providing a traded service for school improvement within the county.
• Ensure effective oversight and quality assurance of standards in alternative provision and specialist settings.
• Ensure all children and young people are in receipt of a full-time education under section 19 of the Education Act including those with medical needs, those who have been permanently excluded and those without a school place.

Come and join us on our Restorative Journey of Improvement to gain the best for children and families in Herefordshire.

We wish to recruit an experienced school improvement adviser to join the team. You will be a qualified teacher with experience of delivering and coordinating school improvement activities either within a school or local authority in a senior leadership role. You will have a proven track record of leading improvements within your current educational role and of supporting more than one school. The successful candidate will have the requisite skillset to support the local authority to embed a performance culture which leads to improved outcomes for children. Safeguarding of children and young people is taken seriously by the council and a disclosure and barring services check will be undertaken for successful applicants.

We Offer:

• A competitive salary, holiday entitlement, and access to our contributory pension and staff benefits scheme.
• Salary range of £63,900 - £66,967 per annum pro rata.
• Annual Leave: 31 days’ annual leave (pro rata) plus bank holidays. You can also purchase an additional 10 days per annum during the request period.
• Flexible working: including the potential for job-sharing, part-time hours and agile working.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 access to support and counselling.
• Pick your perks - our benefits include access to a range of retail, leisure, holiday and health benefits.

We're proud and excited to unveil our new recruitment video, a celebration of Herefordshire's people, places, and purpose. Set in the heart of England and filled with pride, compassion and possibility, the video brings to life what it means to work somewhere you truly belong. At Herefordshire Council, every role matters and every person makes a real difference for our communities. We’re a team where people feel valued, supported and empowered to grow together. Herefordshire is a beautiful, historic county on the Welsh border, one of England’s most rural and unspoilt areas, with vibrant market towns and a strong sense of community. Our priority is clear: to keep children safe and give them the best start in life. We do this through passionate, dedicated professionals who build strong relationships with children, families, and partners to make a lasting difference. It’s an exciting time to join us. We’re investing in our people and our relational practice approach, working alongside our improvement partner, Leeds City Council. You’ll be supported by experienced managers, continuous professional development, and a genuine team ethos that values collaboration and care. If you’re committed to helping children and young people thrive, come and join the journey in Herefordshire - where your work truly matters.

The Council plan sets out how we will make our contribution to achieving a better and more successful Herefordshire.

Our recruitment process runs in partnership with Hoople Resourcing. If you require any reasonable adjustments or alternative methods for the online application process, please contact the resourcing team by email. If you’re shortlisted for interview and require any reasonable adjustments, our Children & Young People Recruitment Team will be happy to support you.

We encourage our employees to feel empowered and to use their voices to help embrace diversity, promote inclusivity and shape our organisation. We have eight employee network groups, collectives of colleagues who often share identities, life experiences or cultures and offer support and community. They also play an important role in strengthening the voices of employees at Herefordshire Council. Embedded in the Council's values is a commitment to listen to people's views and needs.

The following candidates will be interviewed if they meet the essential criteria for the post they are applying for:

• Those who indicate that they have a disability.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are an Armed Forces Veteran or Reservist.
• Those who indicate in their application that they are a Herefordshire care leaver.

We take our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults seriously and expect all of our staff, visitors and volunteers to share in this commitment. If you are offered this position, it will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service enhanced check and further pre-employment checks.

To apply for a position, please upload an up-to-date CV and complete the application form demonstrating your experience, skills and abilities for the role. Be sure to include reference to the job description and person specification or role profile! If you are successfully shortlisted, the C&YP Recruitment Team will contact you via email to arrange your interview and/or assessment. They will confirm the date, time and location of your interview, so please keep an eye on your email inbox - check your spam/ junk folder too. Good luck, we’re looking forward to meeting you!