Strategic Leader, Primary Education & School Improvement in London

Southwark Council is seeking an exceptional and experienced primary education leader to join our School Improvement Advisory Team. This is a rare opportunity to play a pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape across a diverse and ambitious borough, driving excellence in primary education and improving outcomes for all children—particularly those with SEND and from disadvantaged backgrounds.

As a Senior Education Leader - Primary, you will work at a strategic level to raise standards, strengthen leadership, and ensure every primary school in Southwark provides high-quality education. You will bring deep expertise, credibility, and a proven track record of school improvement to a role that blends challenge, support, and system leadership.

In this influential position, you will:

• Lead the drive to improve pupil attainment and achievement across primary schools, using robust evaluation and performance data to identify strengths, risks, and priorities for action.
• Provide high-quality challenge and support to an allocated group of schools, ensuring early intervention and preventing schools from becoming “stuck” or requiring significant improvement.
• Broker and coordinate targeted support, drawing on expertise from across the local authority, external partners, and high-performing schools.
• Lead on key strategic and statutory school improvement functions, contributing to the development of Southwark’s advisory offer and ensuring best practice, evidence-based approaches, and strong quality assurance.
• Establish and lead collaborative networks that promote innovation, shared learning, and collective responsibility for improvement.
• Produce high-quality reports and briefings for senior leaders, elected members, and external agencies.
• Strengthen governance across the borough through training, advice, and support to Governing Bodies.
• Represent the local authority at regional and national forums, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of the educational landscape.
• Work collaboratively across Children’s Services to support borough-wide priorities and champion inclusive, equitable practice.

This is a customer-facing role in a fast-paced environment, requiring flexibility, resilience, and a commitment to working beyond standard office hours when needed.

About You:

We are looking for a confident, strategic, and inspiring leader with:

• Degree or equivalent, and Qualified Teacher Status.
• Ofsted registration or willingness to train as an additional inspector, with strong knowledge of the Ofsted framework.
• Up-to-date understanding of legislation, standards, evaluation techniques, and the national education agenda.

• Recent, successful senior leadership experience in a primary school (Deputy Headteacher or above).
• A proven track record of driving improvement and raising achievement.
• Experience of partnership working and collaborative school improvement.
• Strong understanding of children’s services and cross-service leadership.
• Knowledge of equalities legislation and a commitment to inclusive practice.
• Excellent communication skills, able to engage and influence at all levels.
• Strong analytical ability, using qualitative and quantitative data to drive improvement.
• Skilled facilitator and problem-solver, able to broker support and coordinate multi-agency work.
• Ability to prioritise, meet tight deadlines, and produce high-quality written reports.
• Political awareness and the ability to lead change in complex environments.

• High expectations for all learners, with a passion for improving outcomes for vulnerable groups.
• Confident, self-motivated, and enthusiastic.
• Diplomatic, tactful, and solutions-focused.
• A collaborative team player committed to Southwark’s values.

Additional Information:

• Qualifications: Degree or equivalent, and Qualified Teacher Status.
• Hours of work: 36 hours Monday - Friday (full time)
• Advert close date: 11:59pm on Friday 17th April 2026
• Interview date/s: Monday 27th April 2026

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative. We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

Salary Range (Full time equivalent): See Advert For Salary