At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape a culture of continuous learning across GLF Schools.
- Company: Join a growing Multi Academy Trust dedicated to transforming education.
- Benefits: Generous salary, flexible working, healthcare benefits, and a supportive community.
- Other info: Exciting career growth opportunities within a collaborative environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on professional development and student outcomes.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in education and a relevant postgraduate qualification.
GLF Schools are seeking an exceptional Director of Learning and Development to lead and shape a Trust-wide culture of continuous learning, growth and excellence. This strategic leadership role will ensure that every adult working in, and connected to, the Trust is known, noticed and supported through high-quality professional learning opportunities that enable them to thrive professionally, strengthen their impact and contribute to the best possible outcomes for children and young people across GLF Schools.
This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead learning and development across GLF Schools. As Director of Learning and Development, you will provide strategic leadership for a trust-wide approach that aligns with GLF’s values, ambitions, strategic priorities and school improvement goals. Working with key stakeholders across the Trust, you will design and deliver an ambitious, evidence-informed learning strategy that draws together expertise from our schools, the School Support Team and external partners into a coherent and impactful development offer.
You will establish the frameworks, standards and systems that ensure learning and development activity is strategically aligned, effectively coordinated and capable of delivering sustained improvements in professional practice, leadership and outcomes, while balancing trust-wide consistency with local flexibility. The role will be central to fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Working closely with Education Directors, school leaders and functional leads, you will create the conditions for professional learning communities to flourish, enabling effective practice to be identified, shared and scaled across the Trust.
Through the intelligent use of insight from schools, regions and clusters, you will ensure that development opportunities are responsive to need, strengthen leadership capacity and build organisational capability at every level. You will play a key role in nurturing talent, supporting career progression and developing future leaders, ensuring that professional learning and development remains a powerful lever for school improvement and organisational excellence. This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, people-centred leader who is passionate about unlocking potential, building capacity and creating the conditions in which colleagues, schools and ultimately children and young people can flourish.
This role will be based at The Beacon School in Banstead and will involve working across the Trust. The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel between GLF Schools and therefore must have access to a vehicle and hold a full driving licence.
What we are looking for:
- Relevant professional, postgraduate, or equivalent qualification in Organisational Development, HR, Learning & Development, Education, Psychology, or a related field.
- Significant senior leadership experience within education, a multi-academy trust, school improvement, professional learning, organisational development, or a related sector.
- Strong track record of developing and implementing strategic professional learning and development programmes at scale.
- Demonstrated success of improving organisational performance through workforce capability, talent development and leadership growth.
- Strong experience of evaluating impact and using evidence and data to inform strategic decisions.
- Strong understanding of best practice in learning and development, leadership development, talent management, and organisational change, ensuring activities are effective, inclusive, and compliant.
- Outstanding communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leaders and diverse professional groups.
Join the GLF Schools Community:
GLF currently has 35 schools in the primary phase, and 8 secondary schools. Our schools span a wide area, including Oxfordshire, Wokingham, Surrey, Croydon and West Sussex. As a part of GLF Schools, you will join a community of staff dedicated to transforming education. With regular progression discussions, there will be a wealth of opportunities for you to grow your career, whether in one of our 43 academies or in our central team.
A growing Multi Academy Trust with over 2,500 colleagues and over 19,000 children founded upon the values of Respect, Inclusivity, Integrity and Kindness. We work as a community whilst ensuring each school maintains its own unique identity, committed to ensuring all children and young people receive the best possible education.
Our Employment Offer:
GLF Schools has a generous employment offer, which allows all our colleagues to Grow, Learn and Flourish.
- Access to our highly competitive local government pension scheme
- Flexible working options
- Generous holiday allowance
- Healthcare benefits
- Work life and family friendly policies
- Employee wellbeing initiatives
- Staff benefits portal
- Community and collaboration working model
The Details:
- Start Date: ASAP
- Salary: GLF Leadership 3 - £75,985 - £85,200
- Hours: 36 hours a week Monday to Friday (52 weeks a year)
- Location: The Beacon School, Banstead (Surrey), with Trust-wide working.
- Advert Closing Date: Thursday 20th August at 9.30am
- Interview Date: Wednesday 2nd September 2026
Director of Learning and Development in Banstead employer: The Beacon School
The Beacon School in Banstead is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and collaborative work environment where Teaching Assistants can thrive. With a strong commitment to professional development and student welfare, employees benefit from ongoing training opportunities and a culture that values teamwork and innovation. Join us to make a meaningful impact on student learning while enjoying the advantages of working within a thriving Multi-Academy Trust.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Learning and Development in Banstead
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We think you need these skills to ace Director of Learning and Development in Banstead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Passion for Learning:When applying for a role in digital learning and education at The Beacon School, make sure to sprinkle your application with examples of your enthusiasm for teaching and learning technologies. Share specific experiences where you've used, designed, or implemented digital learning solutions, as this shows us that you truly get the field.
Highlight Relevant Education and Certification:In the digital learning space, having a strong educational background can set you apart. Don't shy away from showcasing your degrees, certifications, or relevant courses related to e-learning, instructional design, or educational technology. We love seeing candidates who have actively invested in their learning journey!
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Your CV is your first impression, so let's make it count! Focus on your skills directly related to digital learning, such as course development, learning management systems, and data analysis. Be sure to show measurable results from your past roles to demonstrate your impact and effectiveness.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, express not just your qualifications, but your vision for the future of digital education. Discuss how your experiences align with the mission of The Beacon School and highlight any innovative ideas you might have for enhancing learning experiences. This is your chance to connect with us on a deeper level!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Beacon School
✨Get Hands-On with Learning Technologies
Familiarise yourself with common digital learning tools and platforms, like LMS systems or authoring tools that The Beacon School might use. Understanding these will give you an edge and show you’re ready to jump in from day one!
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Prepare a portfolio of your past projects if you have them, or create sample lesson plans or digital content demos. Being able to discuss your creative approach to engaging students can really set you apart in a full-time role at The Beacon School.
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Stay in the loop with the latest trends in digital education, like gamification or personalised learning experiences. This will help you engage in meaningful discussions during the interview and demonstrate your passion for the field.
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Expect to be asked about your experience working collaboratively with educators or other stakeholders. Consider discussing how you've contributed to a team effort in creating engaging educational content or improving student outcomes.
