Head of Education Excellence in Wolverhampton

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced education professional to shape and drive educational improvement across Wolverhampton, leading our work with schools, academies, early years providers and key partners to ensure every child and young person can achieve their full potential.

As Head of Education Excellence, you will provide strategic leadership and accountability for educational improvement across the city, including school improvement and early years provision. You will work collaboratively with schools, governors, academy trusts, dioceses, the Department for Education, Ofsted and a wide range of partners to champion high standards and excellence in education.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the city's education improvement strategy and driving improved outcomes for children and young people.
• Promoting educational excellence and challenging underperformance across the education system.
• Providing strategic leadership for school improvement, governance, assessment and moderation, and early years provision.
• Developing strong partnerships across education, health and the wider public sector.
• Acting as an ambassador for education across the city, regionally and nationally.
• Deputising for the Deputy Director (Education) as required.

About You

We are looking for an inspirational and credible leader with:

• Significant experience of successfully leading educational improvement and raising standards.
• Extensive knowledge of education policy, legislation and local authority responsibilities.
• Proven expertise in school improvement, school governance and early years provision.
• Strong leadership, communication, influencing and partnership-building skills.
• Experience of leading change, transformation and service improvement.
• A commitment to inclusion, equality and improving outcomes for all children and young people.

You will be politically aware, strategically focused and passionate about improving life chances through education.

Why Wolverhampton?

This is an opportunity to join a forward-thinking local authority with a clear ambition to deliver the very best outcomes for children, young people and families. You will play a pivotal role in shaping education across the city and making a lasting impact on future generations.

Interview Details

First stage Interviews will take place w/c 28 September 2026 and consist of the following:

• Stakeholder Interview
• Technical Panel Interview
• Presentation

Successful candidates following first stage interviews, will be invited to participate in a Children’s Panel on w/c 5th October 2026.

Wolverhampton City Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

All council roles are allocated to either a fixed, field or flexible work style. Some roles are agile which enable and empower employees to maximise their performance and productivity, whilst maintaining a healthy work life balance. Roles with a fixed workstyle work in a fixed permanent council location. Roles with a field workstyle are usually allocated where employees are required to be out working in the community with a minimum requirement for 'touch down' space at any council location. Roles with a flexible workstyle have a flexible base location to meet the needs of the business and employees can work from a mixture of home or any council office, partner/client, or external location, as required to meet service requirements.

Diversity: We are committed to building a workforce that is reflective of the diverse community we serve. We want to attract the best applications from people of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups because we strongly believe in adding value through diversity, inclusion, and equality. Our employees enable us to deliver services that are accessible, inclusive, and reflective of Wolverhampton residents.

Our status as a Disability Confident Employer showcases our commitment to people with disabilities or health conditions, advocating for their opportunities and potential. We've received the Stonewall Gold Award, emphasising our dedication to the LGBT+ community by nurturing an inspiring, inclusive, and equal workplace.

As part of our commitment as a Disability Confident employer, a Gold Award Armed Forces employer and our commitment to supporting care leavers - we offer a guaranteed interview as long as your application meets the essential criteria for the post. We encourage, inspire and value an inclusive culture here at the council where employees can flourish, thrive and be themselves. We have four staff equality forums for employees to join. These help to ensure our employees have a voice, they feel empowered to speak up and where everyone is treated with respect.

Recruitment of Ex-Offenders: We are committed to the fair treatment of all our employees, potential employees, or users of our service regardless of offending background. The Council uses the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for any vacancies that require a DBS check to obtain information about applicants to assess their suitability for employment in positions of trust. We do not discriminate unfairly against any individual on the basis of a conviction or any other information revealed as a result of a DBS disclosure.