View Vacancy -- Managing Director - Central South Consortium Joint Education Service

Management
Education and Inclusion Services
Central South Consortium Joint Education Service
Group Director
£110,000
Permanent Full Time

CENTRAL SOUTH CONSORTIUM JOINT EDUCATION SERVICE

MANAGING DIRECTOR POST 

Salary circa £110k plus relocation allowance

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated individual with the knowledge, skills and experience to lead and manage a well-established regional school improvement service on behalf of five local authorities. Whilst this is a permanent role we would also consider the option of a secondment for up to two years. Please note that any secondment arrangement would be at the candidate’s current salary if higher than the salary stated above.

We are looking for an outstanding candidate who has the determination and ambition to further develop the vision of a school led system; who understands the drive to build the capacity of the school system to lead the drive for further improvement themselves.

We want to appoint a highly skilled and competent leader who: 

  • Communicates confidently on behalf of the region with schools, local authorities, national and local politicians, other regions and a range of other partners and can manage the relationship with Welsh Government especially in times of major systemic changes when there are competing demands on the organisation.   
  • Creates within the organisation a team ethos and culture which promotes and implements the region’s vision and mission to maximise the life chances of every learner in the region through the delivery of a top-class education. 
  • Understands and supports others to embrace the changing landscape of the education system in Wales. 
  • Recognises that school improvement is far wider than the activities of the organisation and facilitates and encourages strong collaboration with local authorities and other partners. 
  • Can lead and manage the development of the region’s short and long-term strategy through robust business planning, sound financial acumen and clear lines of accountability.

What is the Central South Consortium?

The Consortium delivers a school improvement model under the governance of a Joint Committee of cabinet members for education from five local authorities (LA). Bridgend, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhondda Cynon Taf and the Vale of Glamorgan councils have consolidated resources for school improvement into one organisation.

An independent review has recently been undertaken and as a result all LAs have committed to restating their long term commitment to regional working and are developing new governance arrangements to include a greater engagement of school leaders and to make the process more efficient.

It was acknowledged in the report that the consortium brings economy of scale and encourages the use of common approaches and strategies across a wider group of schools. The consortium provides challenge and support to all schools, distributes grants on an equitable basis and works with school leaders on the development of evidence-based school to school strategies that impact on standards. At the same time, the consortium works with other consortia across Wales, research institutions and the Welsh government to lead policy development and delivery in the region.

It is an innovative model, focused on improvement, efficiency and delivery at all levels of the system. The scope for further development is huge and exciting.

Who are we?

The Central South Consortium works on behalf of five LAs in the South Wales region to deliver school improvement services with 387 schools across all sectors. The organisation is funded through a combination of core local authority contributions and Welsh Government grants. The region is the fastest growing region in Wales covering the capital city and economic heartland of Wales. Schools in the region serve a third of school aged children in Wales as well as both the most diverse and deprived communities of Wales. The region includes many outstanding schools as well as small numbers who still require intensive support and intervention. Nothing is more critical to the people who live in this region than the quality of education that young people receive.

The performance of schools in the region is on the up. From the lowest performing, Central South is now one of the highest achieving regions in Wales for most of the performance measures and has seen the fastest improvement in results, particularly for the most vulnerable learners.

We can however go further, and we want to work with the highest performing schools across Wales and further afield. We want to be a region known for the quality of professional learning for teachers and leaders. Above all, we want to be a region where every school delivers great teaching and learning in every classroom, especially benefitting the most vulnerable learners.

Evidence from the recent review shows that schools are very positive about opportunities to work together across the region and beyond. Our mission is to enable schools to lead improvement, through the ‘Central South Wales Challenge’ (CSWC), an approach based on the premise that great practice exists in schools and our job is to develop effective structures and systems for sharing and growing exemplary practice within and across schools. The refreshed CSWC model has been constructed in partnership with headteachers and will build on the previous model but will develop further so that schools in the region are well placed to meet the challenges of WG’s major reform programme including a new curriculum and evaluation and improvement arrangements.     

Who do we want?

We are looking for a creative and committed Managing Director to lead our regional school improvement service to its next stage of delivery. We are looking for someone who: 

  • has experience and a strong track record of making an impact in leading a school improvement organisation or group of schools to significantly improve educational outcomes;
  • is innovative about strategic sustained school improvement and committed to a school led model of improvement;
  • demands high standards, recognises the importance of accountability to local democracy and is unequivocal about the fight against complacency;
  • understands that schools serve diverse communities and working in partnership with other services is essential;
  • has the skills to manage a range of stakeholders with different views but ensures that the Consortium stays focused on delivering the agreed priorities to benefit schools and all learners in the region:
  • can galvanise an effective team working with local authorities and politicians; and
  • is committed to leading an organisation to work in partnership with local, regional and national partners to get behind the efforts of schools and leaders to improve learning in Central South Wales.

For an informal conversation contact Paul Orders, CSC Lead Chief Executive on 02920 872401.

The successful applicant will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

37
Valleys Innovation Centre
Navigation Park
Abercynon
CF45 4SN
18 November 2019
If you'd like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the 'Newid Iaith/Change Language' link at the top of this page to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

This opportunity is closed to applications.