The role: Director of Secondary Education
We are inviting you to join our Trust to transform lives through exceptional secondary education. As part of our central Trust team, you will play a vital role in shaping the quality and impact of secondary education across our schools. You will work alongside school and Trust leaders to ensure our curriculum, teaching and leadership deliver the very best outcomes for all pupils.
Through providing support and challenge to our schools, you will accelerate improvement and drive performance. You will lead on ensuring our schools achieve high standards particularly for vulnerable and disadvantaged students and excellent standards of curriculum and teaching and learning. You will lead on an inclusive approach, supporting high standards of behaviour and attendance.
Why join us?
- Work for a values‑driven organisation that values innovation and collaboration.
- Shape secondary education and the lives of our pupils across our Trust.
- Make a difference to pupil outcomes and life chances.
- Be part of a collaborative and ambitious leadership team.
- Access professional development opportunities to grow your career.
What you’ll do
As Director of Secondary Education, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all secondary schools, driving sustained school improvement and ensuring strong educational outcomes. You will line‑manage, support and challenge secondary Headteachers, building leadership capacity and accountability at all levels. Working closely with school and Trust leaders, you will ensure the highest standards of curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment, using data intelligently to identify priorities, address risk and secure continuous improvement. You will lead on Ofsted readiness and inspection success, champion inclusive practice to secure equitable outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, and play a key role in developing talent across our Trust. Alongside this, you will collaborate with our Primary Director of Education and Central teams to align educational priorities with wider Trust strategy, building strong partnerships within and beyond the organisation to strengthen impact and outcomes for all pupils.
About you
- Are an experienced and credible leader with a strong track record of driving improvement in secondary education.
- Have strategic insight alongside a deep understanding of excellent teaching, leadership and curriculum in practice.
- Are motivated by making a tangible difference to the life chances of young people.
- Have proven ability to lead and influence others, building trust quickly while offering both support and constructive challenge.
- Are confident operating at a system level, using performance data to identify priorities and translate strategy into impactful action.
- A collaborative, values‑driven leader committed to developing others and strengthening leadership capacity.
- Skilled in fostering a culture of continuous improvement across multiple schools.
- Deeply committed to inclusion and equity, ensuring all pupils, particularly the disadvantaged and those with SEND, achieve strong outcomes.
- Share our commitment to inclusion and equity, believing every student deserves the very best education and that high expectations translate into strong outcomes for all.
We offer
- A role where your work really matters.
- The opportunity to work in a team invested in creating the conditions to support the growth of others.
- Competitive package with a generous career‑average pension scheme with employer contributions of c28%*.
- Ongoing professional development.
*Employer contribution rates set by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.
How to apply
If you are ready to lead with integrity, inspire with vision, and make a lasting impact across a close‑knit connected community of secondary schools, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion and/or to arrange a visit to our Trust, please contact Paul Cornish, Deputy CEO, on 01626 870317 or via email paul.cornish@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk.
The closing date for applications is Friday 11th September 2026 at 9.00 am.
Interviews will be held at our Trust office at Teignmouth Community School on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th September 2026.
We are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our pupils, and we expect you to be too. We follow safer recruitment statutory guidance (Keeping Children Safe in Education). If you’re successful, you’ll be required to complete thorough pre‑employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and references that are satisfactory to our Trust. All posts in our Trust are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.
If you have any questions about this opportunity please contact us at recruitment@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk.
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