Standards and Excellence Partner

Standards and Excellence Partner

Ipswich, Suffolk, United Kingdom

• Suffolk County Council - Ipswich IP1 2BX
• £54,726 - £58,212 per annum (pro rata for part time)
• 37 or 14.8 hours per week (2 posts)
• Fixed Term or Secondment for 12 months

We are committed to flexible working, so please read the Job and Person Profile (docx) to find out about the types of flexible working available for this role.

We welcome applications from everyone. We particularly welcome applicants from minority sexual orientations and ethnicities because they are under-represented in this service.

• Are you passionate about the difference education can make to future life chances? 
• Do you expect the best from yourself and others? 
• Are you committed to championing children and young people, especially the most vulnerable?

We have two great opportunities to join Suffolk County Council's Standards and Excellence Team as a Standards and Excellence Partner. You will be working from various locations across the county, with your office base in Ipswich. 

Two posts available: 

Post 1: 37 hours per week

Post 2: 14.8 hours per week

Your role and responsibilities:

Your role will involve working with school leaders from a range of settings including nursery, primary, special, PRUs, secondary and sixth form. Your work will be at a strategic level, providing support and challenge for school improvement through high quality dialogue based on skilled interpretation of a range of information. 

You will: 

• join the Standards and Excellence Team and be at the forefront of managing change through your work with school leaders, including governors
• support school leaders to make the best choices about effective ways of working and managing resources to achieve the highest standards, as good as the best, for all Suffolk Children and Young People today and for their futures 
• take a leading role in promoting and positively encouraging best practice, school-to-school support, and effective ways of working, facilitating improved attainment, progress and inclusion for children and young people.

You will have the privilege of working with school and setting leaders as they strive to continually improve the quality of education for all pupils in their schools.

You will need:

• a proven track record of achieving sustained school improvement at middle or senior leader level
• to be able to demonstrate how you would apply your experience to a diverse range of situations, working with school and setting leaders to improve outcomes for all pupils.
• To have open, honest, evidence-based conversations with school and setting leaders.

You can view a full list of requirements in the Job and Person Profile (docx). 

If you think you have what it takes to be successful in this role, even if you don’t meet all the requirements, please apply. We would appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

The Standards and Excellence Team:

Why we do what we do - We believe in the transformative power of education and the right of every Suffolk Child and Young Person to have an education as good as the best that meets their current and future needs to enable them to engage successfully and confidently in the next stage in their learning, able to make choices about their futures and preparing them for a successful, happy and fulfilled adult life. 

Vision - The highest standards, as good as the best, for all Suffolk Children and Young People today and for their futures.

Mission - Working with Suffolk school and setting leaders, we champion Suffolk’s Children and Young People. We use evidence to inform evaluation and action to secure continuous improvement in the quality of education so that it meets all pupils’ current and future needs.

We will offer you

• A bespoke induction and an opportunity to further develop your skills within a political environment.
• Access to a range of internal CPD and career development opportunities.
• Support through regular 1-to-1 meetings, supervision and team meetings.
• Experience of working with a wide range of schools and school and setting leaders from a range of backgrounds and contexts, building your knowledge of the wider education system.
• Experiences that mean you will be well-placed to return to schools or settings in a senior leader role or to take on other senior roles within the public sector and beyond in the future.

Travel and workplace requirements

We positively encourage the use of technology to communicate, but in this role, you will need to travel to locations away from your contractual base, so you must either hold a full and current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability to meet the travel requirements of this role, please speak with the contact detailed below.

This role supports hybrid working. Approximately 50% of your time will be spent in schools, with the remaining split between working from home and an office base. Please speak with the contact detailed below if you wish to discuss how that might impact your working arrangements. #LI-Hybrid

For more information

For an informal discussion, please contact either Nymone DaCosta Jones (she/her) by calling 07920 466309 or emailing nymone.dacostajones@suffolk.gov.uk or Sally Swann (she/her) by calling 07874 634479 or emailing sally.swann@suffolk.gov.uk

If you are considering applying for a secondment, please read the secondment policy and ensure you have sought permission to apply before completing your application.

How to apply

Step 1 - Read the Job and Person Profile (JPP) (docx).

Step 2 - Click ‘Apply Now’ to start your online application.

Step 3 - Upload a supporting statement answering the following questions below (no more than 400 words per question). You should use the Supporting Statement template. 

1. How would you apply your experience to date when working with school leaders to improve the outcomes that all pupils achieve?
2. How would you work with school leaders to make sure that pupils are fully prepared for life in modern Britain? 

Please note: Without a supporting statement, your interest will not be progressed. If you would like an adjustment to this process due to a disability, please contact us at 03456 014412 or recruitment@suffolk.gov.uk

Closing date: 11.30pm, 26 September 2023.

Interview date: 9 October 2023.

This authority is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks or police vetting will be required for relevant posts.

ABOUT US

As a modern and effective council, we offer a wide variety of careers to suit people with a range of skills, abilities and ambitions. We offer working options that flex to reflect the way people work today and take the time to understand and support your individual needs. We’re driven to make a positive difference to the world around us and encourage everyone with drive and focus to join us and build an influential and impactful career. Reimagine the possibilities.

In return, you’ll enjoy:

• up to 28 days annual leave entitlement (pro rata), plus UK bank holidays and two paid volunteering days
• membership of a competitive Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• travel, lifestyle, health and wellbeing benefits
• performance-related annual pay progression, in addition to an annual cost-of-living pay increase
• training and encouragement to expand your knowledge
• a variety of career development opportunities across our organisation
• diverse and active staff networks
• flexible working options, with the right to request flexible working from your first day
• plus more!

If you would like to know more about our benefits, values and equality commitments please visit our Working for Suffolk County Council pages (www.Suffolk.gov.uk/careers).