Director of School Improvement

Please note that applications will be reviewed as received and should a suitable candidate be identified, we may close the vacancy early. Therefore, early application is encouraged.

The vacancy

The White Horse Federation is a multi-academy trust committed to delivering exceptional education and improving life chances for all pupils. We work collaboratively across our schools to drive continuous improvement, support leaders, and ensure every child benefits from high-quality teaching and learning.

About the Role

This role combines strategic influence with hands-on school improvement work. You will:

• support the implementation of the Trust’s primary improvement strategy, ensuring clarity, consistency and impact across schools
• Conduct and lead rigorous school reviews, evaluating teaching, curriculum, leadership, behaviour and outcomes
• Provide robust challenge and expert support to headteachers and senior leaders, particularly in schools requiring rapid or sustained improvement
• Drive excellence in curriculum design, teaching, assessment, early reading and inclusion
• Strengthen leadership capacity, supporting succession planning and developing future headteachers
• Ensure schools are inspection-ready, providing assurance to the Executive Team and Trustees

You will work across the trust to ensure improvement activity is coherent, evidence-informed and demonstrably impactful, with a relentless focus on pupil outcomes.

About You

We are looking for a leader who brings both credibility and impact:

• A highly successful primary leader (Headteacher, Executive Head or Trust leader) with a proven track record of improving schools
• Demonstrable experience of supporting schools facing challenge or underperformance
• Deep understanding of Ofsted, curriculum quality, teaching and inclusive practice
• The ability to analyse data, evaluate impact and drive rapid improvement
• Strong interpersonal skills with the confidence to provide constructive challenge at senior level
• A commitment to collaboration, system leadership and developing others

Why Work for us?

We think you will love working with us and here are some of the reasons why:

We are a welcoming and supportive school with strong values and a caring ethos.

Our staff are a hardworking team dedicated to helping children succeed.

Our children are engaged and eager to learn.

We have a supportive leadership team and wider school community.

As part of The White Horse Federation multi-academy trust, we benefit from their support, encouragement, shared resources and outstanding CPD opportunities.

The Advantages of joining our Federation

In addition, our employees reap the rewards of a competitive benefits package, including:

• Employee Assistance programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Menopause support network

Discounts, save money on holidays, clothing and much more:

• Discounts for Teachers - All staff within the Trust can take advantage of the discounts
• Blue Light Discount
• Eye Care Vouchers

Development

• Access to up-to-date training on safeguarding and child protection to ensure staff are fully supported in their roles, including ongoing updates on statutory safeguarding guidance and legislation.
• CPD Programme
• Supportive leadership team to help you reach your full potential

Pension / Leave and Service

• Excellent Pension Scheme - LGPS
• Employer contributions above national standards
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
• An additional White Horse concessionary day’s leave per year

Why not come and see for yourself? We would love to welcome you to our school and show you around so that you can better understand our school environment. Please get in touch with the school office to arrange.

The White Horse Federation is a large Multi-Academy Trust in South West and South East England, committed to providing the very best education for our students. We believe in empowering our staff to be the very best they can be, and that is why you will find a wide range of professional development opportunities available to you when you join us.

The White Horse Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. If successful for this role, you will be expected to apply for a disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service before an appointment is confirmed. Please note that references will be sought on shortlisted candidates before the interview.

The White Horse Federation values uniqueness and recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce. We value the contributions of all staff from a wide range of backgrounds and we are committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. At The White Horse Federation, we believe that everyone should be treated with fairness and respect and share a commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at all of our schools. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and operate a fair recruitment process, free from discrimination against protected characteristics, in line with the Equality Act 2010