Secondary Standards Lead

At Embark Federation, we believe every child deserves access to an excellent education and the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Our vision of Love Learning, Love Life is more than a strapline; it is our commitment to ensuring that every child experiences high-quality teaching, strong outcomes and the support they need to thrive.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our team as Secondary Standards Lead.

This is a significant trust-wide role with direct responsibility for standards, outcomes and school improvement across our secondary schools. Reporting to the Deputy CEO, the successful candidate will line manage headteachers, lead performance dialogue and intervention, and ensure that improvement activity translates into better classroom practice and improved outcomes for young people.

We are looking for someone with a proven track record of delivering improvement who can demonstrate the impact they have had on standards, teaching and outcomes, and who has the credibility and professional authority to challenge, support and hold leaders to account.

The successful candidate will:

• Hold direct accountability for standards and outcomes across our secondary schools.

• Lead performance review, intervention and improvement activity across KS3, KS4 and KS5.

• Ensure that schools have an accurate understanding of their performance and act decisively where improvement is required.

• Secure high-quality teaching in every classroom through effective leadership of curriculum, teaching and assessment.

• Oversee rapid improvement planning where performance is off track, including intervention at subject and departmental level.

• Provide clear reporting and assurance to senior leaders and governance committees on standards, risk and impact.

This is not an advisory role it is a role focused on accountability, delivery and impact. Success will be measured by the difference made to the life chances of young people across our secondary schools.

Applicants will bring significant school improvement experience, a strong understanding of curriculum, teaching, assessment and standards, and a demonstrable record of improving pupil outcomes at system level. Experience of working across multiple schools or within a multi-academy trust is essential.

At Embark, we are ambitious for our children, our schools and our communities. We are equally committed to the values that underpin our work: Family, Integrity, Teamwork and Success. These values shape how we lead, how we work together and how we serve the children and families in our care. If you share our belief that great schools change lives and want to play a leading role in shaping the futures of young people across Derbyshire, we would welcome your application.

Embark Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks.