Ark Schools Review Lead

Reports to: Director of Standards & Performance

Location: West London – currently operating an agile working policy with two core days (Mon and Weds) in the office and regular travel to the schools in the network

Contract: Permanent

Pattern: Full Time (standard hours 9am – 5.30pm) (Part Time Available)

Closing date: 06/03/2023 at 10am

Interviews: w/c 06/03/2023 and w/c 13/03/2023

Salary: £75,000 to £85,000 (depending on experience)

About the role:

This is an exciting new senior role within Ark Schools, to lead our review cycle across schools. Few roles provide the opportunity to influence and shape aspects of our school improvement work as well as provide insights into the design, implementation and impact of our curriculum across all subjects across the network. We are looking for someone who has previous experience of direct school improvement in a senior leadership role, ideally through headship, and have deep knowledge of the Ofsted framework, likely as an Ofsted Inspector or Her Majesty’s Inspector.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead school assurance visits, and establish and maintain a strong team of reviewers, ensuring aligned expectations and approach for school monitoring so that all schools encounter a common experience
• On visits to schools, provide support and challenge to leaders, highlighting strengths and describing areas for further development
• Lead network wide training to leaders at all levels of school in key areas for improvement, where appropriate
• Working closely with the Head of Curriculum and Ark Curriculum Plus team, lead termly subject reviews (~3 per year) which assess the quality of our curriculum offer through their design, delivery in the classroom, and impact across our schools

Key Requirements:

• Experience of Headship/Senior school leadership in an improved or outstanding school
• Deep knowledge of the Ofsted Framework, as an Ofsted Inspector or HMI
• Knowledge of a wide range of school improvement strategies and approaches
• Effective communicator with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build positive relationships
• Knowledge of a wide range of school improvement strategies and approaches
• Ability to use ICT effectively to perform their role
• Qualified teacher status

View the full job description and person specification here

About Ark

We’re an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we’re a network of 39 schools, educating around 28,500 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference and we’re recognised as one of the highest achieving academy groups in the country. We want to change the lives of children everywhere, not just in our own schools. So, we create and incubate Ventures designed not only to help pupils in Ark schools, but also to improve education systems.

You’ll be joining a group of like-minded, ambitious individuals who work collaboratively and are all committed to our core mission, that every child has the potential to succeed. Having just celebrated our 20^th anniversary, we are shaping our goals for the next 20 and there has never been a more exciting time to join us.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service and full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• Hybrid working, with currently two days a week in our state-of-the-art office in West London working alongside colleagues
• Regular social events, monthly free breakfast, and daily fruit
• A flexible approach to working with understanding and consideration for work life balance and personal commitments
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to TPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by Monday 6^th March 2023 at 10am but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

This ATS application form should take no longer 20 minutes to complete. At any time, you can pause, save, and log back in. If you have any difficulty with meeting the deadline for application, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org

Interviews will be arranged as suitable candidates are identified, so early application is strongly advised.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.  

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.