[261009] Director of Education

Post: Director of Education

Location: Trust-wide, with regular travel across the South West

Salary: Executive Pay Framework - competitive salary, with scope for flexibility for an exceptional candidate subject to approval.

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-time

Contract Hours: 37.5 Hours per week, Monday to Friday

For more information about the role, please view our Applicant Pack: Director of Education Applicant Pack

Shape educational excellence across Reach South

Reach South Academy Trust is seeking an exceptional Director of Education to provide strategic educational leadership across our diverse and growing family of schools.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and working as a member of the Executive Team, you will play a central role in shaping the Trust’s strategic direction, educational performance and long-term development. You will be accountable for the strategic oversight and assurance of whole-school performance across every academy, working through our Regional Director model.

This is a broad and influential role spanning educational standards, school improvement, curriculum, safeguarding, attendance, inclusion and the overall effectiveness of our schools. Our portfolio includes mainstream, specialist and alternative provision across different phases, communities and geographical areas.

About the Role

As Director of Education, you will:

• act as the Chief Executive Officer’s principal adviser on educational matters;
• develop and deliver the Trust-wide education strategy;
• set ambitious expectations for educational quality, curriculum, teaching, behaviour, attendance, inclusion and pupil outcomes;
• lead, support and hold Regional Directors to account for the performance, organisational health and sustainability of schools within their regions;
• oversee the Trust’s school improvement and quality assurance arrangements, ensuring timely and sustained improvement where performance is weak;
• provide executive leadership for safeguarding and the Trust’s Inclusion Strategy;
• ensure disadvantaged, vulnerable and additional-needs pupils are supported to participate, achieve and thrive;
• provide clear, evidence-based assurance to the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Team, Board and committees;
• support Trust growth through educational due diligence, school onboarding and integration; and
• represent Reach South with regulators, commissioners, local authorities, sector partners and regional and national networks.

Working alongside other Executive Directors, you will ensure that educational priorities are aligned with workforce planning, financial sustainability, infrastructure, risk and organisational capacity. You will also contribute to professional learning, leadership development, talent management and succession planning through the Trust’s Centre of Excellence.

About you

We are looking for an accomplished and credible educational leader with significant experience spanning Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 5 and a strong record of improving educational quality, developing leaders and securing positive outcomes beyond an individual school.

You will bring:

• a proven ability to lead system-wide strategy and hold senior leaders to account;
• significant experience of educational leadership and school improvement across the full age range from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 5;
• a strong understanding of the differing educational, curriculum and organisational challenges presented at each stage;
• experience of leading and developing senior leaders;
• deep knowledge of inspection, accountability and school improvement frameworks;
• confidence in using data, evidence and professional judgement to evaluate performance and inform action;
• strategic curriculum leadership experience;
• a strong understanding of safeguarding, inclusion and pupil wellbeing; and
• the ability to influence, challenge and build effective relationships at the highest level.

Experience of providing strategic educational oversight, challenge and improvement across multiple schools, settings or a defined geographical area would be advantageous, as would experience of operating at Executive Team level and influencing Board-level decision-making.

You will be a visible, values-led and collaborative leader who demonstrates personal and professional integrity and is aligned with Reach South’s values of Aspiration, Excellence, Resilience and Integrity.

Why join Reach South?

This is an opportunity to influence educational strategy and performance across a broad and diverse Trust at an important stage of its development. You will work with an ambitious Executive Team and an established Regional Director structure, with the scope to shape educational improvement, inclusion, leadership development and organisational capacity across the Trust.

You will have the opportunity to make a lasting difference to children and young people across our schools, ensuring that every learner receives a high-quality, inclusive education and is supported to achieve and thrive.

Next Steps

As Director of Education, you will play a key role in shaping the future strategic direction of Reach South Academy Trust, working closely with the CEO, Board of Trustees and Executive Leadership Team.

If you would like an informal and confidential conversation about the role, we warmly encourage you to contact:

Tom Leverage

CEO

Email:

For general enquiries relating to the recruitment process, employee benefits or application arrangements, please contact:

Email:
Telephone:

Interviews

• Day One: 10/11 November 2026 - The Springfields Academy, Calne, Wiltshire
• Day Two: Wednesday 18 November 2026 in London

Please note: references will be requested prior to interview for all shortlisted candidates.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Each post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

At Reach South, we are committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone feels valued, respected and able to thrive. We believe diversity strengthens our organisation, bringing perspectives that enhance collaboration and outcomes for our pupils.

Join us and you will be part of a Trust that invests in its people, champions equality, and values the contribution everyone brings.

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