Following the promotion of our Education Director to CEO of Focus-Trust, we are seeking to appoint a new Education Director from September 2026. The successful candidate will succeed Michael Rowland, who has led a significant trajectory of improvement across all Focus-Trust schools during his tenure as Education Director. As Michael takes up his new role as CEO in September 2026, we are now looking for an exceptional leader to build on this strong foundation and continue driving improvement across the Trust. 

This is an exciting opportunity for an inspirational and solution-focused leader to oversee and lead our school improvement offer for our schools, leaders, and colleagues. 

We have a thriving partnership of schools that are driven to do the best for our children. As a team, we believe in collective efficacy and share a commitment to working together on the things that matter in order to improve outcomes for all. 

Focus-Trust is committed to the continued improvement of the quality of education in our schools and achieves this through adopting research-led practice in teaching and learning. The Education Director will be at the heart of this work and will work closely with the CEO, Curriculum Professional Learning Lead (CPLL), Safeguarding, Ambition and Inclusion Lead (SAIL), and school leaders. 

We are seeking a leader with the vision, expertise, integrity, and creativity to lead our journey into a new phase of strategic school improvement, ensuring we continue to have great schools at the heart of our communities that learn together to make the difference. 

To be our new Education Director, you will relish the challenge and convincingly demonstrate your passion for improving education in a way that aligns with the Trust’s mission, vision, values, and culture. You will have a strong track record of leading or delivering lasting school improvement in challenging contexts, using approaches that create maximum benefit and the greatest impact for our children. 

The Trust is proud of its partnerships with others to improve education for all children in our schools and communities, whilst also contributing to the national agenda. 

We are also proud to have a great team of people working in our schools who always put children at the heart of our practice. We are committed to providing excellent professional development opportunities for all staff and always aim to be an employer of choice. 

Focus-Trust is a primary trust established in 2012 as a not-for-profit charity with children at the heart of everything it does. It currently has 15 primary schools and continues to look to expand. The Education Director will play a key role in helping us achieve our ambition of great schools with great educators in every classroom. 

We are therefore looking for an exceptional leader with the ambition and moral purpose to support our continued growth and who demonstrates the following qualities: 

• A proven track record of sustained school improvement 

• Extensive experience of leading and motivating people and building effective relationships at all levels 

• The ability to recognise changing vulnerabilities and priorities in our schools and respond in ways that ensure they succeed 

• A clear understanding of the current educational and political landscape 

• A leader who epitomises our ethos, communicating and sharing our vision and purpose with energy, commitment, and passion 

• Honest, approachable, adaptable, resilient, patient, motivated and an excellent communicator who works with integrity and respect for all 

• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to thrive within the demands of a busy primary school trust 

• The flexibility to adapt, work effectively as part of a team, and maintain high standards and expectations of yourself and what our schools should look and feel like 

The role will be based at Ram Mill in Oldham but will involve extensive travel to all of our schools within the Trust. 

Focus-Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people. There is an explicit expectation that all staff, trustees, governors, and volunteers share this commitment and adhere to all safeguarding policies and procedures. Applicants should be aware that the recruitment process will include an assessment of your suitability to work with children and you must be willing to undergo pre-employment checks. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Focus-Trust is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from underrepresented groups and ethnic minorities.