Data Science Apprenticeship at The Mercian Trust - Digital & IT

Job Title: Data Science Apprentice

Location: Walsall

Operational Excellence at The Mercian Trust

The Operational Excellence Department sits within the Finance, Business and Operations service of The Mercian Trust, bringing together IT, Communications & Marketing, Data Science, and User Experience into a single service dedicated to enabling exceptional outcomes for our schools. Drawing on expertise across technology, data, communications, service design and digital innovation, the team works collaboratively with school leaders, educators and support staff to make systems simpler, decisions smarter and services more effective. The department leads strategic transformation projects, develops trust-wide digital capability, strengthens communication and engagement, and ensures that technology and data are used purposefully to improve experiences for staff, pupils and families. By combining this expertise with a strong understanding of education, the team helps schools focus on what matters most, delivering outstanding learning opportunities and supporting every child to thrive. Operational Excellence is not simply a support function; it is a catalyst for innovation, continuous improvement and sustainable organisational growth.

INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES, IMPROVING OUTCOMES

As one Trust we share a common purpose.  We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education.  When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community.

Put simply, our common purpose is to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for our students.  We are particularly committed to students who are under-served and under-resourced.  We prioritise those who have special educational needs and disabilities, or who are more likely to face discrimination for whatever reason.

It is this common purpose that fuels everything we do. We deliver impactful, sustainable and ethical continuous school improvement in our schools to ensure the children and young people in the communities we serve learn in the very best and most inclusive schools. 

We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve (which are the education investment areas of the West Midlands). We adopt a pioneering spirit and look to lead the sector with innovative solutions to the problems our students and families face.

Want to make a difference to young people?

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes for our students. We are looking for a data science apprentice to join The Operational Excellent Team. Reporting to Dave Wright, you will undertake: 

Key responsibilities: 

• Assisting in the collection and organization of raw data from various sources to support data-driven leadership.
• Learning to transform data into usable formats for analysis, ensuring the data is ready for decision-making processes.
• Collaborating with the team to validate data quality and helping maintain clean and accurate datasets for reliable insights.
• Gaining exposure to database administration tasks and assisting in monitoring and optimizing database performance for efficiency.
• Learning about data modelling techniques and contributing to the development of data pipelines to streamline data processes.
• Documenting processes, procedures, and best practices, as well as assisting in creating data-related reports to communicate findings effectively. 

Pay range: Apprentice Scale 1 £14,566 to Apprentice Scale 6 £25,583

Qualifications and Skills: 

Grade 5 in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent, Grade 4 in GCSE English Language or equivalent (prior to admission)

with

BBC at A-Level to include Maths.
The following A-Levels are not accepted: Citizenship Skills, General Studies, and Critical Thinking. 

Data Scientist Degree Apprenticeship - The University of Nottingham

For full details of the post please see attached Job Description and Person Specification

Why The Mercian Trust?

As one Trust we share a common purpose.  We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education.  When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community.

Put simply, our common purpose is to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for our students.  We are particularly committed to students who are under-served and under-resourced.  We prioritise those who have special educational needs and disabilities, or who are more likely to face discrimination for whatever reason.

It is this common purpose that fuels everything we do. We deliver impactful, sustainable and ethical continuous school improvement in our schools to ensure the children and young people in the communities we serve learn in the very best and most inclusive schools. 

We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve (which are the education investment areas of the West Midlands). We adopt a pioneering spirit and look to lead the sector with innovative solutions to the problems our students and families face.

Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more:  The Mercian Trust - Home

Benefits: 

Financial, Health and Lifestyle

For further benefits including education sector leading CPD: The Mercian Trust - What we can offer you

The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.

 The Mercian Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.