The role: Director of Secondary Education

For us, courage, compassion, collaboration and commitment are more than words, they define how we lead and improve our schools. As our Director of Secondary Education you will place these values at the heart of our school improvement journey.

Courage to provide strategic challenge and drive ambitious, evidence-informed improvement across all our secondary schools.

Compassion to ensure every decision prioritises inclusion, equity and the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable learners.

Collaboration is central to the way we work. To build strong partnerships with our Headteachers, Leaders and colleagues across our Trust, fostering a culture of shared responsibility for achieving the best possible outcomes.

Commitment to relentlessly pursue excellence in teaching, leadership and outcomes.

This is a fantastic opportunity to shape the life chances of young people across multiple schools.

Why join us?

•         Work for a values-driven organisation that values innovation and collaboration.
•         Shape secondary education and the lives of our pupils across our Trust
•         Make a difference to pupil outcomes and life chances.
•         Be part of a collaborative and ambitious leadership team.
•         Access professional development opportunities to grow your career.

What you’ll do

As our Director of Secondary Education, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all secondary schools, driving sustained school improvement and ensuring strong educational outcomes. You will line manage, support and challenge secondary Headteachers, building leadership capacity and accountability at all levels. Working closely with school and Trust leaders, you will ensure the highest standards of curriculum, teaching, learning and assessment, using data intelligently to identify priorities, address risk and secure continuous improvement. You will lead on Ofsted readiness and inspection success, champion inclusive practice to secure equitable outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND, and play a key role in developing talent across our Trust. Alongside this, you will collaborate with our Primary Director of Education and Central teams to align educational priorities with wider Trust strategy, building strong partnerships within and beyond the organisation to strengthen impact and outcomes for all pupils.

 About you

 If you:

 • Are an experienced and credible leader with a strong track record of driving improvement in secondary education

• Bring strategic insight alongside a deep understanding of excellent teaching, leadership and curriculum in practice

• Are motivated by making a tangible difference to the life chances of young people

• Have proven ability to lead and influence others, building trust quickly while offering both support and constructive challenge

• Are confident operating at system level, using performance data to identify priorities and translate strategy into impactful action

• A collaborative, values-driven leader committed to developing others and strengthening leadership capacity

• Skilled in fostering a culture of continuous improvement across multiple schools

• Deeply committed to inclusion and equity, ensuring all pupils, particularly the disadvantaged and those with SEND, achieve strong outcomes

• Above all, share our commitment to inclusion and equity. You believe every student deserves the very best education, regardless of their background, and you are driven to ensure that high expectations translate into strong outcomes for all. 

We would like you to apply for this role.  Please do get in touch to learn more about this opportunity.

 We offer

• A role where your work really matters
• The opportunity to work in a team who are invested in creating the conditions to support the growth of others
• Competitive package with generous career average pension scheme with employer contributions of c28%*
• Ongoing professional development

*employer contribution rates set by the Teachers’ Pension Scheme.

How to apply

If you’re ready to lead with integrity, inspire with vision, and make a lasting impact across a close-knit connected community of secondary schools, we would love to hear from you. 

For an informal discussion and/or to arrange a visit to our Trust, please contact Paul Cornish, Deputy CEO, on 01626 870317 or via email @ paul.cornish@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk.. 

Please do take the opportunity to learn more about the role by viewing the detailed job description on the following pages.  To learn more about our Trust please view: Ivy Education Trust  and read our Game Plan also available alongside this pack.  To learn more about our secondary schools please visit: Dawlish College, Newton Abbot College, Teignmouth Community School. Their most recent Ofsted reports are available through their websites.

To apply please complete our application form, detailing how you meet the criteria detailed in the person specification on the job description that we will assess during shortlisting.

The closing date for applications is Friday 11th  September 2026 at 9.00am.

Interviews will be held at our Trust office at Teignmouth Community School on Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th September 2026.

We are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our pupils, and we expect you to be too. We follow safer recruitment statutory guidance (Keeping Children Safe in Education).  If you’re successful, you’ll be required to complete thorough pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check and references that are satisfactory to our Trust.  All posts in our Trust are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.  If you have any questions about this opportunity please contact us at recruitment@ivyeducationtrust.co.uk.

Please take time to read some of our policies:

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Data Protection Policy

Recruitment of Ex-offenders Policy

Recruitment Selection Disclosure Policy