Chief Education Officer
Location: Hybrid/Nationwide – travel across multiple locations
Contract: Full-time
Working pattern: Monday–Friday, 9:00am–5:00pm, 52 weeks per year
Sector: Specialist Education / SEND
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and ambitious Chief Education Officer to provide executive leadership across a group of specialist education organisations supporting young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
This is a strategic leadership opportunity for an established education professional who can drive educational excellence, strengthen quality assurance, improve learner outcomes and ensure consistent standards across multiple organisations.
Working closely with the CEO and senior leadership teams, you will lead educational strategy, oversee the Education Quality Team and ensure the highest standards of teaching, learning, curriculum delivery and learner experience.
Key Responsibilities
Provide strategic leadership for curriculum, teaching, learning and educational quality across the group.
Lead quality assurance, improvement planning and preparation for Ofsted inspections and external scrutiny.
Oversee the Education Quality Team, developing staff capability and promoting continuous professional development.
Monitor learner progress, EHCP outcomes, attendance, achievement, wellbeing and progression.
Ensure compliance with relevant SEND, safeguarding, funding and awarding body requirements.
Work collaboratively with senior leaders to improve performance and share best practice across organisations.
Strengthen curriculum pathways, supported internships and progression into further education, training and employment.
Build effective relationships with local authorities, awarding bodies, regulators and other key stakeholders.
Provide clear performance and impact reporting to the CEO, executive team and governance bodies.
The Ideal Candidate
Proven senior leadership experience within education, with accountability for curriculum, teaching, learning and sustained improvement.
Strong experience of SEND and specialist post-16 education.
A successful track record of leading organisations through Ofsted inspections and external quality assurance.
Experience managing quality professionals and influencing senior leaders across multiple teams, sites or organisations.
Strong understanding of EHCP outcomes, inclusive educational practice and learner progression.
Experience developing quality assurance frameworks, performance measures and improvement strategies.
Excellent strategic leadership, communication, stakeholder management and governance reporting skills.
A commitment to safeguarding, inclusive practice and ambitious outcomes for every learner.
Interested?
If you are an experienced education leader ready to make a group-wide impact across specialist SEND provision, we would welcome a confidential conversation.
Please submit your CV to discuss the opportunity and find out more.
Important Notice
Dovetail and Slate is a specialist education recruitment company. If this role isn't quite right, we welcome your CV and a call to explore other opportunities.
We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All appointments are subject to satisfactory vetting, including a right to work check and, where relevant, an enhanced DBS, PVG (Scotland), or EWC (Wales) check, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
Dovetail and Slate Ltd ((phone number removed)) acts as an Employment Agency and an Employment Business under the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003.
We are an equal opportunities employer. By applying, you consent to your data being processed for recruitment purposes in line with our Privacy Policy.
Because education matters.
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