JOB DESCRIPTION
HEAD OF STANDARDS AND ACHIEVEMENT
DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
Job Purpose:
To raise standards and achievement in schools and early years’ settings, closing gaps and
maximising parental involvement in order to improve outcomes for all children and young
people in Lewisham. To build the capacity of schools to meet the needs of all children.
As a Head of Service in Lewisham you will ensure:

Corporate and strategic modelling through demonstrating commitment to council values
and translating the vision into strategic intent

Performance and quality improvement through leading – and nurturing others to lead and
manage – innovative approaches to achieving results

Best use of resources through defining priorities and securing appropriate resources to
achieve the Council’s objectives

Services contribute to the corporate whole through interpreting external needs and trends
and creating synergies to achieve corporate goals
As Head of Standards and Achievement you will:

Provide visible and effective educational leadership to schools

Raise standards of pupil achievement and close gaps by leading and managing the
development, implementation, and continual review of policies and strategies for raising
standards, achievement and expectations and improving schools and early years settings

Ensure effective educational partnerships between the local authority, schools and early
years settings which are challenging and supportive, foster innovation and improvement,
and raise standards and achievements

Secure effective service delivery and improved outcomes through strong leadership and
management of the School Improvement Team, Early Years Improvement Service, 14-19
Improvement Team, Governors Support Team, Music Services Provision and the Looked
after Children Educational Services

Lead interventions for schools requiring improvement, including by exercising the Local
Authority’s intervention powers

Lead on the strategy for the provision of early years education, including contributing to
policy related to the deployment of the funding for childcare for 3 and 4 year olds and
disadvantaged 2 year olds

Lead, manage and advise on improving educational outcomes for Looked After Children
in and out of the borough and support the borough’s Pupil Referral Units and manage the
Virtual Head Teacher for Looked after Children
13/5/15

Secure effective educational provision for those children who require ‘hospital’ provision
including children who are school-phobic or have other conditions

Ensure that the local authority works in partnership with governors and governing bodies
and ensure that governing bodies are equipped, supported and challenged to play their
significant part in raising standards and achievement

Lead the School Improvement Team’s input into developing and improving provision for
children with SEN, educated at home or otherwise

Continue the drive to reduce demand for Education, Health and Care Plans and increase
capacity to meet the needs of children with SEN

To lead the development of education strategy in the borough including through forging
federations, establishment of Academies etc where this will improve outcomes for children
and young people

Lead on all aspects of 14-19 development, leading the borough’s 14-19 strategic
partnership forum

To secure strong early intervention in schools and early years settings supporting the
early intervention services including prevention and reduction of NEETs and achieving
Raising the Participation Age requirements

Develop and maintain strong professional networks inside and outside the borough

Represent the Council within and outside Lewisham, creating opportunities to enhance
the council’s image, partnerships and services

Manage budgets, contracts and resources effectively to secure efficiency, cost control
and value for money, optimise opportunities to attract external funding

Be responsible for employee performance management issues and target setting through
the PES process

Ensure the continual improvement and development of the services in the division based
on collecting and benchmarking robust performance information from within and outside
the borough including effective target setting and progress tracking to significantly
improve the performance of underachieving groups

Ensure strong partnership across all children’s services in the borough and in other
boroughs

Ensure that the Council and its partners meet performance and other requirements of
Central and Regional Government

Secure commitment to valuing diversity and access to all sections of the community in
both service provision and employment
13/5/15
PERSON SPECIFICATION
HEAD OF STANDARDS & ACHIEVEMENT
DIRECTORATE FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
Part one - Knowledge and Experience
•
A successful track record as a senior manager in a large complex organisation,
leading professionals to improve outcomes for children, young people and their
families
•
Substantial successful track record, knowledge and experience at a senior level of
leading school improvement, including raising standards in schools through high
quality challenge and support; structural changes including federations
•
A thorough understanding of the use of strategies and data to improve
achievement and progress, and to close gaps for under achieving groups
•
An in depth knowledge of schools, teaching, learning, curriculum,
leadership, management and governance
•
Successful experience of formulating, leading and implementing strategies
and programmes that cross service and professional boundaries
•
Proven experience of providing excellent leadership to schools, building
and maintaining strong, productive relationships
•
Up to date knowledge and understanding of the full children and young
people’s agenda including how schools contribute to children's health,
resilience, safety, and well-being, as well as knowledge of relevant national
and regional policies

Understanding of and commitment to valuing diversity, including knowledge of how to
reduce inequalities in educational achievement
Part Two - Skills, Abilities and Behaviours

Demonstrable ability to act corporately and act for the Lewisham community as a whole
•
Ability to achieve major innovation, secure substantial improvements and generate
cultural and organisational change

Strong orientation to achieve outcomes through working in collaboration and partnership

Ability to develop, negotiate and achieve high performance levels and achieve
continuous improvement in services to children and young people

Inspires trust and Lewisham values through personal conduct

Ability to lead, coach, inspire and empower others to achieve their personal and
organisational goals
13/5/15

Excellent ability to exercise effective leadership both as a member of the Directorate
Management Team and as a Director

Ability to develop, communicate and gain ownership for a clear vision and direction, and
to build effective teams and relationships

Highly developed written and oral presentational skills, including the ability to advocate,
influence and negotiate effectively at every level in the system
Part Three - Personal Qualities
•
Ability to establish positive working relationships with colleagues across agencies
and with elected members and to understand and anticipate issues of political
sensitivity
•
Ability to work with the DfE, OfSTED and other government officials sensitively and
effectively
•
High standards of integrity
•
Personal impact with presence

Commitment to learn - desire to acquire new knowledge, skills and
approaches
13/5/15