Director of Education & Skills

An ambitious, high-performing council where education, inclusion and skills are central to shaping the future of the borough.

Telford & Wrekin is one of the fastest-growing places in England, with a young and increasingly diverse population and a strong track record of innovation and improvement. Education and skills are central to our vision for inclusive growth, tackling inequality and helping every child and young person thrive.

We're seeking an outstanding leader to join us as Director of Education & Skills. Reporting to the Executive Director for Children's Services and Public Health, you'll lead a broad portfolio spanning SEND, school improvement, access and sufficiency, alternative provision, the Virtual School, skills, and wider leadership across education and early help.

The council is proud of its strong performance, including an Outstanding Ofsted judgement and a top-tier Area SEND inspection outcome. Yet we remain ambitious to drive even greater inclusion, consistency and outcomes across the system.

A key priority will be leading the system response to growing SEND, sufficiency and DSG pressures, ensuring children and young people can access the right support at the right time. Implementation of the SEND reform plan will also be a major focus, requiring strong strategic leadership and a relentless focus on inclusion, sustainability and improved outcomes. Alongside this you’ll drive school improvement, strengthen skills and employment pathways, reduce NEET levels, and help shape future school place planning.

This is a highly influential, system-facing role requiring close collaboration with schools, MATs, health partners, the voluntary sector and elected members. You'll chair key partnerships and play a visible role in regional education forums and corporate leadership across the council. Collaboration is central to how we work, with education playing a vital role in our “One Council” approach to improving outcomes for children, young people and communities.

You'll be a credible leader with a strong understanding of the education landscape, particularly SEND, inclusion and the evolving role of local authorities in an increasingly academy-led system. Most importantly, you'll be able to lead complex systems, build trusted relationships and bring partners together to improve outcomes for children and young people. You'll combine strategic vision with sound financial and performance management, navigate a fast-changing national agenda, and champion improvement at scale.

In return, you'll join a supportive and ambitious council with strong political and corporate leadership, a collaborative culture and a genuine commitment to developing its people. This is a rare opportunity to influence system-wide change, improve life chances and shape the future of education and skills in one of England's fastest-growing boroughs.

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

Anita Denton on 07725 554802 / anita.denton@tile-hill.co.uk or Chris Barrow on 07437 839048 / chris.barrow@tile-hill.co.uk

To find out more about the role, the place and how to apply, please visit: https://apps.telford.gov.uk/newdirectors

Closing date: midnight on Wednesday 23rd September 2026

Positive Action Statement
At Telford & Wrekin Council, we know that having a diverse workforce is key to providing the best possible services to our community. We welcome applications from people from all backgrounds, in particular those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

To apply:
To apply, please submit 

• An up-to-date copy of your CV (four sides of A4 maximum).
• A supporting statement (three sides of A4 maximum) that addresses the criteria set out in the relevant role profile and uses examples to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements. It should also cover your motivation for the role and the organisation.

Documents should be uploaded via our website, please include and upload the below information in two documents only. If you experience any issues whilst applying, please contact Rebecca.keen@tile-hill.co.uk

Applications must include:

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your notice period;
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for interview.

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email inclusion@tile-hill.co.uk.

If the organisation we’re representing is a member of the Disability Confident Scheme and you’d like to apply under the scheme, please mention this clearly in bold at the top of your supporting statement. If there are any adjustments that would support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.