Associate Director of Education

We are seeking an exceptional senior education leader to serve as our Associate Director of Education, providing strategic oversight of quality, compliance and performance across our schools in the North West and West Midlands.

About us:

Family Care is a family-owned organisation providing fostering, residential care and specialist SEN education across the North West and West Midlands. We are recognised for our commitment to supporting vulnerable children and young people through stable, nurturing environments and tailored educational provision. Our work is rooted in consistent, therapeutic support, and we are dedicated to making a meaningful, lasting difference in the lives of the children we serve.

About the role:

The Associate Director of Education acts on behalf of the Proprietary Body, delivering our education strategy, ensuring compliance with the Independent School Standards, leading safeguarding escalations, and line-managing Head Teachers. This is a strategic and operational role at the heart of our organisation’s growth and improvement.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Quality

• Lead all educational matters and ensure full regulatory compliance.
• Drive high-quality teaching, learning and curriculum development.
• Lead quality assurance, data-driven improvement and inspection readiness.

Operational Leadership

• Line-manage Head Teachers and strengthen school leadership capacity.
• Lead recruitment, induction and succession planning for senior leaders.
• Ensure safe, high-quality learning environments and effective workforce planning.

Growth & External Engagement

• Support acquisitions and integrate new schools into organisational standards.
• Build strong relationships with commissioners, LAs and external partners.
• Lead development of new SEND and alternative provision models.

Finance & Performance

• Align education priorities with business planning and budget management.
• Oversee school expenditure, occupancy and contract negotiations.

Governance & Safeguarding

• Provide assurance to the Proprietary Body on performance, risk and compliance.
• Lead governance reporting and regulatory engagement.
• Act as senior safeguarding lead for escalations.

Teaching, Learning & Outcomes

• Monitor standards and pupil progress across all schools.
• Ensure SEND and Equality Act compliance and effective use of pupil/parent voice.

Strategy & Sector Insight

• Advise on national policy trends and future opportunities.
• Lead strategic development of SEND education services.

What we are looking for:

• Qualified Teacher Status
• Extensive Senior Leadership Experience (Associate Director/ Director of Education, Regional Director)
• Comprehensive knowledge of the SEND landscape in the UK
• Experience overseeing compliance with the Independent School Standards across multiple sites

What we offer:

• Salary: up to £80,000 per annum + car allowance & bonus
• Annual Leave: 30 days plus bank holidays
• Company pension
• Health & wellbeing programme
• Sick pay after qualifying period
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week – Monday to Friday

Family Care is committed to safeguarding and always promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects the post holder to share this commitment. To uphold this responsibility, we follow Safer Recruitment practices to ensure we select suitable candidates.

All offers of employment are subject to safeguarding checks. An Enhanced DBS check, comprehensive references, and appropriate online and social media checks will be carried out in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance. We are permitted to ask whether an applicant has any convictions, cautions, reprimands, or final warnings (spent or otherwise) under the current guidance, as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Please note that disclosure of a criminal background will not automatically disqualify you from employment.