Director of Educational Excellence & Improvement

Fortis Trust, Chatham, ME5 0LB

11 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026 or January 2027

• Closing date

  18 April 2026 at 12:59am

• Date listed

  7 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: Negotiable, dependent upon experience
• Additional allowances:

  Negotiable, dependent upon experience

Director of Educational Excellence & Improvement job summary

Join Fortis Trust - Strength in Partnership

Are you an inspiring and experienced system leader ready to shape educational excellence across a growing and ambitious Multi‑Academy Trust?

Fortis Trust is seeking an exceptional Director of Educational Excellence & Improvement to provide strategic leadership for educational standards, teaching and learning, and sustained improvement across our academies and provisions.

About Fortis Trust

Fortis Trust is a family of collaborative and innovative academies and provisions, united by our commitment to improving the life chances of children, young people and communities.. Our Trust includes Bradfields Academy (specialist SEND), Forward2Employment (post-16 supported internships), and Fortis Outreach providing SEND support and training across Medway and Kent.

We are entering an exciting period of growth and development, with new academies joining the Trust, major capital projects underway, and increasing system leadership responsibilities regionally.

The Role

As Director of Educational Excellence & Improvement, you will be the Trust’s strategic lead for educational standards and the quality of teaching and learning. As a key member of the Executive Team, you will champion the Fortis Framework for Excellent Practice and lead the implementation of the Trust’s Quality Assurance Framework, ensuring consistently high‑quality, inclusive education across all academies and provisions.

Working closely with the CEO and Principals, you will set ambitious priorities, evaluate impact, and secure sustained improvement through an effective balance of challenge, support and professional development. The role deputises for the CEO when required, providing continuity of strategic leadership in line with Trust priorities and Board direction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead Quality Assurance and Improvement meetings with Principals, using robust evidence to support challenge and improvement.
• Establish and lead subject enhancement and development networks, fostering collaboration and sharing best practice.
• Oversee Trust‑wide INSET and professional development focused on improving teaching, learning and leadership.
• Support leaders to be Ofsted‑ready, acting as Ofsted Nominee where required.
• Work in partnership with the CEO to co‑lead the PTI Primary Hub.
• Oversee Careers Education and Continuing Professional Development, shaping staff career pathways across the Trust.
• Act as deputy to the CEO when required, representing the Trust with Trustees, regulators and partners, and ensuring continuity of performance, risk management and statutory compliance.

What We’re Looking For

Essential:

• Degree‑level qualification and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Significant senior leadership experience with a sustained track record of school improvement and raising standards.
• Deep understanding of curriculum, pedagogy and assessment across phases.
• Experience of quality assurance and leading Ofsted preparation.
• High professional integrity, moral purpose and the ability to inspire and motivate others.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate qualification (e.g., NPQEL, Master’s).
• Experience of leadership within a Multi‑Academy Trust or system‑led improvement.
• Evidence of innovation and thought leadership in education.

Why Join Fortis Trust?

You will join a Trust that values clarity, professionalism and integrity, offering rich opportunities for system leadership, coaching and collaborative networks. We provide a comprehensive benefits package, high‑quality professional development, and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on children, young people and staff across the region.

How to Apply

Your personal statement (maximum two sides of A4) should clearly explain why you are the person we need, supported by verifiable evidence of your experience, skills and impact. Please include full contact details and two referees (one must be your current or most recent employer).

Send your completed application to: louise.tombs@fortistrust.co.uk

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Marie Sweetlove-Smyth, CEO (marie.sweetlove@fortistrust.co.uk).

Fortis Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

We are committed to a safe and secure environment, free from fear or intolerance. Our policies are reviewed and updated frequently to make sure we keep all aspects of our procedures as robust as possible and evidence based best practice is applied to address the ever changing challenge to the wellbeing for everyone within the Fortis Trust community.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Fortis Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Fortis Trust website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/fortis-trust

We provide first class child-centred education to children aged 3-19 years, ensuring all children make outstanding progress and achieve highly in their academic and personal development. We support young adults aged 18-25 years with EHCPs, to further their life chances, through supported internships; enabled by strong community based partnerships, with a range of local employers.

We are driven by our vision to harness the talents and strengths of everyone within our trust to raise the aspirations of our learners, enabling them to take full and active responsible roles in their communities and beyond as global citizens and ambassadors. We develop our staff to enhance their career aspirations by providing continued leadership growth and opportunities to take active roles within the Trust.

Fortis Trust has an excellent track record of delivering effective school improvement; with sharing of best practice and expertise, both within the Trust and beyond, improving the quality of teaching and learning, leadership and governance; to continuously challenge and raise expectations for all.

We are proud of the quality of our teaching and learning across the Trust, and the support we provide to nursery, primary & secondary schools, and provisions across Medway and Kent through our outreach service. Which, through the sharing of expertise and best practice provides high quality school improvement and support.

Fortis Trust is in a strong position, with excellent services and a clear business strategy. We are currently pursuing new partnerships to join us in working towards our vision to improve the life chances for all children. We welcome enquiries with regard to our academy, Post 16 Institution and services, along with suggestions for establishing new partnerships.

Marie Sweetlove
CEO

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