Regional Director of Education

Orchard Hill College Academy Trust, Sutton, SM1 1DA

31 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  to be confirmed

• Closing date

  8 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  8 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: Full Time, 36 hrs per week, 8.45am – 4.30pm M-Th, 8.45am – 4.15pm Fr
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £125,000 - £135,000 dependent on experience

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our team of three Regional Directors of Education. Each role will provide strategic leadership across a designated geographical area while also leading a Trust-wide strategic priority. Working in partnership with academy leaders, fellow Regional Directors and central teams, you will drive school improvement, strengthen collaboration and ensure every academy is supported to deliver high-quality, inclusive provision. Together, the three Regional Directors will lead the Trust-wide priorities of Integrated Services, Curriculum, Assessment and Transitions, and Outreach, working collaboratively to shape the future direction of education across OHCAT. These roles will report directly to the CEO.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic leadership across a designated group of academies, supporting and challenging Principals to drive school improvement, raise educational standards and deliver outstanding outcomes for learners.

• Lead the development of high-quality, inclusive education, using data, quality assurance and curriculum innovation to ensure effective provision, sustainable improvement and equitable opportunities for all learners.

• Develop leadership capacity and organisational effectiveness, line managing and coaching Principals, supporting academy development, and ensuring alignment with the Trust's strategic priorities and improvement plans.

• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships with Local Authorities, education, health and community partners, representing the Trust and fostering collaborative approaches that improve outcomes for children and young people.

• Drive Trust-wide improvement and transformation, leading strategic initiatives, working collaboratively with central services and fellow Regional Directors, and championing a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous improvement across the Trust.

Key Requirements:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) with significant senior leadership experience in special education, specialist provision or SEND services, and a proven track record of securing school improvement and outstanding outcomes for children and young people with SEND.

• Demonstrable experience of leading and developing senior leaders, driving organisational change, and using performance, quality assurance and outcomes data to deliver sustainable improvement across schools or academies.

• Extensive knowledge of SEND legislation, safeguarding, school improvement and quality assurance, with a strong understanding of inclusive curriculum models, alternative provision and the statutory framework for education.

• Exceptional strategic leadership, communication and partnership skills, with the ability to influence, support and challenge leaders, build effective relationships with Local Authorities and external partners, and translate vision into impactful delivery.

• A collaborative, resilient and values-led leader with a strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and continuous improvement, who inspires confidence, builds high-performing teams and is passionate about improving the life chances of children and young people with SEND.

What the school offers its staff

OHC&AT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:

Rewards & Benefits:

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme and Free Virtual GP Appointments
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)

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

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

Regional Director of Education - Job Description.pdf - 143 KB (opens in new tab)

About Orchard Hill College Academy Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Orchard Hill College Academy Trust website
• Email address: MollyKing@ohcat.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/orchard-hill-college-academy-trust

Orchard Hill College (the College) and Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (the Trust) together form Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust (OHC&AT), a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. As an Outstanding provider (Ofsted 2019) and Academy sponsor, Orchard Hill College has a strong track record for making a positive impact within the local communities it serves.

Pupils and students within the OHC&AT family have a wide range of learning abilities and additional needs including autistic spectrum disorder; speech, language and communication difficulties; social, emotional and mental health; profound and multiple disabilities; and physical disabilities including multi-sensory impairment and complex health needs.

Our ambition is to contribute further to improving the education offer for all pupils and students in our communities, including those with SEND. The College offers specialist educational programmes for students aged 16 and over in College centres and satellite provision in London and the South. The Academy Trust enables us to build on and extend scope of our work in these geographical areas, so that Academy pupils can also benefit from our expertise and access a greater range of opportunities arising from our strong community and stakeholder networks.

Supporting our College and Academies, OHC&AT also operates a range of services and support including Quality and Standards, Learning Support and Business Support.

Head office location

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