Secondary Standards Lead

Embark Multi Academy Trust, Derby, DE22 1GB

10 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  28 June 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  5 June 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: £105,595.00 - £116,456.00 Annually (FTE)

Secondary Standards Lead job summary

At Embark Federation, we believe every child deserves access to an excellent education and the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Our vision of Love Learning, Love Life is more than a strapline; it is our commitment to ensuring that every child experiences high-quality teaching, strong outcomes and the support they need to thrive.

We are seeking an exceptional leader to join our team as Secondary Standards Lead.

This is a significant trust-wide role with direct responsibility for standards, outcomes and school improvement across our secondary schools. Reporting to the Deputy CEO, the successful candidate will line manage headteachers, lead performance dialogue and intervention, and ensure that improvement activity translates into better classroom practice and improved outcomes for young people.

We are looking for someone with a proven track record of delivering improvement who can demonstrate the impact they have had on standards, teaching and outcomes, and who has the credibility and professional authority to challenge, support and hold leaders to account.

The successful candidate will:

• Hold direct accountability for standards and outcomes across our secondary schools.

• Lead performance review, intervention and improvement activity across KS3, KS4 and KS5.

• Ensure that schools have an accurate understanding of their performance and act decisively where improvement is required.

• Secure high-quality teaching in every classroom through effective leadership of curriculum, teaching and assessment.

• Oversee rapid improvement planning where performance is off track, including intervention at subject and departmental level.

• Provide clear reporting and assurance to senior leaders and governance committees on standards, risk and impact.

This is not an advisory role it is a role focused on accountability, delivery and impact. Success will be measured by the difference made to the life chances of young people across our secondary schools.

Applicants will bring significant school improvement experience, a strong understanding of curriculum, teaching, assessment and standards, and a demonstrable record of improving pupil outcomes at system level. Experience of working across multiple schools or within a multi-academy trust is essential.

At Embark, we are ambitious for our children, our schools and our communities. We are equally committed to the values that underpin our work: Family, Integrity, Teamwork and Success. These values shape how we lead, how we work together and how we serve the children and families in our care. If you share our belief that great schools change lives and want to play a leading role in shaping the futures of young people across Derbyshire, we would welcome your application.

Embark Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS and pre-employment checks.

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

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 Embark Multi Academy Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/embark-multi-academy-trust

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