Company Overview
The Aspire Educational Trust is dedicated to providing children and young people from all backgrounds with an outstanding education. Our mission is to establish exceptional academies that foster inclusion, high expectations, and a relentless focus on every child's potential.
Role Description
The Board of Trustees are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, hardworking and motivated IT Manager who will manage, monitor and deliver IT support services to staff and pupils across the schools and Trust.
The successful candidate will maintain an ICT infrastructure that is secure, reliable, robust and resilient and supports all aspects of teaching and learning, along with operational and administrative support, across all schools within the Trust.
The successful candidate will bring new ideas, update systems and modernise the IT across the Trust. The IT Manager will be managing the data network, IT infrastructure and telecommunication systems while implementing GDPR and cyber security requirements.
This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced IT Manager to join us on our exciting journey.
Job Purpose
· To lead on the management and support of the ICT systems and services within the Trust's schools.
· To manage and maintain the Trust's cyber security policies and procedures and manage the incident responses across the Trust and schools within the Trust.
· To be an active member of the Central Team, to develop technological strategy and policy.
· To advise on and support the development of ICT use in school curricular and administrative functions.
· To ensure that schools are compliant with all current legislation and best practice principles.
· To manage the ICT Maintenance, Hardware and Licensing within the Trust alongside other IT providers employed by some of the schools within the Trust.
· To work closely with School Leadership Teams to understand local curriculum and demographic needs.
· To be professionally active in the wider educational and technological community.
Systems Management
· Troubleshoot systems as required, including servers, telecommunications and switching infrastructure to effectively sustain operational activities.
· To provide an efficient ICT support service to all staff and pupils.
· To ensure maintenance of the Trust's ICT Risk Register and Asset Register.
· To play an active role in keeping all necessary documentation and guidance up to date in accordance with GDPR.
· To oversee the development and continuity of Trust and school websites.
· To develop a Trust wide intranet for the use of all the Trust staff.
· To provide advanced technical support, including ensuring security of hardware, maintaining back-up systems and working with suppliers and engineers to purchase and install new systems.
· To contribute to the management and of the central service monitoring system.
· To deal with patch management for upgrades etc.
Strategic planning and new technologies
· To prepare management information and advice for school Leadership Teams, the Trust's Central Team, the Trust Board and other appropriate stakeholders on matters of ICT development, staffing and funding, as coordinated by the Trust SLT.
· To lead any relevant internal IT audits.
· To lead on cross-site and Trust-wide projects, as coordinated by the Trust SLT.
· To prepare action plans for the development of curriculum and administrative ICT use.
· To engage in procurement exercises in accordance with wider strategy.
· To develop networking infrastructure and ensure sound ability to utilise new technologies and pedagogy, in accordance with wider strategy.
· To keep abreast of technological developments and raise those which would bring benefit with the schools and Central Team.
Development of the use of ICT in the curriculum and administration
· To advise and support on the implementation of ICT in the curriculum.
· To advise and support on the development of ICT use within school administration processes.
· To liaise with appropriate third parties who provide systems and services to the school.
· To evaluate and control the use of software on school systems.
· To ensure suitable support is available to staff and students.
· To carry out cyber security audits in each school and develop the appropriate cyber security training plans for each school and the Trust as a whole.
· To ensure that appropriate training is available to staff, as well as trainee teachers and volunteers, where appropriate, such that they are familiar with their school's ICT facilities and are able to make full use of them, within their remit.
· To communicate developments to staff
· To participate as a member of staff within the Central Team, supporting initiatives and objectives.
To ensure compliance with all legislation and best practice principles
· To ensure that schools comply with Health & Safety legislation in relation to ICT hardware and use.
· To ensure that the schools are acting responsibly and legally with respect to copyright, computer misuse and data protection (GDPR) and to support the Senior Leadership Team and CEO in the process of monitoring student ICT use
Budget management and planning
· To manage the ICT Maintenance, Hardware, Licensing and other associated budgets.
· To ensure the ICT Licensing log is kept up to date.
· To support and advise all stakeholders in achieving the best value in ICT expenditure.
We are proud to bea Disability Confident Committed Employer, we strongly encourage applications from all persons with a known disability. We aim to ensure a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.
As a Trust we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children. For all shortlisted candidates reference checks and online searches will be completed prior to interview. All successful candidates are subject to satisfactory references, medical checks, right to work in UK and safeguarding checks (including enhanced DBS and a declaration of disqualification (Childcare Disqualification regulations 2009).
If you are committed to helping children thrive and getting the best start in life, then we look forward to hearing from you.
Please visit our website to find out more about this vacancy, including the Person Specification and application form.
To apply for this vacancy please complete the AET Application Form found on our website
Closing date for applications: 12 noon on Monday 3rd November 2025. Completed applications should be returned to the CEO at
Interview Date: Week beginning 10th November 2025.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £34,434.00-£39,152.00 per year
Benefits:
* Bereavement leave
* Company pension
* Free parking
* Health & wellbeing programme
* On-site parking
* Sick pay
* Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Wilmslow SK9 2LX