Job Description
Director of Education
Playful. Strategic. Outdoors.
Most education leadership roles involve classrooms, corridors and meetings.
This one involves Viking villages, woodland trails, campfires, Tudor banquets, alternative provision, strategic leadership and helping thousands of children discover who they are and what they are capable of becoming.
Welcome to Ufton
We are looking for an exceptional Director of Education to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead the next chapter of our educational journey.
Ufton Court is a leading outdoor education charity set within 44 acres of woodland, heritage landscapes and learning spaces. Every year, thousands of children visit us for immersive history experiences, outdoor learning programmes and alternative provision. Everything we do happens outdoors. We believe children learn best when they are actively engaged, challenged, inspired and having fun. Whether a child is steering a Viking longship, cooking over a fire, attending a Tudor banquet, caring for animals on the farm or reconnecting with education through our alternative provision, we create experiences that stay with them long after they leave.
The role.
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a unique and ambitious charity. As Director of Education, you will:
* Be part of the Senior Leadership Team and help shape the future direction of Ufton
* Lead and develop our talented education managers and teams
* Oversee our respected history and outdoor learning programmes
* Drive the growth of The Nest, our innovative nature-based alternative provision
* Strengthen our evidence of impact and educational outcomes
* Develop new partnerships with schools, local authorities and community organisations
* Help more children access transformational outdoor learning experiences.
No two days are the same. You might spend the morning discussing strategy with funders, the afternoon observing an outdoor learning session, then find yourself helping to welcome 120 children to an evening Roman banquet.
About you
You are an experienced education leader with a track record of developing people, leading change and delivering excellence. You understand that great learning does not only happen at a desk. You believe in curiosity, creativity and the power of experiential learning. You understand how trauma, adversity and disadvantage can affect children's engagement with education and are passionate about creating environments where children can thrive. You are equally comfortable discussing educational strategy with senior leaders and chatting to children around a campfire. Most importantly, you love being outdoors.
We would love to hear from you if you:
* Have significant leadership experience within education
* Have successfully led and developedteams
* Understand child development and how children learn
* Are excited by alternative provision and innovative approaches to education
* Believe outdoor learning can change lives
* Enjoy building partnerships and spotting opportunities
* Are playful, curious and professional
* Don't mind occasionally wearing a Tudor costume
* Think some of life's best conversations happen whilst walking through the woods
Why join us?
Because this role is genuinely dif ferent. You will join a talented, values-led team who care deeply about children and each other. You will have the opportunity to shape strategy, influence practice and lead programmes that make a meaningful difference to thousands of young people every year. Most importantly, you will help create moments of confidence, curiosity, belonging and wonder for children who may remember their time at Ufton for the rest of their lives. If that sounds like the sort of challenge you have been waiting for, we would love to hear from you.
Come and help us build a world where more children can discover, explore and flourish outdoors.