Location: St Boniface’s College and Notre Dame Schools, Plymouth
Reporting to: Director of Education
Relocation expenses: Up to £8,000 can be claimed for qualifying costs
School Improvement Officers will work with a portfolio of delegated schools for which they are responsible. There may also be regular visits to other schools within the Trust and to centralised training. Consequently, the post holder will be required to travel throughout the Diocese of Plymouth from time to time.
The School Improvement team will also have meetings, training, and activities at central offices across the Trust from time to time. The post holder will be required to be open to hybrid working arrangements at any time, subject to the Trust’s requirements.
Purpose of Role
Put simply, to help us to achieve our ongoing vision of providing an excellent education for every student, every day. In addition, to help us achieve our ambitious five-year goals and be renowned for excellence in faith formation, service, talent development, and academic progress.
We are looking for an exceptional candidate to help us to achieve something very special. We aim to be the Catholic Academy Trust of choice for students, staff, and families. We are dedicated to becoming a bastion of excellence within education.
While not required to be Catholic, the postholder must demonstrate a clear commitment to Catholic education and the ambition to help establish Plymouth CAST as renowned for excellence across faith, service, personal development, and academic progress. Integrity, sound judgement and the ability to inspire confidence across the Trust community are essential.
A School Improvement Officer is a lead professional and significant role model with a wide sphere of influence both within Plymouth CAST and beyond. They will proactively promote and demonstrate Plymouth CAST’s vision and Catholic values while respecting the cultural diversity within our communities. The values and ambitions they display will help determine the achievement of CAST schools and their pupils, and ensure that high expectations and aspirations are promoted for all of our staff, students, governors, and communities.
School Improvement Officers are accountable for ensuring the educational success of CAST schools within their allocated portfolio, within the overall framework of CAST’s approach to school improvement, as well as the individual school’s strategic plans. They are responsible for providing support and challenge to each school’s Headteacher / Executive Headteacher / Head of School, and to the Local CAST Board, across all aspects of their work.
They should create a culture of constant improvement and be an inspirational leader, committed to the highest achievement for all across the schools they work with. School Improvement Officers will have line management responsibilities for the Headteacher / Executive Headteacher / Head of School within their delegated schools, working closely with the Local CAST Board whenever possible.
Core Purpose of the Post
The School Improvement Officer drives improvement across CAST schools by:
1. Leading by example, providing dynamic, consistent, and motivational leadership, ensuring the successful delivery of the vision, ethos, aims, and objectives of CAST schools and of the Trust.
2. Inspiring school leaders and the Local CAST Board to drive for improvement and deliver an environment of high expectations, creativity, and aspiration.
3. Working with each school leader and the Local CAST Board, and under the guidance of the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Education, develop a shared vision and strategic plan for schools that are responsive to the communities they serve. At the core of this should be the educational, spiritual, and personal development of the pupils in line with the Catholic ethos and values of Plymouth CAST.
4. Ensuring strategic plans identify precise targets that allow pupils to achieve high standards and make rapid progress across a broad and balanced curriculum, increasing teachers’ effectiveness and securing sustained school improvement.
5. Critically evaluating each delegated school’s performance, setting ambitious goals, and ensuring performance targets are achieved for all groups of pupils.
6. Working with political and financial astuteness to plan for the future needs and further development of delegated schools, Plymouth CAST, and the national context.
7. Establishing open and collaborative relationships with all stakeholders, including Diocesan Officers, local authority partners, local schools, and, in particular, local governors.
8. Working in conjunction with school leaders, secure the commitment of parents and the wider community to support and champion the schools’ vision and direction, as well as the Trust's.
9. Providing, when requested, open communication with the Executive Team, to enable the Trust to meet its legal and moral responsibilities.
10. Providing succinct, relevant, and timely reports and updates to school leaders and the Director of Education.
11. Working alongside school leaders to fulfil our educational aims and mission, and in doing so, providing high calibre support and challenge.
12. Line managing the school leaders of delegated schools.
Key Accountabilities
13. To ensure Plymouth CAST and school priorities are consistently and effectively implemented, and the impact on pupil progress, attainment, and achievement is monitored robustly.
14. To work with the Headteacher / Executive Headteacher / Head of School and Local CAST Board to establish well-targeted plans that build on school strengths and tackle areas of weaker performance effectively.
15. To secure robust school self-evaluation and quality assurance procedures that are effectively shared and understood by relevant stakeholders.
16. To establish an open and transparent culture that promotes professional curiosity, personal accountability, and robust recording and reporting that is underpinned by effective and responsive safeguarding training and updates.
17. To work with school leaders and School Business Managers to support the annual budget setting routines in order that the school secures its educational and financial targets, working within the Trust’s set policies and parameters and ensuring best value for money.
18. To work with school leaders and Plymouth CAST colleagues to recruit and retain staff of the highest quality.
19. To develop a culture of personal responsibility that recognises both excellence and supports appropriate strategies to deal with underperformance through consistent and robust application of the Trust’s Appraisal and Capability policies and procedures.
20. To ensure that each school leader has clearly defined responsibilities and accountabilities for all staff.
21. To oversee the implementation of Plymouth CAST policies and procedures, ensuring consistent application and monitoring for impact.
22. To ensure agreed reporting mechanisms and timescales are effectively in place for each school, the Local CAST Board, the Director of Education, and the Trust Board.
23. To ensure the Director of Education is kept fully informed about current pupil progress and attainment, the impact of school improvement initiatives, and the implementation of CAST policies and priorities across identified schools by completing timely, informative, and succinct reports and meetings.
Key Responsibilities
24. To identify, challenge, and support the professional development needs of leaders and teachers, contributing to a consistently strong, knowledgeable, and resilient workforce.
25. Lead and contribute to the effective training and delivery of professional development, briefings, and updates for schools, staff, and Local Cast Boards within the Trust.
26. To work with Headteachers / Executive Headteachers / Head of Schools and the Director of Education to establish effective support plans for identified schools.
27. To monitor, evaluate, and report to the Director of Education the impact, timeliness, and effectiveness of support plans on school improvement.
28. To work alongside the Director of Education and take responsibility for leading school-level and CAST-wide strategies to improve schools and ensure the consistent dissemination of best practice to improve outcomes.
29. To contribute to and engage in reviews, audits, and inspections, including those led by the Diocese, Ofsted, and the Trust.
30. To line-manage school leaders within delegated schools, using the Plymouth CAST appraisal policy.
31. To ensure schools engage learners by creating a welcoming, inclusive, and stimulating learning environment that is supported by well-qualified, creative teachers and support staff.
32. To secure and sustain effective, high-quality teaching and learning by ensuring that each Headteacher /Executive Headteacher / Head of School has in place sound strategies for monitoring and evaluating the quality of teaching and the standards of pupil achievement, using benchmarks and setting targets for the rapid improvement of all children, including those in vulnerable groups.
33. To support the effective delivery and implementation of the Plymouth CAST Curriculum Policy.
34. To ensure that robust assessment data analysis is used to set challenging targets and accurate projections.
35. To ensure that a high-quality, holistic, and spiritually fulfilling educational experience is offered to all children.
36. To promote excellence in spiritual, moral, social, and cultural education and development for all children.
37. To ensure that effective and appropriate pastoral support is available to children in delegated schools.
38. To develop an inclusive and supportive approach that ensures each school is a place where all children and the wider school community feel welcome.
39. To secure approaches to behaviour that are based on the best relational practices and in line with Trust policy and expectations.
40. To keep abreast of educational developments and best practice in order to introduce appropriate innovation.
41. To develop strong, positive relationships with colleagues across Plymouth CAST, contributing to collaborative work across schools, and supporting other staff in participating in Trust work.
42. To participate in Trust-wide activities to share best practice, contribute to Trust strategy development and policies, and positively promote the schools and the Trust in a local and national context.
43. To take on other agreed responsibilities as requested by the Director of Education that are seen as reasonable and proportionate to the general responsibilities of the role of School Improvement Officer.
Knowledge and Experience
Knowledge and Skills
44. Extensive knowledge and experience across both primary and secondary phases of education
45. An understanding of the legal nature, duties, and requirements of academies and of current government education policy.
46. Experience of supervising or line managing staff, planning and organising individual and team workload, recruitment, and effective performance management of staff.
47. Developed interpersonal, communication, and persuasive skills to deliver training, motivate, and encourage staff within schools, with empathy to work with all levels and competencies.
48. Excellence and precision in the analysis of data and strong IT and mathematical skills are essential to accurately prepare statistical data, reports, and statutory returns
Qualifications and Experience
49. Experience and skill in the interpretation of educational performance data and in the development of effective and impactful school improvement strategies.
50. Experience of working co-operatively with others at a senior level to deliver successful outcomes for Plymouth CAST. Ability to set targets, monitor, and evaluate performance and programmes.
Personal Qualities
51. An honest and open approach with high levels of integrity.
52. A dedicated and values-led leader with the ability to positively influence others.
53. Inclusive approach to facilitate developing and encouraging teamwork in schools, with Trust staff and professional advisors, with the ambition to raise standards throughout Plymouth CAST.
54. Business-like in ensuring the required standards of performance are achieved by staff and professional advisors.
55. A sensitivity and empathy to developing appropriate policies and procedures within a faith environment.
56. An ability to maintain an independent, balanced approach to dealing with issues and facilitating others to do likewise.
57. An ability to work under pressure and to deadlines (statutory and non- statutory), managing conflicting priorities; to evaluate impact and make independent judgements.
58. A willingness to promote and maintain the human face of the church, ensuring that practices are consistent with the values in the Gospel.
59. An understanding of the mission and values of the Catholic Church and a willingness to uphold and promote these in all areas of work
Expected Outcomes
60. The resources of Plymouth CAST are properly managed and effectively used to further the objectives of the Trust, and ensure that school standards continue to rise.
61. Plymouth CAST fully complies with its statutory obligations, and records are maintained as required by law and made available to authorised persons as required.
62. Accurate and timely information, advice, and recommendations are made to the Director of Education and the executive team on school performance data and projections.
63. Effective communication and coordination are achieved across CAST’s functions and systems.
64. Good working relationships are promoted between Plymouth CAST staff, Governors, Diocesan staff, Directors, and wider stakeholders.
Why Join Us?
We value our leaders and are committed to creating an environment in which you can thrive both professionally and personally.
As Secondary School Improvement Officer, you will benefit from:
65. Relocation expenses of up to £8,000, which can be claimed for qualifying costs.
66. Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme with employer contributions.
67. A generous holiday entitlement – 35 days across the year (plus bank holidays), which can be taken flexibly across the academic year.
68. Access to a high-quality employee assistance programme with a strong focus on wellbeing.
69. A generous benefits package including retail and lifestyle discounts and salary sacrifice schemes, including cycle to work and home tech.
70. Access to a generous professional development offer, with dedicated time and investment to support continued executive growth.
71. The opportunity to shape educational strategy across a growing family of Catholic schools.
72. Working as part of a collaborative, supportive, and creative Senior Executive Leadership Team.
73. Officer-level influence within a Trust with clear ambition and strong moral purpose.
74. A collaborative and driven community focused on excellence, integrity, and shared mission.
75. The opportunity to grow professionally within a nurturing Trust rooted in values-led leadership.
Our people are central to our success. We are committed to developing leadership capacity, encouraging innovation, and supporting our senior leaders in thinking strategically and acting decisively.
Please see attached the full recruitment pack.
Our application form for this post is available .