Description Do you have a passion for enhancing and improving the quality of education? HM Inspectors come from wide and varied backgrounds in education. You may be a quality improvement officer or manager in a local authority; an education psychologist; a headteacher or a senior leader of an early learning and childcare setting, primary school, or college. You will have awareness of current developments in education and the ability to keep up to date across a wide range of education matters. You will have an understanding of how inspection promotes improvement. Inspections and other scrutiny activities carried out by His Majesty’s Inspectors are independent and impartial. His Majesty’s Inspector positions require experienced education professionals with the highest level of skill needed to observe practice at first-hand, engage in professional dialogue and report objectively on the quality of education and capacity to improve. A core focus of His Majesty’s Inspectors is to promote improvement as well as providing assurance to stakeholders on the quality of education. His Majesty’s Inspectors identify and share examples of effective and highly effective practice. They lead and work as part of teams carrying out external evaluation across a range of sectors, and specific themes as part of national thematic work. HM Inspectors work with a range of stakeholders helping to build capacity for improvement within Scottish education. They work flexibly to meet the needs of the organisation. We are currently seeking applications for HM Inspectors of Education with a background in the following sector: Primary Secondary We are also recruiting for HM Inspectors with a Gaelic qualification who can work effectively within the Gaelic sector. You should have excellent spoken and written communication skills in Gaelic. Responsibilities Undertake the lead and team member role on the inspection of individual education providers and broader aspect reviews ensuring professional judgements are based on robust evidence gathered from a wide range of sources; evaluating evidence against quality frameworks; and writing publishable reports. Lead and engage in professional discussions with practitioners, stakeholders and senior managers to conduct effective evaluations to inform inspection and review reports; produce recommendations for improvement; share effective practice and build capacity. Capture, disseminate and promote the best practice gathered through inspection and review programmes and activities. Lead the creation of reports, briefings and presentations to inform stakeholders of the overall quality and strengths; effective practice and areas for improvement in key aspects of education. Provide information and expertise based on the analysis of inspection evidence to Scottish Government policy colleagues; Scottish Ministers and other stakeholders to improve Scottish education and inform the development of policy in specific areas of education provision. Engage in appropriate professional learning and development to build professional knowledge and expertise. In doing so maintain a high level of awareness of current and developing policy and practice in specific aspects of education provision. Take account of equality and diversity in all aspects of work, model good practice in challenging discrimination and promoting equality to encourage positive outcomes across all education aspects and services. Contribute to the design and development of quality frameworks, inspection and review methodologies and supporting guidance, tools and materials. Secure continuous improvement, personally and within Education Scotland. In addition, HM Inspectors working in the Gaelic sector must take forward specialist inspection activities across the Gaelic sector, particularly secondary inspections, community learning and development, colleges and a range of post-school providers. Responsibilities Qualifications You will require a relevant professional degree in education or equivalent. Other qualifications may also be acceptable if you are in any doubt please contact to discuss. Please ensure you confirm you hold these qualifications in your CV or Personal Statement. Success Profile Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Experience: Strong understanding of quality improvement in education and emerging developments and changes in Scottish education and inspection. High quality interpersonal skills, confidence in dealing with a range of stakeholders and the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships. Behaviours: Leadership – (Level 4) Communicating and Influencing – (Level 4) Changing and Improving – (Level 4) Making Effective Decisions – (Level 4) Delivering at Pace – (Level 4) You can find out more about Success Profiles Behaviours, here. How to apply Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1500 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above. In the event of a high number of applicants, we will conduct an initial sift based on the lead criteria of the behaviour Leadership. Candidates who pass the initial sift will have their applications fully assessed against all remaining criteria outlined in the Success Profile. If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview, presentation/professional discussion and written assessment. The sift is expected to take place over June and July 2025. Assessments are scheduled for August 2025, however this may be subject to change. Qualifications About Us HM Inspectors work in a fair, open and responsive manner. Currently, HM Inspectors are located within Education Scotland. In June 2021, as part of education reform, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills announced that the inspection functions will no longer be part of Education Scotland’s remit. A new independent education inspectorate to be known as His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education in Scotland, is being created to take forward the education inspection functions that currently sit within Education Scotland. Going forward, the role of HM Inspectors continues to be important. We will work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure that every learner has high-quality learning opportunities and achieves the best possible outcomes to support them to participate as active citizens in Scotland and beyond. HM Inspectors provide independent evidence and advice by: providing assurance and public accountability to stakeholders about the quality of education locally, nationally and at individual establishment/ service level; promoting improvement and building capacity through identifying and sharing effective practice and; informing the development of educational policy and practice by providing independent, professional evaluations from observing practice at first hand. Appointment to the post of HM Inspector is subject to approval by His Majesty at a sitting of her Privy Council, hence the term His Majesty’s Inspector of Education. HM Inspectors are also Civil Servants. As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules. Working Pattern Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options depending on the needs of the role. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us. His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education are based throughout Scotland, although base location can be flexible. His Majesty’s Inspectors are privileged to have the opportunity to observe practice and engage with stakeholders throughout Scotland. As such, they are required to undertake significant travel, including regularly staying overnight away from home. Equality Statement We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation. Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them. Further Information Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website. Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes. Apply before: 17th June (23:59)