Head of Professional Development

Location

Warwickshire | United Kingdom

Job description

Are you in a middle or senior leadership role in a prep or primary school? Are you keen to take on a new challenge in a pacy working environment that enables you to use your leadership skills and teaching experience outside of the classroom? We have an exciting and unique opportunity for a leader to take responsibility for designing a professional development programme to support Heads and their staff in 650 independent prep schools.

As part of our ambitious new strategy, we are seeking a highly motivated and dedicated individual to lead our professional development team. The postholder will play a key role in our senior management team and will work closely with member Heads and their staff to understand their needs and respond with the creation an extensive, high-quality professional development programme. This exciting opportunity requires a candidate who will seek out cutting edge developments in educational research, best practice and innovation and translate these into a development offer for schools.

The remit of the role extends beyond the delivery of a programme of courses, with responsibility for other elements of our offer, including the highly sought-after coaching qualification that is accessible to IAPS Heads, and developing new initiatives such as structured subject networks and advisors, and an accredited ‘Preparation for Headship’ programme. There is scope to further expand on our provision and this requires the postholder to be innovative and curious, seeking always to develop and improve our offer to meet the changing needs of IAPS schools. As this is a new position, there is the opportunity for the right candidate to shape the role and play a pivotal part in contributing to our ongoing strategy.

We are looking for someone who ideally has experience of being responsible for CPD in a school or other educational setting, who is likely to have a background in teaching, and who understands the needs of Heads and their staff in the independent prep sector.

The role is based at our headquarters in Warwick, with a hybrid working pattern to be agreed, and will require occasional national travel.

About the Independent Association of Prep Schools (IAPS)

IAPS is the association for world-class prep and junior Headteachers. Its members lead excellent schools and deliver the highest standards of education and care to their pupils. 

Schools must reach a very high standard to be eligible for membership, with strict criteria on teaching a broad curriculum, maintaining excellent standards of pastoral care and keeping staff members’ professional development training up to date. 

Our members derive huge value from the Association, in terms of direct support and advice, professional development, sporting competitions for pupils, and the collegiality of being part of something with such reach and diversity. However, as an organisation that is committed to continuous improvement, we know we can serve Heads even better.

We offer a professional working environment with a positive ‘team’ ethos and atmosphere, as well as an attractive pension scheme and annual leave entitlement. We are open to discussing flexible working arrangements with the successful candidate. 

IAPS is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and wishes to encourage applications from individuals from a diversity of backgrounds. IAPS will ensure that all applicants receive equal consideration irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. 

Please submit a covering letter when using the Quick Apply function. Interviews for this role will take place on 19th March 2024.

Head of Professional Development

Reports to: Deputy CEO 

Location: Bishop’s House, Artemis Drive, Tachbrook Park, Warwick, CV34 6UD 

Salary: £40,000-£45,000, depending on experience.  

Working Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week.  

Job tags

Salary

£40k - £45k per annum