Director of Sixth Form

The Role

As Director of Sixth Form across our Secondary Academies (20 of our schools currently have Sixth Forms), you will champion our ethos of bringing out the best in everyone. You’ll lead Key Stage 5 improvement, working closely with our talented Regional Directors and subject advisers to support colleagues in raising standards, improving progress, and securing strong attainment.

Our Secondary Education Team plays a central role in driving school improvement. Collaborating with Heads of Sixth Form and their teams, you will positively impact the lives of thousands of students by:

1. Supporting our Secondary Academies to raise standards and outcomes in Sixth Form provision.
2. Ensure that our Sixth Forms provide a coherent, ambitious and sustainable curriculum offer that meets the needs of their students in the local context.
3. Working with Heads of Sixth Form to raise student aspirations and support improvements in destinations.
4. Visiting schools to offer tailored guidance and feedback to senior leaders, middle leaders, subject leads, and classroom teachers.
5. Leading the Sixth Form network into the next phase of development, shaping and delivering the Trust’s Sixth Form Development Plan.

Our Sixth Forms vary widely in size and performance. Some have several hundred students, while others are smaller and in the early stages of growth. Regardless of scale, all are united in their commitment to providing every student with the guidance, opportunities, and experiences needed to thrive—academically and professionally.

While several of our schools already perform strongly against national benchmarks at A Level and BTEC Level 3, we recognise the need to go further. Our ambition is that every student leaves us at 18 with the qualifications, confidence, and skills to progress to a top university or directly into a fulfilling career.

Practicalities

The role will be predominantly field-based, with substantial travel to our schools across the country. However, home-working is also a core element of the role, with considerable autonomy in determining when and where school visits take place. There will also be times when you will need to travel to our main office location in London, and to other schools in the Trust as required.

United Learning is committed to encouraging and enabling flexible working opportunities throughout our schools and Central Office, and we will accept applications from those preferring a part-time role. Please state your preference in your application.

There is flexibility around the start date, in line with typical notice periods in teaching.

Rewards and Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Contributory pension scheme.
• Occupational sick pay, protecting you and your family.
• Competitive maternity, paternity, and adoption benefits.
• Group Life Insurance Scheme
• Westfield Health cash plan and extensive range of employee benefits for eligible staff
• Continuous Professional Development options that will be tailored to your needs.
• A supportive team across the country.
• We are open to requests for flexible and we encourage open and regular conversations about work-life balance.

The Recruitment Process

The online application form asks for education and employment history and a personal statement. In this statement, please outline your suitability for the role.

If you are applying internally, please apply via your ESS account (Internal Vacancies page). You will be required to submit a personal statement with a summary of your experience that make you suitable for this role. There is a character limit of 4000-character limit (roughly one and a half to two sides of A4).

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to interview on Tuesday 2nd December (in one of our London schools) and 8th December in our London office. Candidates will need to be available for both dates.

For more information

For a confidential discussion about this role or the process, please contact Steve Adcock, Regional Director, at [email protected]