Introduction from the Minister
A high-quality curriculum is hugely important, as it enables children from all backgrounds to receive the best education possible. Every child should benefit from a broad, ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum, taught by highly skilled teachers.
This is essential to the task of spreading opportunity and levelling up. It is crucial that every school has a well-designed and well-sequenced curriculum, which ensures children build knowledge in a broad range of subjects before going on to specialise after the age of 16, developing the skills for further education and training.
Building on the success of Oak National Academy’s work during the pandemic, the Government has established a new Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), working independently of government and collaboratively with the education sector. It will work with thousands of teachers to co-design, create and continually improve packages of optional, free, adaptable digital curriculum resources and video lessons.
These optional resources will align with the curriculum in England, helping teachers deliver a high-quality curriculum. This sector-led approach will draw on expertise and inputs from across the country, involving teachers, schools, trusts, subject associations, national centres of excellence and educational publishers. A collection of stretch materials will also be developed, aimed at pupils across the UK.
We are seeking to appoint an outstanding individual with senior leadership
experience and education sector expertise, including in the design and delivery of
an evidence-informed, knowledge-rich curriculum, and the benefits of this for pupils
and teachers. This is a unique and exciting opportunity to ensure that the new
NDPB achieves its mission: to improve pupil outcomes and close the disadvantage
gap by supporting teachers to teach and enabling pupils to access a high-quality
curriculum.
My Department is focused on equality of opportunity and I am committed to
ensuring that public appointments better represent the views of the communities
which they serve. I particularly encourage applicants from under-represented
groups, those based outside London and the South-East and applicants who have
achieved success through non-traditional educational routes.
If you want to support Oak National Academy in delivering its aim to help
schools and teachers deliver a high-quality curriculum, and you have the skills
and experience we are seeking, I hope that you will apply. If you wish to have an
informal and confidential discussion about this role, please contact Jenny Oldroyd/
Stuart Miller, Directors of Curriculum and General Qualifications Directorate
Appointment description
The Chief Executive of Oak National Academy is a full-time executive role providing leadership and management to Oak. The Chief Executive will work closely with the Board to ensure that Oak achieves its objective of advancing education for the public benefit, improving pupil outcomes and closing the disadvantage gap by supporting teachers to teach, enabling pupils to study and reducing teacher workload. The Chief Executive will oversee the performance and effectiveness of Oak and will be Accounting Officer for the organisation, responsible for fulfilling its duties in relation to managing public money.
The Chief Executive will be responsible for:
· The overall leadership, management and staffing of Oak, including the recruitment, development, and management of the senior team
· Alongside the Oak Board and Ministers, setting Oak’s strategy and direction
· Serving as Oak’s Accounting Officer. As Accounting Officer, the Chief Executive will be personally accountable to Parliament for safeguarding public funds and ensuring value for money for the taxpayer
· Maintaining an effective working relationship with the Chair and Board to help inform Oak’s decision-making process, with consultation on all significant, strategic or potentially contentious issues as they arise. This will ensure that the organisation operates effectively and efficiently, within its remit, and meets its objectives for the education sector; and that all activities are conducted both lawfully and ethically. The Chief Executive will be an executive member of the Board
· Acting as the public face and senior spokesperson for the organisation, building and sustaining powerful networks across the education and technology sectors
· Setting and modelling the company’s culture, values, and behaviour
· Ensuring the long term financial sustainability of the organisation and managing risk across the organisation
Essential criteria
The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate the following essential criteria:
● Proven track record of operating successfully in a senior leadership role, including the delivery of major projects – demonstrating the ability to play a key role in the leadership of the English education system and to provide strong and inspirational leadership to Oak and to the wider education sector
● Education sector expertise, including in design and delivery of an evidence-informed, knowledge-rich curriculum, and the benefits of this for pupils and teachers
● The ability to navigate the political landscape skilfully, and a good understanding of the government’s educational reform programme
● The ability to communicate effectively with, and command the respect and inspire the confidence of, Ministers, Parliament, education leaders and the Oak board and staff, as well as of students, teachers and parents; including the ability to represent Oak effectively in the media
Desirable criteria
The following are desirable:
● Experience of leading an organisation, its staff and culture
● Experience of successful leadership in the EdTech sector
● Skilled in collecting, analysing and using qualitative and quantitative data to inform continuous improvement