Introduction

Councils have a duty to ensure that the schools in their areas provide a good education. They employ their own inspectors or advisory officers to visit schools and monitor standards.

School improvement managers are responsible for planning and implementing any changes that need to be made. They work for county, unitary and metropolitan councils.

They are known in some councils as education development managers.

Work Environment

School improvement managers are based in offices but spend a lot of time out of the office however, visiting schools and attending meetings with other professional staff.

Hours of work are normally 37 per week. Some meetings take place in the evenings.

Daily Activities

School improvement managers plan their own days and decide how much time to allocate to each task. They often have to re-arrange their plans as problems arise or situations develop. They might for instance decide to allocate a certain number of days each week to visiting schools or holding meetings with inspectors but have to change these if particular schools present problems.

School improvement managers are usually responsible for a group of schools. They manage a team of local authority inspectors and subject advisers who are each allocated a number of schools within the group. Some of the team will have primary expertise; others secondary. Managers decide which of their schools must be visited, using their own and inspectors’ knowledge, based on previous visits. Some schools may receive three visits a year; others none. Where weaknesses are identified, school improvement managers devise plans to overcome them. If a school is identified as in need of improvement following an official OFSTED inspection, this must be given priority.

OFSTED inspectors may class a school that they regard as not providing satisfactory education as underperforming, having serious weaknesses or in special measures. Schools and education departments have to undertake to put matters right and depending on the severity of the grading must produce a number of reports, assessments and action plans within a set time period. They then have a fixed time scale for implementing the action plans, before a further inspection is carried out.

School improvement managers meet with head teachers and governors to conduct their own assessment. They then form a strategy group, which might include educational psychologists if pupils’ behaviour is criticised, subject advisers in the case of poor results or criticism of lessons, representatives from the council’s finance department if the school could make improvements if given additional funds. The team might also include social workers and special educational needs co-ordinators. School improvement managers lead regular meetings of the strategy team and compile progress reports. They also allocate an inspector to work in the school regularly to observe lessons, interview pupils and teachers and check examples of pupils’ work while the measures are in place.

Not all concerns are raised by official inspections. Some complaints come from parents and are sent directly to the education department where they are passed to the appropriate school improvement manager.

They also act as advisers to head teachers and school governor on a variety of matters – including selection of head teachers. When a headship becomes vacant they, with their inspectors, assist the governors in drawing up a shortlist of suitable candidates and sit on the interview panel. Legally, they have only an advisory role, but should the governors appoint someone who in their opinion is unsuitable, they advise the governors in writing of their reservations.

School improvement managers also spend time reading educational reports, documents and keeping up to date with changes in education policy and changes in the law that affect schools.

Skills & Interests

School improvement managers must:

• have excellent communication skills
• be able to gain the confidence and trust of head teachers and teachers
• be good leaders
• possess negotiating skills
• be diplomatic and persuasive – and firm when the occasion requires
• enjoy working in a team
• be good organisers and good time managers, able to balance conflicting demands on their time.

Entry Requirements

Councils normally expect a degree or qualified teacher status. Many require higher level postgraduate qualifications such as masters degrees or advanced diplomas in education.

Since school improvement managers must have a high level of credibility with teachers, governors and parents, many are former teachers, (often head teachers).

Many also have experience as school inspectors.

Others have experience in educational administration in councils’ education departments.

Estimated salary range

Approximately £35,000 – £40,000.

Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.

Future prospects & opportunities

A small council might employ two or three school improvement managers. In a large council there might be three or four and managers and six to eight deputy managers.

There are prospects of promotion to senior or chief education officer.

Related Occupations

Follow this link to view a list of all related occuptions in Educating Your Community.
Alternatively, follow this link to view all career profiles placed in the same job area.

Further Information & Services

From your local council.

Department for Education & Skills (DfES) www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/schoolimprovement/

Education jobs www.eteach.com

OFSTED www.ofsted.gov.uk

You may find further information about this area of work in your local Connexions service/careers office/school careers library – under F.

What should I do next?

Look for current local government School Improvement Manager vacancies in the following places:

• LGjobs.com - the official recruitment website for local government.
• Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly jobs bulletins produced by local councils themselves, available from libraries, community centres, town halls/main civic buildings and central council personnel departments.
• Local council websites.
• Local newspapers
• National newspapers – The Guardian is particularly well known for its public sector job advertisements on a Wednesday.

Find out about the council and get some work experience if possible by:

• Making the most of work experience placements arranged through your school, college or university.
• Contacting councils close to your home to find out about the work experience opportunities they offer.
• Talking to someone who does the job you are interested in – ring your local council to see if someone can spare some time.
• Making an appointment to see a careers adviser for more specific information about jobs and training.