Deputy Director, Analysis – SEND, Educational Engagement, Access and Wellbeing

Job summary

The Department for Education works to ensure that every child and young person, regardless of their background, can achieve at school to develop the knowledge and skills they need for life. That means improving attainment across the board, particularly for disadvantaged children and those with SEND, as well as building children’s wellbeing and sense of belonging through positive environments at school, home, and within their communities.

Schools Group is seeking an exceptional analytical leader to shape some of the most high-profile and high-impact areas of schools policy. This is a rare opportunity to influence decisions that affect millions of children and young people across England.

Why join us

This is a chance to shape national policy at a pivotal moment for the education system. You will work at the heart of government, influencing reforms that aim to deliver higher standards, greater inclusion, and better life chances for every child. We offer flexible working, excellent development opportunities, and a collaborative, supportive culture.

Job description

As Deputy Director for these areas of Analysis, you will lead the department’s analytical strategy for the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) programme and key elements of the schools reform agenda set out in the recent White Paper (including attendance, behaviour, breakfast clubs, school food, enrichment and engagement). You will need to be able to:

• Provide inspiring and inclusive leadership for a multidisciplinary team of around 50 analysts, including statisticians, social researchers, operational researchers, and economists. This includes direct line management of 3 Grade 6 analysts. Create a motivating working environment with a coaching culture whilst balancing competing demands on the team’s resources​;
• Work on high-level strategic issues, providing evidence-based analysis to help senior stakeholders make sound policy and delivery decisions;
• Develop capability within the team to deliver innovative and cutting-edge analytical approaches to support policy development, including the use of modelling and AI;
• Make an active contribution to the culture and corporate life of the School Analysis, System and Strategy (SASS) Directorate as part of its SLT, and as SCS champion for some of its corporate workstreams;​
• Play an active role in the cross-cutting analytical leadership of Schools Group and the wider Department – including as a member of DfE’s Analytical Function Leadership Team.

The postholder will be line managed by the Director of Schools Analysis, Systems and Strategy. They will work closely with the Director for SEND, Director for Educational Engagement, Access and Wellbeing, the Department’s Chief Analyst and other analytical leaders, especially leads for schools attainment analysis and families analysis.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Applicants will be assessed against the following essential criteria:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage analytical teams effectively, including experience leading multi-disciplinary and multi-location teams at senior levels: setting clear direction, prioritising resources and developing people to deliver analysis and advice that supports high quality decision making;

• Demonstrated ability to influence and communicate with impact, using evidence and analysis to shape outcomes across organisational and departmental boundaries. This includes strong oral and written communication skills, with experience translating technical analysis into clear messages for non-technical audiences, including senior stakeholders and ministers;

• Demonstrated ability to provide intellectual leadership on analysis and working as an analyst in a complex, large-scale organisation. This includes leading a multidisciplinary team of analysts across the analytical professions and interpreting and drawing insights from a range of data and analysis.

• Demonstrated ability to lead innovation – such as the incorporation of AI approaches, driving process automation, and working with emerging tools and platforms.

Desirable criterion

• Knowledge of the schools system, the Schools White Paper and SEND reform would be beneficial.

Desirable criteria will only be assessed at interview in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Memberships

Applicants must be badged in one of the analytical services - Government Economic Service (GES), Government Social Research (GSR), Government Statistical Service (GSS), Government Operational Research Service (GORs) or be willing to be successfully ‘badged’ as part of the recruitment process;

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £86,000, Department for Education contributes £24,914 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances, but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered

As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Strengths and Experience.

Application

To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on Monday the 6th of July 2026. You will be asked to provide:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years
2. A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1,000 words) detailing how you meet the essential criteria outlined in this pack.

If there is a high volume of applicants, preliminary sifting will be done using only the first criterion “Ability to lead and manage analytical teams effectively”.

It is important that, through your CV and Statement of Suitability, you provide evidence and examples of proven experience for each of the selection criteria detailed.

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

Please note the CS Jobs system at the point of application states not to insert information that will identify you. As this is a Senior Civil Servant role so that we can understand your experience for this role please provide this information in the CV and Supporting Statement specifying your employment history.

If you are unable to apply online, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk in the first instance. Please visit our career site for further information on the Civil Service application process.

Please note the following:

• we cannot accept applications submitted after the closing date;
• applications will be assessed solely on the documentation provided;
• please refer to the advert and checklist above to ensure you have provided everything requested;
• applications will be acknowledged upon receipt;
• feedback will only be given to candidates unsuccessful following interview

Interview

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a formal panel interview on Tuesday 21 July. This will take place virtually.

Candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation for the interview (further information will be shared with shortlisted candidates) and they will be asked questions to further assess their Experience against the Essential Criteria and Strengths using the Civil Service Strengths Dictionary.

Please note that at interview stage we may ask if you have any conflicts of interest to declare and social media checks may be conducted prior to appointment.

For more information on how to apply, please visit How to Apply , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

For an accessible version of the candidate pack, please contact scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk

Other Information

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.

Reasonable adjustment

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Department of Education via scs.recruitment@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This role has a minimum assignment duration of 3 years. An assignment duration is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through building your depth of expertise.

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above. This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions. Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : SCS Recruitment Team
• Email : SCS.Recruitment@education.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : SCS.Recruitment@education.gov.uk

Further information

The Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via CentralRecruitment.Operations@education.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages

Attachments

Candidate pack - DD Analyst SEND and EEAW Opens in new window (pdf, 1171kB)DFE Terms & Conditions - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 215kB)Reasonable Adjustments guide 05_2025 - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 723kB)SCS OGD Transfer Supplementary Information - accessible version Opens in new window (pdf, 325kB)