Director of Primary Standards

LIFE EDUCATION TRUST

The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls

An 11-18 Academy with Visual Arts Specialism

Brentwood Road, Romford, Essex RM1 2RR

Tel: 01708 447368

Web: www.lifeeducationtrust.com

Executive Headteacher: Mr J. Dutnall LLB, BA, MA, MBA

 

Director of Primary Standards

Hours: Full Time 

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £80,000 FTE p/a 

Required: 1st September 2025

 

About the Role:

The Director of Primary Standards is a strategic leadership role within LIFE, responsible for driving excellence in teaching, learning, attendance and academic outcomes across all primary schools within the Trust. You will work closely with school leaders, senior leadership teams, and other LIFE colleagues to ensure the delivery of high-quality education in line with LIFE Education Trust's vision, values and priorities.

This role requires a highly skilled individual who demonstrates our values: courageous optimism, the ability to approach challenges with a positive and proactive mindset; boundless creativity, bringing innovative ideas and solutions to enhance teaching and learning; and heartfelt compassion, showing genuine care and empathy in supporting both staff and students. 

The Director will be a role model in embedding these values throughout the Trust and will bring their own personality and views to a vibrant and highly committed Executive Leadership Group.

 

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership and Strategy

• Lead the creation, development and implementation of LIFE Education Trust’s primary education strategy, ensuring alignment with the Trust’s overall vision and mission.
• Work collaboratively with school and Trust leaders, leadership teams, and central services to ensure consistency and quality across all primary schools.
• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of curriculum, assessment and teaching standards, using data and evidence to inform improvement strategies.
• Monitor and deliver professional development for primary leaders and colleagues to enhance their teaching and leadership capabilities.
• Encourage and model courageous optimism in facing challenges, ensuring the continued growth and success of the Trust's schools.
• Report to the Trustees on all aspects relating to Primary standards.
• Ensure all Primary schools are ready for external and internal inspections and reviews.

 

Curriculum & Pedagogy

• Ensure that the curriculum across all primary schools is broad, balanced, and meets the diverse needs of all learners.
• Oversee the implementation and review of best practices in teaching and learning across the Trust’s primary phase.
• Lead on the development and embedding of robust assessment frameworks, ensuring effective use of assessment to track and improve pupil progress.
• Foster a creative and innovative teaching culture, encouraging staff to develop and apply new ideas and methods to enhance learning.

 

Data & Impact

• Lead on the collection, analysis, and use of data to monitor the progress of primary pupils, ensuring that data-driven decisions are made to improve outcomes.
• Work with the Trust’s central teams to develop strategies for raising attainment and closing achievement gaps, especially for vulnerable groups such as disadvantaged pupils and SEND learners.
• Produce reports on the effectiveness of primary education within the Trust for senior leaders, Trustees and local governance committees, providing recommendations for improvement.

 

Quality Assurance

• Conduct regular school visits, observations, and reviews to assess the quality of teaching, learning, the curriculum, assessment practice, safeguarding, SEND and leadership in primary schools.
• Provide support and guidance to school leaders in creating, sharing and implementing school development plans, ensuring alignment with Trust-wide priorities.
• Work with external partners, advisors, and inspectors to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and best practices.

 

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build strong relationships with school leaders, colleagues, parents, and the wider community to foster a culture of high expectations, collaboration, and inclusivity.
• Support and represent LIFE Education Trust in local and national forums, advocating for the quality and impact of primary education within the Trust.
• Promote LIFE Education Trust’s primary schools through engagement with local authorities, parents, and external educational bodies.

 

Safeguarding

• Lead the Trust work on safeguarding.

 

How to apply:

Read carefully all of the information in the attached pack and complete the Application Form on the MyNewTerm microsite which can be found via our Trust website - Vacancies – LIFE Education Trust

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email recruitment@lifeeducationtrust.com.

Visits to the school are welcomed and encouraged. Please contact recruitment@lifeeducationtrust.com to arrange a visit.

 

Closing date:  Monday 31 March 2025

Shortlisting: Wednesday 2 April 2025

Interview date: Friday 4 April 2025

 

The Trust reserves the right to interview prior to the deadline date. We encourage and welcome applications from all backgrounds and all parts of the community, particularly people from ethnic minorities who are currently under-represented.

LIFE Education Trust is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the DBS.