Isle Of Wight Council Advertising £102k Education Director Role Amid School Places Review

The Isle of Wight Council is on the lookout for an officer on up to £102,389 per year to lead the implementation of the Island’s Education Strategy.

County Hall wants to hire a ‘strategic and inspirational’ service director for education who will provide system leadership and be accountable for performance, impact and continuous improvement.

The Isle of Wight Education Strategy 2024 to 2030 sets out the ambitions and work of the local authority’s Children’s Services department.

County Hall’s vision is that by 2030 all children on the Isle of Wight will be equipped with the skills and aspirations to access opportunities of their choice.

The strategy rests on five priorities, including high aspirations, rich extracurricular experiences with meaningful pathways into adulthood and high-quality special education needs and disability provision for children and young people.

Two others are a highly trained workforce, with a range of continued professional development and clear career routes, and a sustainable education infrastructure.

Ashley Whittaker, strategic director for children’s services, said:

“I believe the Isle of Wight is a fascinating place to work for anyone who is committed to improving outcomes for children and families.

“We have an opportunity here to make a real and significant difference to people’s lives.

"From an education perspective we are determined to ensure all children can benefit from outstanding practice and outcomes, and we are building a team to turn this ambition into reality.”

In March, the council’s children’s services, education and skills committee recognised reducing school places on the Island, which may mean school closures, as a ‘critical and urgent’ priority.

The panel decided its first meeting after the May local elections, scheduled for July 2, should consider recommendations on how to cut surplus capacity.

A previous report from Mr Whittaker said a ‘vital element’ of the Education Strategy is aligning the number of school places with the decreasing number of children living on the Isle of Wight.