Head of School Organisation and Place Planning

The School Organisation and Place Planning Team is crucial to Hackney's overarching education strategy. As Service Manager, you will play a key role in leading the strategic direction for school organisation, place planning, admissions, and pupil benefits. Your primary goal is to ensure access to sufficient, high-quality, and sustainable school provision (0-25 years) that meets the needs of all Hackney communities. Key responsibilities include:

• Strategic Leadership: Leading an agile and sustainable school system that addresses challenges like fluctuating pupil numbers and growing SEND needs.
• Place Planning: Analysing demographic trends and housing developments to accurately forecast future demand.
• School Organisation: Managing the structure of local schools, including partnerships, federations, mergers, and closures to support financial sustainability.
• Admissions & Benefits: Overseeing the "end-to-end" legal processes for school admissions and statutory support services like Free School Meals.
• Partnership Working: Fostering collaborative relationships with Headteachers, Governors, academy trusts, and diocesan representatives.
  
  Education: Educated to degree level, equivalent professional qualification or relevant experience
• DBS: This post is subject to a DBS requirement.
• Flexibility: The role requires visits to schools and engagement with parent groups, which may occasionally take place outside normal working hours.
  
  Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.
Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn't stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide. Hackney Education is committed to being the UK's most forward-looking education system. We aim to enhance the life chances of every learner by creating an inspiring environment that guarantees inclusion and success for everyone. We are leading the way in our fight for equity, with a specific focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. As we rank among the 10% most deprived areas in England, our key priority is providing strong support for underserved families and communities.