Personal Development Lead

The Role

You will lead and strategically oversee all aspects of Personal Development, ensuring they are embedded throughout school life and contribute positively to pupil outcomes.

Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance

You will lead the school's careers programme, ensuring full alignment with the Gatsby Benchmarks and statutory guidance. This includes developing employer partnerships, coordinating work experience placements, supporting careers education across all phases, and ensuring pupils have meaningful exposure to education, training, employment and enterprise opportunities.

Fundamental British Values

You will ensure Fundamental British Values are meaningfully embedded across the curriculum and wider school culture. Pupils will be supported to understand democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, mutual respect, and tolerance through authentic learning experiences and participation opportunities.

Enrichment Programme

You will develop and oversee a diverse enrichment offer that broadens horizons, builds confidence, develops interests and talents, and enhances pupil engagement. This will include educational visits, leadership opportunities, community engagement, cultural experiences, and special projects.

After-School Clubs

You will coordinate an engaging programme of extracurricular activities that promotes participation, inclusion, wellbeing, personal growth and enjoyment. You will work closely with staff and external providers to maximise opportunities available to pupils.

PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education)

You will have strategic oversight of the PSHE curriculum, ensuring it is relevant, ambitious, age-appropriate and responsive to the needs of our pupils. You will monitor quality, support staff, and ensure the programme positively contributes to personal development outcomes.

RSE (Relationships and Sex Education)

You will ensure the delivery of a high-quality RSE programme that helps pupils develop healthy relationships, personal safety awareness, emotional wellbeing, respect for others and appropriate social understanding, whilst remaining compliant with statutory requirements.

Preparation for Adulthood (PfA)

You will lead our Preparation for Adulthood strategy, ensuring pupils develop the knowledge, skills and experiences required to achieve greater independence and successful adult outcomes. This will include pathways covering independent living, community participation, employment and health and wellbeing.

Post-16 Provision

You will work with colleagues to ensure our Post-16 offer prepares young people effectively for their next stage. This will include supporting transitions, progression planning, employability skills, independence development, further education pathways and preparation for adulthood outcomes.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Has significant leadership and management experience within education or a related sector.
• Has experience leading whole-school initiatives and driving improvement.
• Has a strong understanding of either the Ofsted or ISI inspection framework.
• Is willing and able to quickly develop expertise in both inspection frameworks where required.
• Has experience of Careers Education, Personal Development, PSHE, pastoral leadership, safeguarding, inclusion or curriculum leadership.
• Has excellent organisational, communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Can analyse impact, monitor outcomes and drive continuous improvement.
• Is highly motivated, resilient and passionate about improving life chances for young people.

Essential Qualifications and Professional Development

Applicants should:

• Hold a relevant degree or professional qualification.
• Have leadership experience within an educational setting.
• Have either completed the NPQSL (National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership), an equivalent leadership qualification, or demonstrate a commitment to undertaking such a qualification.
• Be committed to ongoing professional development and leadership growth.

We are seeking an exceptional Personal Development Lead to drive and lead our Personal Development offer across the school. This is a strategic leadership role for an ambitious, experienced professional who understands the importance of developing the whole child and can create outstanding opportunities that go beyond the classroom.

The successful candidate will be responsible for shaping, coordinating, and evaluating our personal development provision, ensuring every pupil benefits from a rich, meaningful curriculum that prepares them for adulthood, employment, independence, citizenship, and life beyond school.

You will have a strong understanding of either the Ofsted or ISI inspection framework and be confident and willing to rapidly develop expertise in the framework you are less familiar with.

This role would suit an experienced middle or senior leader with a background in education, careers education, personal development, PSHE, , inclusion, or alternative provision.