His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland
Scottish Government
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
We are seeking an outstanding individual with relevant professional experience for the role of His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland.
This is an exciting time for Scottish education as we implement significant reform to secure better outcomes for children and young people across Scotland. His Majesty’s (HM) Chief Inspector will play a pivotal role in leading a new independent education inspectorate to provide public assurance in the quality of education, raising standards and improving outcomes for children, young people and adult learners.
In June 2024, the Government introduced a Bill to Parliament which will see the establishment of a new office holder in the Scottish Administration by Autumn 2025 - “His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland”. It is anticipated that statutory functions will be conferred on HM Chief Inspector, who will lead a new independent education inspectorate, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education (HMIE), to take forward and improve the education inspection functions that currently sit within Education Scotland. This is a significant change from the current position and includes the transfer of some legislative powers from Scottish Ministers directly to the Chief Inspector.
It is anticipated that HMIE will be a new standalone public body, funded by the Scottish Government, whilst reporting to Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament. As such, the post-holder will provide significant national leadership, delivering professional advice, information and evidence, to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, other Scottish Ministers and Scottish Government officials, on the performance of Scottish education and improvement measures, including the development of educational policy and practice.
We are therefore looking for a transformational leader who, within the context of our education and skills reform commitments, can drive greater improvement in Scottish education, bringing a stronger focus on inspection outcomes, whilst creating a confident, respected and influential public body in its own right.
Appointment to the post of HM Chief Inspector is subject to approval by His Majesty at a sitting of his Privy Council.
Individuals on any working pattern can apply for any post. We welcome flexible working. If you are interested in applying on a job-share basis, please make clear in your application if you wish to be considered as a pre-existing job-share partnership or if you are interested in moving into a job-share arrangement. We will assess proposed working patterns against the business requirements for the post and discuss all options with candidates.
Job description
Until HMIE is established, HM Chief Inspector will report to the Chief Executive of Education Scotland, who will continue to hold Accountable Officer responsibilities for the inspectorate function during this period. The Chief Executive’s role will be to ensure that appropriate support is in place to enable the post-holder to fulfil their duties.
As part of our reform commitments, the approach to inspection is to be transformed and HMIE will therefore play an important part in creating the conditions for children and young people to thrive. The post-holder will have a critical role in leading a change in practice and culture, ensuring that the approach to inspection and its contribution to supporting and driving improvement in Scottish education is brought to life and delivered on the ground.
His Majesty's Chief Inspector will have personal autonomy, direct access to senior stakeholders, including the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, and be responsible for Education Scotland’s Scrutiny Directorate, including delegated budget oversight which is anticipated to be circa £10-15m, mainly for staffing costs.
As His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education in Scotland, you will be responsible for a range of duties. A short summary is below but more detail can be found in the Candidate Pack at the bottom of this page.
Organisational Leadership and Change
- During the transition stage, to play a pivotal role as a member of Education Scotland’s Senior Leadership Team, to deliver reform commitments and ensure that a comprehensive programme of engagement with internal and external stakeholders is in place to inform and ensure support for reform.
Inspection and system improvement
- Deliver a change in practice and culture, ensuring that the approach to inspection and its contribution to supporting and driving improvements is brought to life.
- Set the frequency, scale, priorities and focus for inspections, creating an independently informed inspection plan that fulfils the body’s strategic priorities.
- Provide independent professional advice to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, Scottish Ministers, and Scottish Government officials, based on evidence-based insights, analysing inspection data and trends, to:
- Improve outcomes consistent with the National Improvement Framework.
- Develop educational policy and practice, ensuring they are aligned with current needs and the future aspirations of Scottish education.
Senior management
- Following the establishment of HMIE, it is anticipated that the post-holder will be the Accountable Officer for the management of the body’s operating budgets (circa between £16m - £23m) and resources; ensuring that all relevant financial considerations and Scottish Government guidance, including issues of propriety, regularity, efficiency and value for money, are taken into account in delivering the body’s business.
Further detail on the roles and responsibilities can be found in the Candidate Pack at the bottom of this page.
Person specification
In your Supporting Statement, and if invited to interview, you will be expected to answer on the following Essential Criteria which includes both the Specialist and Leadership criteria as set out below:
*We strongly encourage you to structure your Supporting Statement around these criteria
Specialist Criteria
- A senior education professional registered (or eligible for registration) with an appropriate professional body, with a proven track record of leading and delivering improvements in excellence and equity. Experience of inspections is desirable but not essential.
- Experience of operating successfully at board or senior level using strong political acuity, in a complex organisation, delivering cultural and high-profile programmes of change. With a strong track record of analysing evidence and drawing on personal expertise and resilience, to provide advice that drives improvement, through challenge and demonstrating strong collaborative leadership at a system level.
Senior Civil Service Leadership Criteria
Leading collectively
- Delivering whole system change, by using strong, collaborative leaderships skills, and taking a whole system approach to complex, dynamic issues.
- Actively developing wide networks internally and externally, breaking down and collaborating across barriers to deliver outcomes.
Developing others
- Embedding an inclusive, learning culture - trusting and empowering others, to enable high performance and deliver tangible evidence of innovation.
Leading others
- Setting clear strategic direction and making high quality decisions which balance risk and stakeholder interests to deliver outcomes, whilst creating a sense of collective purpose.
- Creating opportunities for development and innovation, building confidence and a positive organisational culture, that embraces the opportunities of reform.
Understanding and developing self
- A strong understanding of yourself as a leader, how your personal life experiences and background impact on your thinking and behaviour, and how your decisions and actions impact on others.
- Personal resilience to role model inclusive leadership, embracing accountability and exposure, overcoming barriers to change.
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Fully completed applications should be submitted by 23:55 on 6 October 2024.
To apply for this post, you must register on our Applicant Tracking System and submit the following documents through such:
- A CV uploaded to the Applicant Tracking System.
- A Supporting Statement (no longer than 1500 words) explaining why you consider your skills, qualities, and experience suitable for this role. The system will prompt you to complete this section.
In your CV and Supporting Statement, you should relate your experience to the Essential Criteria outlined in the Candidate Pack. Please note that both CV and Supporting Statement must provided via the Applicant Tracking System for your application to be considered.
Please consult the Candidate Pack and Further Information Pack. when preparing your application.
If there are any technical issues, please contact SCSResourcing@gov.scot
Additional Information
This competition is being run in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles.
If you are shortlisted, you will be provided with full details of the next stages of the selection and assessment process. This will include an individual psychological assessment and both staff and stakeholder engagement exercises. It may also include a recorded presentation. You will also have the opportunity to meet with Ministers and other key stakeholders prior to the final selection panel interview to learn more about the role and the organisation.
The Final Interview Panel will be chaired by Chris Pilgrim, Civil Service Commissioner and will include Neil Rennick, DG Education & Justice, Scottish Government. Information on other panel members will be provided to shortlisted candidates.
Final interviews will be held in St Andrew’s House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG.
For further details on this role and how to apply please consult the Candidate Pack and Further Information Pack at the bottom of this page.
If you have any questions please contact Peter Morrison in the SCS Resourcing Team at Peter.Morrison@gov.scot.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
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.
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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).
Diversity and Inclusion
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Peter.Morrison@gov.scot
- Email : Peter.Morrison@gov.scot
Recruitment team
- Email : SCSResourcing@gov.scot
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