About the job

Job summary

We are currently seeking applications for a number of His Majesty’s Inspectors of Education within Education Scotland, the posts will be based throughout Scotland, although base location can be flexible.

 

Inspections and other scrutiny activities carried out by His Majesty’s Inspectors are independent and impartial. His Majesty’s Inspector positions require experienced education professionals with the highest level of skill needed to observe practice at first-hand, engage in professional dialogue and report objectively on the quality of education and capacity to improve. A core focus of His Majesty’s Inspectors is to promote improvement as well as providing assurance to stakeholders on the quality of education.

His Majesty’s Inspectors identify and share examples of effective and highly effective practice. They lead and work as part of teams carrying out external evaluation across a range of sectors, and specific themes as part of national thematic work. HM Inspectors work with a range of stakeholders helping to build capacity for improvement with Scottish education. They work flexibly to meet the needs of the organisation.

His Majesty’s Inspectors are privileged to have the opportunity to observe practice and engage with stakeholders throughout Scotland. As such, they are required to undertake significant travel, including regularly staying overnight away from home.

We are currently seeking applications for HM Inspectors of Education with a background in the following sectors:

• Primary
• Secondary
• Early learning and childcare

Job description

• Undertake the lead and team member role on the inspection of individual education providers and broader aspect reviews ensuring professional judgements are based on robust evidence gathered from a wide range of sources. ; evaluating evidence against quality frameworks and writing publishable reports.
• Lead and engage in professional discussions with practitioners, stakeholders and Senior Managers to conduct effective evaluations to inform inspection and review reports; produce recommendations for improvement; share effective practice and build capacity.
• Capture, disseminate and promote the best practice gathered through inspection and review programmes and activities.
• Lead the creation of reports, briefings and presentations to inform stakeholders of the overall quality and strengths; effective practice and areas for improvement in key aspects of education.
• Provide information and expertise based on the analysis of inspection evidence to Scottish Government policy colleagues; Scottish Ministers and other stakeholders to improve Scottish education and inform the development of policy in specific areas of education provision.
• Engage in appropriate professional learning and development to build professional knowledge and expertise. In doing so maintain a high level of awareness of current and developing policy and practice in specific aspects of education provision
• Take account of equality and diversity in all aspects of work, model good practice in challenging discrimination and promoting equality to encourage positive outcomes across all education aspects and services.
• Contribute to the design and development of quality frameworks, inspection and review methodologies and supporting guidance, tools and materials.
• Secure continuous improvement, personally and within Education Scotland

 

In addition, HM Inspectors working in the Gaelic sector must take forward specialist scrutiny activities across the Gaelic sector, particularly secondary inspections, community learning and development, colleges and a range of post-school providers.

Person specification

Essential Criteria
1. Skilled in a senior leadership capacity in education with strong evidence of improving outcomes for learners and in managing competing priorities to implement improvement and change.
2. High quality interpersonal skills, confidence in dealing with a range of stakeholders and the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships.
3. Strong understanding of quality improvement in education and emerging developments and changes in Scottish education and inspection.
4. Skilled in communicating effectively orally and in writing, demonstrating clarity and expressing complex issues in a way that is easy to understand and suitable for the intended audience.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £72,310, Scottish Government contributes £19,523 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

To be confirmed

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.