About the job

Job summary

We encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates   

At DfE, we are proud of the commitment we make to diversity and inclusion and of the progress we have made. We have active & vibrant staff networks, special leave policies and workplace adjustments put in place for those who need them. We are continuing to build a diverse DfE, in an inclusive environment which nurtures and realises potential in all, at all levels.  

Equality and Diversity - Department for Education 

The Independent Education Unit (IEU) regulates all independent schools in England (approx. 2400). We register new independent schools and ensure that all independent schools offer a high-quality education and keep the children attending them safe. 

The IEU manages all aspects of the Department for Education’s end-to-end relationship with independent schools by ensuring that all schools are registered correctly, they submit applications to amend registered details, they meet the Independent School Standards, and by acting against schools not complying with these standards.

Your work will allow you to make a meaningful difference to children’s life chances.

The IEU ensures that every independent school in England promotes pupil’s welfare and provides a quality education in a safe environment.

The IEU is a fast-paced, highly supportive, friendly unit and encourages personal development at every level.

The team manages high-profile cases, attracting Ministerial and outside attention. 

This is a flexible and varied role which includes overseeing and processing independent school material change applications to determine whether approval can be granted on behalf of the Secretary of State.  

The team is Darlington based and works three days a week in the Darlington office.

Job description

The role is interesting, challenging and will require flexibility and collaborative working across all aspects of the team's remit, but will offer many opportunities for personal development. The work on the team is often fast paced, high profile and you can expect every day to be busy but varied.

Working in a small team you will commission and review inspection reports relating to the likelihood of an independent school meeting the independent school standards and use these – and any other available evidence - to reach a decision on whether an application can be approved.

You will be responsible for efficiently processing Disclosure and Barring Service applications for potential proprietors of independent schools, ensuring the correct checks are carried out at each point of the application. You will also ensure safeguarding concerns are acted on quickly and escalated to senior colleagues where appropriate.

You will be required to act promptly to keep the units work on track by assessing the teams outstanding tasks and your allocated work and be a point of escalation if action required on a case is urgent. You will be a point of contact for senior leaders in relation to any cases within your team and will provide administration support (e.g. updates to guidance or letters) when required, working alongside senior leaders.

The role also offers the opportunity to support the wider team working on Business of State, drafting Treat Official and Private Office correspondence, FOI responses, drafting citations for Honours cases and policy development (areas of policy include the Independent School Standards, National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools and Residential Special Schools, British Schools Overseas and Non-Maintained Special Schools). 

Person specification

About you

You are someone looking to develop their skills in a fast-paced environment. You will be motivated to improve the life chances of all children who attend an independent school and confident in asking questions and raising concerns about the evidence in front of you.

We are looking for an individual who can demonstrate the following essential criteria:

• Proven ability to prioritise workloads and work to deadlines.
• Confidence in handling evidence to reach a decision and defending this decision to senior colleagues.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, i.e., the ability to write clearly, concisely and logically and be able to explain difficult concepts to anyone that may need to know.
• The ability to work at pace, leading and owning tasks, working with autonomy and initiative, as well as collaborating as part of a team, reporting regularly to senior colleagues.
• Experience of working in small teams, in a fast-paced environment. 

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.

As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK, with an average employer contribution of 27%.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King's Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.

We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.

Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role. 

Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but costs for travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.  

 As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Applicant Support

Please visit the below webinars for further information and support in completing your application and preparing for an interview:

• How to craft a well written job application in the UK Civil Service
• Crafting a CV that stands out in the UK Civil Service
• Writing a personal statement in the UK Civil Service
• How to ace interviews in the public service

Application Stage

At the application stage candidates will be sifted through their CV and a personal statement. Your personal statement (maximum 500 words) should demonstrate how your experience meets the essential criteria listed in the 'person specification' section above.

To confirm, the maximum word count for the personal statement/ statement of suitability is 500. Please adhere to this limit as anything over 500 words will not be taken into account.

Interview Stage

At interview candidates will be assessed against the following Behaviours in relation to the essential criteria:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
• Communicating and Influencing

We will also ask some Strength based questions.

Interviews will take place in person at Bishopsgate House. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Other Information 

We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates. 

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas. 

The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.    

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing Pre-Employment.Checks.DFE@education.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated. 

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made. 

Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location. 

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band. 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs 

Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum. 

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual. 

Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information. 

Reasonable adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 

Contact Department of Education via centralrecruitment.operations@education.gov.uk soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ 

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. 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. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.