Understanding the Role of a Director of Education in Schools

Understanding the Role of a Director of Education in Schools

Over the years, I’ve noticed emerging trends in senior roles within the education sector. Many of these have been driven by both academy and independent schools, often adapting their titles to mirror those in the commercial world, both to attract talent from outside of the sector and to clarify the scope and purpose of the roles.

Recently, the Director of Education is emerging as a pivotal position in both independent and academy schools. What does this role actually involve and what are schools typically looking for when they recruit for it?

What Does a Director of Education Do?

A Director of Education is responsible for overseeing the academic strategy and educational quality across a school or sometimes across a group of schools. While day-to-day classroom teaching remains the domain of teachers and heads of department, the DoE sets the strategic vision for learning and ensures it is consistently implemented.

Key responsibilities often include:

·         Developing and implementing curriculum strategy and educational policies

·         Monitoring and improving student outcomes through data-driven insights

·         Leading teacher development, mentoring, and performance management

·         Advising the headteacher or executive leadership team on educational priorities

·         Ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and inspection frameworks

Who Can Be a Director of Education?

There’s a common assumption that Directors of Education must come from a teaching background - and often they do - but this is not always the case. Schools are increasingly valuing candidates who can combine strong educational insight with strategic leadership skills, which can include experience in:

·         Teaching or senior school leadership (e.g., deputy head, head of department)

·         Curriculum design or pedagogy development

·         Educational consultancy or school improvement programs

·         Data analysis, operations, or cross-school management

·         Local Authority Education / Location Government

The ideal candidate is often a bridge between education expertise and executive leadership, able to understand the classroom but also navigate strategic decisions that impact the entire school.

Why the Role Matters

With increasing scrutiny from regulators, parents, and governing bodies, schools need leaders who can ensure that every student receives high-quality education while meeting institutional goals. A strong Director of Education can:

·         Align teaching standards with the school’s mission

·         Enhance staff development and retention

·         Ensure measurable improvements in student performance

·         Support innovation in teaching and learning approaches

Trends in Recruitment

Recruiting a Director of Education is competitive. Schools look for candidates who can demonstrate measurable impact, whether that’s improving exam results, introducing innovative curricula, or leading successful school-wide initiatives. Flexibility is also key, some schools are now open to leaders who haven’t followed a traditional teaching path but bring strategic vision and operational expertise from other angles.

If you are looking to recruit such a role and a sounding board might be useful in terms of job spec positioning, salary benchmarking, or understanding market availability of candidates, I’d be happy to offer insight and support to ensure you attract the right leader for your school.

Additionally, if this is a route you'd be interested in taking your career down - lets talk through how I can help you in that search.