Head of Education

The role

Head of Education

  • Salary: £87,117 - £93,979
  • Location: Huyton, Merseyside

Leading educational excellence. Transforming lives. Shaping Knowsley’s future.

Knowsley Council is seeking an exceptional Head of Education to lead the borough’s ambitious education agenda, providing visionary strategic leadership to improve educational outcomes, champion inclusion and equity, and deliver transformational change that enables all children and young people in Knowsley to succeed from early years through to adulthood.

About the role

At Knowsley, we believe every child and young person deserves the very best start in life. As our Head of Education, you will provide strategic leadership across a broad and influential portfolio, ensuring the Council meets its statutory responsibilities while driving excellence throughout the education system. From securing sufficient high-quality school places and improving educational outcomes, to leading admissions, early years, family hubs, adult learning and the Knowsley Youth Offer, you will shape services that have a lasting impact on lives and communities. Working in partnership with schools, trusts, providers and stakeholders, you will champion an ambitious, inclusive approach to education—providing both support and challenge to ensure every setting delivers high-quality learning opportunities and every child can thrive, achieve and reach their full potential.

This is an opportunity to lead educational transformation at scale, influencing outcomes for thousands of children, young people and families across Knowsley.

Secondary school students wearing safety glasses sit attentively in a science classroom, listening to a lesson.
Smiling children and an adult take part in a painting activity, holding up colourful paint-covered hands.

About You

We're seeking an inspiring and collaborative leader who can bring ambition, credibility and impact to this pivotal role. You'll be someone who can:

  • Provide visible and values-driven leadership, setting a clear strategic direction for education across Knowsley and inspiring others to deliver excellence.
  • Demonstrate a strong track record of improving educational outcomes, particularly for vulnerable children and young people, and reducing inequalities in attainment and achievement.
  • Champion inclusion and equity, ensuring that every child and young person has access to high-quality education and opportunities to succeed.
  • Build trusted partnerships with schools, academy trusts, early years providers, post-16 institutions, community organisations and regional stakeholders to drive system-wide improvement.
  • Offer constructive support and challenge, influencing educational leaders and providers to continuously raise standards and deliver the best possible outcomes.
  • Lead complex services and transformation programmes, balancing strategic priorities with the effective delivery of statutory responsibilities.
  • Use data, insight and evidence to inform decision-making, drive improvement and demonstrate impact.
  • Navigate a changing educational landscape, understanding national policy developments and translating these into local opportunities and solutions.
  • Communicate with confidence and authenticity, building credibility with elected members, senior leaders, partners, children, young people and families.
  • Demonstrate strong political awareness, operating effectively within a local government environment and helping shape strategic priorities for the borough.
  • Be a passionate advocate for children, young people and families, with a genuine commitment to improving life chances and creating opportunities for all.

Why Knowsley?

Knowsley is a resilient and ambitious borough with a strong sense of community and a relentless focus on improving lives. We are proud of our improvement journey and equally clear about the role strong, values-driven leadership plays in sustaining progress.

You will join:

  • A supportive and committed Corporate and Children and Young People leadership team
  • An organisation that values collaboration, learning and innovation
  • A place where senior leaders are trusted, visible and empowered
  • A borough where your leadership will have a direct and lasting impact.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of our Children and Young People Department and make a genuine difference to the lives of children and families.

A teacher works with a small group of primary school children gathered around a table, helping them with a classroom learning activity.

Interested?

For further information and details on how to apply, please explore the candidate information via the links on this site.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact:

Chris Price

Director (Education and Inclusion)

Telephone: 0151 443 5655

Email: Chris.price@knowsley.gov.uk 

Recruitment Timeline - Key Dates

  • Closing date: 11 September 2026
  • Interviews: 25 September 2026

Supporting Information

Our Offer

Our workplace offer

Knowsley Council offers a competitive salary and generous benefits package within flexible working arrangements.

Find all our employee benefits below. 

Financial

  • Competitive salary, which rises annually to the next increment of our pay scale for most roles
  • Annual Pay Awards which are negotiated nationally and apply to all employees
  • Financial well-being offers and support, including affordable borrowing
  • 24-hour financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme
  • Car mileage payments
  • Free car parking
  • Access to a salary sacrifice scheme to lease hybrid and electric vehicles
  • A home goods and electricals salary sacrifice scheme
  • Transparent pay structures so you are paid fairly in line with peers and know what you will be paid as you develop your career with the council

Development

  • Engaging comprehensive induction programme
  • Fully embedded apprenticeship and graduate development programmes with tailored support and development
  • Collaborative working with educational establishments to support development initiatives and opportunities
  • Levy funded vocational and degree level qualifications available
  • Full programme of CPD for work-based learning and development opportunities
  • A wide variety of roles, helping you to try different careers and apply your skills in new areas
  • Opportunities for getting involved in innovative projects and initiatives to support continuous improvement
  • Strong culture of employee engagement as well as reward and recognition – supporting you to be the best you can be

Pensions

  • Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme.  Unlike many private sector pensions which are defined contribution (DC), LGPS is a defined benefit (DB) scheme. This means:
    • Pension is based on salary and length of service.
    • Provides a guaranteed income for life after retirement.
    • Less risk for the employee compared to DC schemes.

Whereas most DC schemes are based on performance of market investments.

  • LGPS pensions are inflation-protected, increasing annually in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), helping maintain purchasing power over time.
  • The council will typically contribute 9.3% towards your pension, compared to lower contributions in many DC schemes.
  • The scheme includes ill health and death benefits which includes immediate access to your pension if you are retired early due to ill health and a lump sum death benefit of 3 times your salary as a lump sum and survivors pensions for dependents.
  • Members of the pension scheme can also opt for early retirement from 55 (with reductions to pension benefits).
  • You can find out more about our pensions at Merseyside Pension Fund (mpfmembers.org.uk)
  • Ways to top up your pension benefits, including shared cost salary sacrifice, meaning more savings on National Insurance and Income Tax and the option to voluntarily make additional pension contributions.

Wellbeing

  • 36 hour full time working week
  • Generous annual leave entitlement with an additional two concessionary days over the festive period plus public holidays. Entitlement varies depending on grade, illustrated below, in addition to public holidays.

Entitlements below are based on full time hours and will be pro rata for part time employees.

Grade (Days) Basic Leave Continuous Service (Days) After 3 Years Continuous Service (Days) After 5 Years Continuous Service (Days) After 10 Years (Days)
Grade A-E 23 24 28 29
Grade F-G 24 25 28 30
Grade H-L 26 27 29 32
Grade M-Q and PMG 1-2 28 29 31 34
PMG 3-5 and Directors 30 31 33 36
  • Option to buy additional annual leave
  • Flexible working
  • Hybrid working in many roles
  • Active travel support with a cycle-to-work scheme
  • 24-hour health and wellbeing support with access to qualified counsellors and practitioners
  • Occupational health services
  • Workplace adjustments
  • Access to a wide range of wellbeing support material including lifestyle assessments and recommendations, information about different health and wellbeing subjects and healthy eating recipes.
  • Free flu jab
  • Free eye tests for DSE users
  • Access to a range of health programmes, such as weight management and smoking cessation sessions
  • The council has strong Trade Union representation through Unison, GMB and Unite and you will have the option to join.

Discounts

  • A range of lifestyle savings and discounts available to all employees, including high street retailers, dining out, cinema, holidays, days out, health and fitness and beauty
  • Discounted gym memberships
  • Access to reduced-cost travel passes
  • Discounts available through mobile phone providers
  • All local authority employees are eligible for Costco membership

Family and Carers support

  • Maternity Leave
  • Paternity leave
  • Shared parental leave
  • Unpaid emergency leave support
  • Family-friendly policies supporting fostering, fertility treatment, fostering, adoption and caring responsibilities
  • Carers passports to make sure you’re supported to manage caring responsibilities alongside work
  • Menopause policy, passport, and support

Employee Networks

  • The Changies offers a safe, informal space for men to connect and support each other.
  • The Carer’s Forum offers support to employees with caring responsibilities.
  • The Disability Workers’ Group advocates for disabled employees and helps shape inclusive policies.
  • The LGBTQ+ Forum supports LGBTQ+ staff, promotes visibility, and influences inclusive change.
  • The Multi Faith and Belief Workers’ Group raises awareness of diverse beliefs to reduce discrimination and improve service delivery.
  • The Neuro Diversity Network offers  a place for employees who are neuro diverse to come together and support each other.
  • The United in Diversity Network challenges discrimination and promotes cultural diversity and race equality.
  • The Women’s Operational Workers’ Network focuses on sex equality in employment and policy development and runs Menopause Café’s.
  • The Youth Employee Network empowers young staff to share experiences, develop skills, and influence workplace culture.

The employee networks work together on joint projects across the organisation.

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