Head of Pupil Access and Inclusion
Location: Aylesbury
Overview
We are seeking an inspiring and forward‑thinking leader to drive inclusion and ensure that every child and young person in Buckinghamshire has the opportunity to thrive. As our Head of Pupil Access and Inclusion, you will play a central role in shaping high‑quality services across admissions, school organisation, place planning and attendance. This is a rare opportunity to influence the educational landscape at a strategic level and to make a meaningful difference to outcomes for children, families and communities.
Salary £83,220 per annum
About the role
In this senior leadership position, you will oversee and develop services that support equitable access to education and promote strong attendance across the county. Your work will include leading the development and delivery of key strategies, engaging with changing national legislation, and ensuring local services remain effective, responsive and innovative.
You will work closely with schools, regulators, partners and community organisations to strengthen relationships and create collaborative solutions. The role also involves engagement with children, young people and families to ensure services reflect real needs and lived experiences.
As a member of the senior management team, you will contribute to the wider development of Children’s Services and help shape long‑term planning for the future of education in Buckinghamshire. You will lead and support teams to deliver high performance, nurture a positive working culture, and manage significant resources, including a budget of £4.25m. From time to time, you will also deputise for the Service Director and provide strategic guidance at a corporate level.
About you
You will bring a strong record of leadership within education or a related public sector field, ideally with experience in local government. You understand the complexities of education policy, legislation and system‑wide change, and you are confident operating at a strategic level while remaining grounded in the needs of children and families.
Your leadership style is collaborative, motivating and values‑driven. You communicate with clarity and impact, build productive partnerships and engage confidently with stakeholders at every level. You are comfortable navigating political environments, influencing decisions and driving ambitious improvements.
You will be educated to degree level or equivalent, and may also have a professional or postgraduate qualification. Above all, you will share our commitment to ensuring children and young people in Buckinghamshire can access the education, support and opportunities they need to succeed.
Other information
If you would like to find out more about this role, please contact Cate Duffy at [email protected]
Closing date: Midnight on Thursday 12th March
Interview date: Thursday 19th March
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:
- All unspent convictions and conditional cautions
- All spent convictions and adult cautions that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2020 and 2023).
For further information on filtering please refer to Nacro guidance and the guidance published by the Ministry of Justice (see, in particular, the section titled ‘Exceptions Order’).
Buckinghamshire Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk.
Our values and culture
We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.
By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:
- a fair and inclusive culture
- the chance to really make a difference to those around you
- health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
- a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
- ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
- opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events
At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.
From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.
We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.
We recognise and reward you
Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.
https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/
