Inclusive Education Collective Lead

**Wates Family Enterprise Trust**,**

**5 days a week, (37 hours)**

**flexible and remote options with presence in the Leatherhead/London offices alternatively, once a week.**

**£48,000 p/a plus benefits**

**initial term of 9 months with expectation this will extend into a 24 month post in total.**

**Start date - Autumn 2024**

**Purpose of the Role**

We recognise a momentum is building, networks are emerging and there is a renewed appetite for change regarding inclusive education practice, addressing exclusions and ensuring all children and young people have the opportunity to enjoy a full and positive education. However, the sector remains siloed in its conversations and sharing of learning and experience.

We are looking for a dynamic Collective Lead to strengthen this voice by:

- working across existing local and national inclusive education networks, (approx. 3 days a week)
- support the IntegratED Partnership (approx. 1 day a week)
- and manage a small portfolio of WFET grants (circa £230,000 p/a) (approx. 1 day a week)

With responsibility for building communities of practice across the education sector, this role requires someone:

- who is expert in building partnerships,
- understands the concept of relational governance,
- who can bring data and research to life and, above all,
- is deeply passionate about the power of convening and that of collective impact for systemic change in the education sector.

The role has three core deliverables:
This is a priority pillar of delivery, where the role will bring strategic vision and expertise in convening key stakeholders to generate genuine, sector-wide innovation through the cross-fertilisation of ideas and best practice.

Inspire collaboration and collective action by using the growing network to convene communities of best practice on key thematic areas and to generate learning, insights and policy recommendations.

Develop key insights from newly formed communities of practice and through e?ective and engaging dissemination activities ensuring coordination with CSJ, WFET, Mission 44 and The Difference’s - Who’s Losing Learning? - these are existing networks. Others are emerging.

Work closely with the Communications team at Mission 44 in the development of an online resource/website providing evidence from key partners and the collective, supporting the development of Mission 44’s campaign on inclusive education to create lasting systemic change for young people.

Create opportunities for cross-sector collaboration (both within the UK and across the world), by building a network of peers within other grantmaking foundations and education focused organisations.

Build a culture of learning across the IntegratED Partnership and wider Collective, improving our collective understanding of the impact of school exclusion, the barriers to national inclusive education practice and what works to address those issues.

Sitting within the WFET team, you will ensure that WFET programmatic activity under Life Opportunities for Young People has a learning element built into the design. You will work with the Trust’s handful of funded partners alongside the IntegratED Partnership and other Collective members.

Ensure the impact of WFET’s Exclusion/Inclusion funding can be evaluated effectively and that the Trust can use this information to continually re?ne our programmes to deliver maximum impact towards our charitable goals and objectives.

Manage the WFET LOYP grant making budget (Circa £250k p/a) and the Integrated Partnership Collective Budget.
- A strong track record of overseeing the development of online communities of practice and the use of innovative digital approaches to engage members in robust discussion and knowledge and best practice sharing.
- Strong experience of convening stakeholders in events that are engaging, inclusive and thought-provoking. This includes the design and facilitation of such events.
- Extensive experience in building and managing successful partnerships, particularly with new stakeholders / partner organisations / funding organisations.
- Strong oral and written communication, in addition to interpersonal skills.

**Sector-specific expertise**:

- Good knowledge of the issues around prevention of mainstream exclusions, promoting inclusive education and the growing disengagement with the formal mainstream education system.
- Experience in a grantmaking organisation
- Experience of working in a small, growing team

**Personal Qualities**

To be successful in this role, you will be:

- Creative; you are curious about new and innovative ways to tackle problems
- Curious and committed to learning; you are motivated by learning and testing new ideas, you welcome feedback and are continually seeking to develop the knowledge and skills of yourself and others
- Highly collaborative; you enjoy working in teams and in partnership with others, you embrace collective impact models and you are able to adapt to the needs