Schools Support Officer (Primary)

Educators Wales; Caernarfon; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 77,000; Full time

Job summary

A local education authority in Wales seeks a Gwynedd Council Schools Support Officer to improve educational outcomes across multiple schools. The role requires strong leadership abilities, collaboration with stakeholders, and a focus on enhancing teaching quality. Successful candidates will have qualified teacher status and senior leadership experience. The position offers a competitive annual salary ranging from £68,811 to £76,263, reflecting the importance of driving positive change in education.

Qualifications

• Experience of improving school performance in a leadership role.
• Knowledge of legislation and frameworks related to school improvement.
• Understanding of employment law and disability legislation.

Responsibilities

• Direct responsibility for an allocated number of schools.
• Promote collaboration between schools and implement good practice.
• Coordinate curriculum support and strategic planning.

Skills

Collaboration skills

Problem resolution

IT skills

Education

Qualified teacher status

Senior leadership experience

Job description

Salary: GBP 68,811.00 - 76,263.00 per year

Details

• Gwynedd Council Schools Support Officer (Primary)
• Soulbury Pay Scale: 21‑24 (+3 SPA)
• £68,811 - £72,507 / £76,263
• Would consider secondment
• Start date: after Easter 2026 or as soon as possible after Easter
• Recruitment conducted in Welsh and English – applicants may submit in either language

Contact: Alison Halliday – 01286 679958

Interview date: 30/01/2026

Application forms available from Support Service, Gwynedd Council, Caernarfon, LL55 1SH. Tel: [phone], E‑mail: [e-mail]

Closing date: 16/01/2026 at 12:00pm

Person Specification

Personal Attributes

• able to think and work innovatively, independently and strategically
• organised, clear, effective under pressure and conflicting priorities
• strong collaboration skills – partnership with school staff, governors, regulatory bodies, elected members and local authority officers
• behave sensitively with stakeholders to create positive change
• learner‑centred focus in education
• ambitious and determined to improve outcomes for children and young people

Relevant Qualifications and Training

• Essential: Qualified teacher status; senior leadership experience at a relevant education location; strategies to ensure consistent quality of teaching and learning and motivate improvement in standards.
• Desirable: Further study such as a master's in leadership or education; managerial qualification.

Relevant Experience

• Essential: Experience of substantially improving school performance, in a leadership role or as a professional worker in a local authority or regional consortium; contribution to educational developments with sustainable improvement; managing budgets and staff; guidance at senior level; managing school interventions; analysis and use of performance data; challenge school performance and hold stakeholders accountable.
• Desirable: School improvement beyond own school; significant leadership function; extensive budget and staff management.

Skills and Specialist Knowledge

• Essential: Knowledge of legislation and frameworks, especially improving schools; understanding of employment law, equal opportunities and disability legislation; systems for quality assurance and self‑evaluation; collaboration skills; problem resolution and diplomacy; performance indicator analysis; business planning and risk monitoring; partnership building; IT skills.
• Desirable: Experience dealing with trade unions to encourage change.

Language Requirements

• Listening and Speaking: Present verbally through Welsh and English equally.
• Reading and Comprehension: Interpret information correctly in both languages.
• Writing: Communicate confidently in both languages.

Job Description

Purpose of Post

• Place the people of Gwynedd at the heart of everything we do.
• Ensure effective and efficient teaching and learning, standards, management, leadership and governance of Gwynedd schools.
• Provide support for schools to promote and maintain improvement and meet statutory duties.
• Act as a contact point for continuous support for headteachers of allocated schools.
• Lead on standards, provision and leadership to support statutory and non‑statutory education aspects.
• Contribute toward the highest attainment standards for everyone.
• Work in partnerships locally and regionally to advise and support schools and stakeholders.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Direct responsibility for an allocated number of schools, appointed annually.
• Act as a contact point for enquiries on human resources, finance, governance and school improvement.
• Promote formal collaboration between schools and implement good practice.
• Support and challenge learning and teaching across allocated schools – pedagogy and curriculum support.
• Coordinate curriculum support and strategic planning to develop curriculum in specific subject fields.
• Provide guidance on additional learning needs, inclusion and well‑being.
• Ensure statutory duties are met through self‑evaluation, improvement and quality assurance processes.
• Lead on support plans agreed with schools and resolve matters related to curriculum and strategy.
• Maintain and develop effective relationships with national strategies and external bodies.
• Contribute to modernisation plans and support schools' professional learning plans.
• Assist with Estyn visits and any follow‑up activities.
• Handle complaints and enquiries efficiently and advise relevant parties.

Additional

• Work outside normal hours may be required.
• Responsible for self‑development and attending training as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety, equal opportunities, information management, data protection and carbon management policies.
• Implement any other reasonable duty related to the salary and responsibility level.
• Report any concerns of abuse of a child or vulnerable adult.

Special Circumstances

• Work may require unsociable hours.

This job description is an outline and duties may change without altering the role’s fundamental nature or level of responsibility.