Happy New Year! January often sparks reflections and goal setting for the year to come, so if you find yourself thinking about your career development and future opportunities, please do get in touch with one of our team.
We can provide confidential advice about your goals, guide you in the right direction for development, mentoring and coaching opportunities, and support you to develop and enhance your CV so you have the best foot forward when applying for new roles or promotional opportunities.
We look forward to hearing from you, but in the meantime, here are the usual current opportunities, upcoming events and insights from AQ.
Roles
Interim
Placing top interim talent into impactful roles.
- The Interim Deputy Headteacher at a London based SEN School will lead Teaching and Learning across the school, which will include managing lesson observations and learning walks as well as ensuring stability and structures are maintained, ensuring attendance is high and behaviour incidences are low. Contact Paul Horgan for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
- The Interim Dean of Medical School at a UK University will provide strategic leadership and shape the school’s narrative and purpose. Embedding an exceptional student experience, fostering a vibrant research culture, and driving an ambitious strategy to ensure success. Contact Claire Lauder (nee Carter) for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
- The Interim Head of Admissions at a UK University will lead a team of dedicated professionals to deliver a seamless and customer-focused admissions process, playing a critical role in shaping strategy, improving systems, and fostering an outstanding applicant journey while ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks. Contact Claire Lauder (nee Carter) for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
- The Interim Director of Marketing, Recruitment and Communications at a UK University will provide leadership to a small but busy Marketing team and take the lead on various activities such as student recruitment, QS Stars and developing the 2026 prospectus. Contact John Laycock for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
Higher education & research
Supporting universities and alternative higher education providers to make transformational appointments.
- The Chief Financial Officer and the Deputy Vice Chancellor and Provost at Cardiff Metropolitan University will work closely with the University Executive Group to shape and drive forward significant transformation, which will centre student success, environmental sustainability, diversity and inclusion and financial stewardship. Contact Elliott Rae or Carolyn Coates for a private conversation or learn more about the CFO role here and the DVC Provost role here.
- The?Chair and Associate Dean (Education) at The University of Sheffield will lead the Education portfolio and support the Dean to lead, manage and develop the School to ensure it achieves the highest possible standards of excellence in all its activities, exercise leadership, demonstrate vision, and empower others. Contact Kiersten Avery or Elyse Turner-Pearce for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
- The Executive Dean, Business, Management and Commerce and Executive Dean, Computing and Emerging Technologies at Ravensbourne University London will play a key role in the implementation of Ravensbourne's new strategy, ensuring that industry links are maintained and widened and also that each school grows its student numbers whilst maintaining high quality teaching and learning and developing more innovative programme delivery. Contact Paul Aristides or Sophie Rees for a private conversation or learn more about the Executive Dean, Business, Management and Commerce role here and the Executive Dean, Computing and Emerging Technologies role here.
Schools
Advancing and improving educational outcomes at all levels.
- The Director of Admissions at Queen Elizabeth’s School, Dubai, will play a pivotal role in establishing the school’s reputation and ensuring its success from the outset, including leading the development and execution of a founding admissions strategy and overseeing all aspects of student recruitment. Contact Phil Gifford for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
- The Estates Manager at Hampton Court House will be responsible for taking a strategic approach to managing, maintaining and developing the infrastructure of the school facilities, including academic buildings, sports facilities, gardens and grounds. Contact Melanie Pye or Samantha Bryan-Ross for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
- The Estates and Maintenance Manager at St Paul's Girls' School will join the school’s estates team and report to the Head of Estates. The team is responsible for all the maintenance, management and regulatory compliance of school buildings and grounds. Contact Samantha Bryan-Ross or Melanie Pye for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
- The Trust Finance Manager at a Multi Academy Trust will play a pivotal role in ensuring the Trust delivers best value for money and operates efficiently across all schools. You will be responsible for reviewing management accounts, conducting financial analysis, and recommending cost-effective solutions. Contact Az Ahmed for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
Not for profit
Helping not for profit organisations make a lasting impact.
- The Head of IT at Somerset House will lead the IT strategy and operational management of the IT function within the organisation. They will be responsible for shaping and executing the IT strategy to support the overall business objectives and strategic plans, while at the same time taking an active lead on the operational aspects of IT. Contact Grace Tattersall for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
Board
Developing one of the most wide-reaching board practices in the UK.
- The new Chair of Governors at an East Anglian School Board will oversee two institutions; one catering to a range of students from GCSE level to MA, and the other is a dedicated arts and performance school for students aged 16 and above. The time commitment for the role stands at around 1-2 days per month. Contact Helene Usherwood or Aino Betts for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
Technology
Expanding diversity in technical and digital appointments.
- The Director of Technology and Data at the Victoria and Albert Museum will develop and implement a new data and technology strategy for the V&A that will deliver benefits in real time and inspire the wider organisation with the possibilities for change. Contact Grace Tattersall or Lela Gascoigne for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
- The Continuous Improvement Specialist at The Law Society will support the deployment of the Law Society’s Continuous Improvement approach through the delivery of improvement work using CI methodology and tools, in addition to delivering learning courses to build the CI capability across the organisation. Contact Grace Tattersall for a private conversation or learn more about the role here.
Congratulations
Congratulations to the following candidates on their new roles
Events
- Helene Usherwood and Elliott Rae were proud to deliver a workshop to the delegates of the White Rose University Consortium’s Equity in Leadership Programme on 12th December. Focussed on how to develop a CV and supporting statement as well as preparing for interview, the workshop was the culmination of a six-month programme, and we were thrilled to be a part of it and to celebrate the success of the delegates as they received their completion certificates. The Equity in Leadership programme has provided a unique opportunity for colleagues at the universities of Leeds, Sheffield and York to enhance their leadership skills, build valuable support networks, and contribute to a cultural shift towards more inclusive and equitable leadership in higher education.
In case you missed it
- As multi-academy trusts prepare for 2025, trustee boards face an ever-evolving and increasingly complex landscape. This is why many MATs are looking to increase the scope of skills and expertise on their boards, to help ensure trusts and their schools are ready for whatever challenges they face. Helene Usherwood spoke with Tes magazine to discuss five key areas to consider for board development in order to be ready for the challenges of the future. Read more here.
- Last month's AQ NED Exchange event, hosted by Helene Usherwood, brought together aspiring and existing NEDs to meet industry leaders, ask questions, and gain insights into boardroom dynamics. Thank you again to our incredible panel, Amerdeep Somal, Jeremy Shute, Benaifer Bhandari and Kemi Adenubi, for sharing their valuable expertise. Learn more about the event and key takeaways here.
- Are you in a leadership role within the schools sector and thinking about your professional challenges and goals for 2025? We've partnered with Martin Knights at Coaching-4-Schools to provide additional support so you can unlock your full potential and ignite extraordinary results. Through tailored coaching programs, they work with leaders at all levels to create lasting impact, nurture greatness, and drive positive change in education. Learn more here.
- We believe that investing in skilled professionals is an investment in your pupils' futures. That investment is more than just finding the right person for the job, it is how you also invest to support, nurture and develop them. That’s why we’ve developed additional services to support your people in their roles - helping them perform their jobs, as well as understand and further develop their skills and experiences. Contact Melanie Pye or learn more here.
- Paul Aristides and Justin Rix spoke with
FE News
to offer inexpensive and uncomplicated solutions that can make a big difference across the entire education and training sector, from universities and FE colleges to private training providers. Read more here.
- Demonstrating your impact is what sets you apart from other candidates and shows future employers how you’ll drive real change in their organisation, therefore it is really important you clearly communicate this in your application. Claire Lauder shares five tips for candidates so they can show their real direct impact in their applications, avoiding the buzzwords. Read more here.
- The combination of in-person and online learning creates an individualised, flexible and engaging experience for students; even with its challenges - is hybrid learning the future of education? Hayley Mintern spoke with Linda Sanders FRSA, former headmistress now Former Headmistress, now Independent Schools Association (ISA) Regional Ambassador, to tackle this question here.
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