GLF Schools are seeking an exceptional Director of Learning and Development to lead and shape a Trust-wide culture of continuous learning, growth and excellence.

This strategic leadership role will ensure that every adult working in, and connected to, the Trust is known, noticed and supported through high-quality professional learning opportunities that enable them to thrive professionally, strengthen their impact and contribute to the best possible outcomes for children and young people across GLF Schools.

Your Opportunity 

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead learning and development across GLF Schools. As Director of Learning and Development, you will provide strategic leadership for a trust-wide approach that aligns with GLF’s values, ambitions, strategic priorities and school improvement goals.

Working with key stakeholders across the Trust, you will design and deliver an ambitious, evidence-informed learning strategy that draws together expertise from our schools, the School Support Team and external partners into a coherent and impactful development offer. You will establish the frameworks, standards and systems that ensure learning and development activity is strategically aligned, effectively coordinated and capable of delivering sustained improvements in professional practice, leadership and outcomes, while balancing trust-wide consistency with local flexibility.

The role will be central to fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Working closely with Education Directors, school leaders and functional leads, you will create the conditions for professional learning communities to flourish, enabling effective practice to be identified, shared and scaled across the Trust. Through the intelligent use of insight from schools, regions and clusters, you will ensure that development opportunities are responsive to need, strengthen leadership capacity and build organisational capability at every level.

You will play a key role in nurturing talent, supporting career progression and developing future leaders, ensuring that professional learning and development remains a powerful lever for school improvement and organisational excellence.

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, people-centred leader who is passionate about unlocking potential, building capacity and creating the conditions in which colleagues, schools and ultimately children and young people can flourish.

This role will be based at The Beacon School in Banstead and will involve working across the Trust. The successful candidate must be willing and able to travel between GLF Schools and therefore must have access to a vehicle and hold a full driving licence.

What we are looking for 

• Relevant professional, postgraduate, or equivalent qualification in Organisational Development, HR, Learning & Development, Education, Psychology, or a related field.
• Significant senior leadership experience within education, a multi-academy trust, school improvement, professional learning, organisational development, or a related sector.
• Strong track record of developing and implementing strategic professional learning and development programmes at scale.
• Demonstrated success of improving organisational performance through workforce capability, talent development and leadership growth.
• Strong experience of evaluating impact and using evidence and data to inform strategic decisions.
• Strong understanding of best practice in learning and development, leadership development, talent management, and organisational change, ensuring activities are effective, inclusive, and compliant.
• Outstanding communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively with senior leaders and diverse professional groups.

Join the GLF Schools Community 

GLF currently has 35 schools in the primary phase, and 8 secondary schools. Our schools span a wide area, including Oxfordshire, Wokingham, Surrey, Croydon and West Sussex.  

As a part of GLF Schools, you will join a community of staff dedicated to transforming education. With regular progression discussions, there will be a wealth of opportunities for you to grow your career, whether in one of our 43 academies or in our central team. 

• A growing Multi Academy Trust with over 2,500 colleagues and over 19,000 children 
• Founded upon the values of Respect, Inclusivity, Integrity and Kindness 
• 43 primary and secondary schools across 7 Local Authority areas across Southern England 
• We work as a community whilst ensuring each school maintains its own unique identity 
• Committed to ensuring all children and young people receive the best possible education 

Our Employment Offer 

GLF Schools has a generous employment offer, which allows all our colleagues to Grow, Learn and Flourish. 

• Access to our highly competitive local government pension scheme 
• Flexible working options 
• Generous holiday allowance 
• Healthcare benefits 
• Work life and family friendly policies 
• Employee wellbeing initiatives 
• Staff benefits portal 
• Community and collaboration working model 

The Details 

Start Date: ASAP

Salary: GLF Leadership 3 - £75,985 - £85,200

Hours: 36 hours a week Monday to Friday (52 weeks a year)

Location: The Beacon School, Banstead (Surrey), with Trust-wide working. 

Advert Closing Date: Thursday 20th August at 9.30am

Interview Date: Wednesday 2nd September 2026

At GLF Schools, the safety and wellbeing of children and young people is our top priority. We are fully committed to safeguarding and expect everyone who works or volunteers with us to share that commitment. All roles are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

We understand that life is busy and that flexibility matters. That’s why we’re happy to explore flexible working arrangements that help you balance your professional and personal commitments.

GLF Schools is proud to celebrate the rich diversity of our schools and communities. We’re building a culture where:

• Everyone is respected and valued.
• Discrimination is never tolerated.
• Equity and fairness are at the heart of everything we do.
• Staff, children, and students are safe to express their identities.

We believe that diversity strengthens our organisation and our community. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from groups that are underrepresented in our workforce. This includes, but is not limited to, people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, trans and non-binary individuals, people of all ages, disabled people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of all faiths and beliefs.

To help us manage applications efficiently:

• We may close this vacancy early if we receive a strong response, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
• We may also interview shortlisted candidates before the official closing date.

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance, we will carry out an online search and request references for all shortlisted candidates. Shortlisted candidates will also be required to complete a self-declaration form. You will have the opportunity in the application form to confirm if you would prefer referees to be contacted after your interview.