Head of Community Development

Description Employer Location

Job Title: Head of Community Development

Salary: £51,773 - £57,137 (CLF L1-L5)

Actual salary: £31,064 - £45,710 based on hours worked

Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract until April 2027

Hours: Part Time - 26 hours per week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday)

Provisional

Start Date:

April 2026

King’s Oak Academy is seeking an exceptional and visionary Head of Community Development to drive a strategic, cradle-to-career approach to community development and educational improvement.

As a senior leader within the Academy, the Head of Community Development will play a pivotal role in shaping how King’s Oak Academy works with its community to improve educational, social and economic outcomes for children and families.

You will lead the creation and long-term sustainability of our Family Hub which opened in April 2025 and embedding community engagement as a core driver of school strategy rather than an add-on.

Working closely with the Principal, Senior Leadership Team and Trust colleagues, you will ensure that community intelligence, family voice and partnership working inform decision-making at every level. You will also represent the Academy within local, regional and national networks, positioning King’s Oak as a flagship school for community-centred practice.

This role is suited to an ambitious, strategic leader who :

• Holds QTS and has a strong track record of leadership impact
• Is credible operating at senior leadership and system level, including SLT and Trust forums
• Has deep expertise or a strong professional interest in community development, family engagement and place-based education
• Can lead complex, multi-agency partnerships and secure external investment
• Is equally confident shaping long-term strategy and overseeing delivery at scale
• Brings strong values around equity, collaboration, and empowerment
• You will need the confidence to lead innovation, make high-stakes decisions, and navigate complexity, while maintaining a clear moral purpose focused on improving life chances for children.

A genuinely strategic leadership role with scope to shape practice locally and beyond.

The opportunity to design and lead a model of best practice in community-centred education.

A collaborative Trust environment that values innovation, professional trust, and evidence-informed decision-making.

This is not a conventional community engagement post. It is a senior leadership position for someone ready to influence strategy, systems, and outcomes at scale.

King’s Oak Academy is situated in the heart of the South Gloucestershire community and is within easy commuting distance of Bristol and Bath. The academy has been part of the Cabot Learning Federation since 2011 and enjoys the benefits from being part of a mature, successful MAT which offers access to excellent professional services and opportunities to work in collaboration with experienced professionals across the trust.

As an all-through school, King's Oak is in a privileged position to educate children aged 4-16 and support their families. The academy staff structure and estates are divided into three phases (Lower School = Reception to Year 4, Middle School = Years 5-8, Upper School = Years 9-11). This structure ensures that learning is high quality and bespoke for each child, long-term relationships are fostered with families and King's Oak employees benefit from the unique CPD and leadership opportunities that are available as a result of working in an all-through community school.

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our…