Your career #EMATters! East Midlands Academy Trust is seeking an ambitious and experienced School Impact Partner – Secondary to drive rapid and sustained improvement across our secondary schools.
With EMAT continuing to grow following recent expansion across the Trust, this is a particularly exciting time to join our organisation. As we continue to invest in our schools, people, and systems, you will play a key role within a forward-thinking and ambitious Trust committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for young people and communities across the region.
This is a high-impact leadership role focused on raising standards in teaching and learning, curriculum implementation, leadership capacity, and student outcomes across Key Stages 3–5. Working collaboratively across our secondary schools, you will combine strategic leadership with hands-on school improvement expertise to secure consistently high standards and sustainable long-term impact.
We are looking for an inspirational leader who can both support and challenge school teams — someone equally confident shaping strategic direction, coaching senior leaders, and working alongside colleagues to improve classroom practice and student achievement.
At EMAT, we value innovation, collaboration, and impact. We are proud of our diverse workforce and are committed to creating inclusive environments where students, staff, and communities can thrive.
About EMAT
EMAT is an exciting, innovative, and growing organisation where we strive to do things differently, aligned with our core purpose: that every child deserves to be the best they can be.
Our Trust was incorporated in July 2012 to establish, maintain, manage, and develop academies and free schools as world-class centres of excellence. We are a collaborative partnership that currently includes an all-through school in Northampton, a secondary school in Oundle, and five primary schools across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes.
By joining EMAT, you will benefit from a wide range of professional development opportunities and employee benefits, including:
- Continuous professional development and high-quality training
- Career and leadership opportunities across our growing Trust
- A confidential 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme/Local Government Pension Scheme (delete as appropriate)
- A corporate eye care plan
- Flu jabs for all staff
- Cycle to work scheme
- Health and wellbeing support, including access to an online GP
- An employee lifestyle savings platform
- Generous family leave provisions
About the Role
School Impact Partner – Secondary is a field-based, school-facing role focused on driving rapid and sustained improvement across secondary schools within the Trust.
Working across our secondary settings, you will support and challenge school leaders to improve the quality of education, curriculum implementation, teaching and learning, leadership capacity, student outcomes, attendance, behaviour, and inclusion.
This role is line managed by secondary Headteachers and accountable to the Academic Advisory Board, which sets the strategic direction for improvement across the Trust.
You will combine strategic leadership with hands-on school improvement, working directly with Headteachers, senior leaders, middle leaders, and teachers to secure rapid and sustainable improvement.
You will play a key role in:
- Driving improvement in teaching, learning, curriculum, and outcomes across KS3–KS5
- Strengthening leadership capacity across secondary schools
- Improving attendance, behaviour, inclusion, and student engagement
- Coaching Headteachers, senior leaders, and middle leaders
- Using data to identify priorities and measure impact
- Supporting curriculum design, implementation, and consistency across departments
- Strengthening literacy, reading, oracy, and disciplinary vocabulary across the curriculum
- Narrowing gaps for disadvantaged and vulnerable learners
- Supporting transition from KS2 to KS3 and strengthening induction processes
- Contributing to Trust-wide improvement planning and collaboration
About You
We are looking for a leader who is passionate about secondary education and committed to improving life chances for young people.
The successful candidate will have:
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Strong secondary teaching and leadership experience
- Proven success in improving school performance and student outcomes
- Deep understanding of curriculum design (KS3–KS5) and subject pedagogy
- Strong data analysis and improvement planning skills
- Excellent coaching, communication, and leadership skills
- A collaborative, resilient, and strategic mindset
- A strong commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and high expectations
Desirable experience includes:
- NPQSL, NPQH, or equivalent leadership qualification
- Experience working across multiple schools or within a Multi Academy Trust
- Experience supporting inspection processes
- Knowledge of systems such as Arbor
Why Join EMAT?
At EMAT, we believe every young person deserves an excellent education. As a School Impact Partner – Secondary, you will have the opportunity to influence practice across multiple schools, work alongside talented leaders, and make a lasting difference to the lives of students and communities across our Trust.
For more information or to arrange an informal conversation, please contact Hannah Fajemiyo, HR Business Partner, at Hannah.fajemiyo@central.emat.uk
A Note for Recruitment Agencies
We have a team of internal recruiters, and we advertise our vacancies to attract candidates rather than agency suppliers. If we require agency assistance, we will reach out to our trusted partners. Any speculative CVs received will not be accepted as an introduction.
EMAT reserves the right to withdraw this advert early if a suitable candidate is found.
EMAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, or age.
EMAT encourages a “Speak Up” culture where colleagues are encouraged to raise any concerns relating to risk or wrongdoing. You will be responsible for ensuring that colleagues are supported where necessary to raise concerns without fear of blame or recrimination and should proactively raise concerns should they come to your attention.