The fellowship scheme is aimed at bringing in outside experts to help influence and steer DfE policy decisions and “to expose the whole department to new ways of thinking and insights”.
The successful applicants will work on ”specific policy challenges and share skills and experience across the department”, according to the DfE.
This will be the second cohort of policy fellows after seven individuals were recruited last year. The DfE is seeking applications from people who can offer some of the following:
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An innovative approach to policy development or implementation.
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Strong analytical skills and experience applying them to complex social challenges.
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Practical experience of reforming education or children’s services in the UK or abroad.
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A successful track record in any sector of leading organisational reform and engaging staff.
The DfE will offer full-time and part-time positions for up to 12 months to suit applicants’ current career trajectory. Salaries will be “appropriate for the level of the role”.
The current cohort of fellows includes Stuart Kime, a former teacher who is studying for a PhD in teacher evaluation at Durham University, and Bill Holledge, a former headteacher who now works for a multi-academy trust.
Mr Holledge has been working with civil servants on ways of clarifying expectations and good practice around annual reporting to parents and carers to save teacher time.
Meanwhile, Mr Kime’s teaching experience and understanding of evidence-based approaches has helped the DfE to “understand the barriers to more widespread evidence-based teaching and how working with other parts of the system might overcome these”. He has also “acted as a sounding board for wider teacher quality work”.
For information, email policy.profession@education.gsi.gov.uk