Education Policy Lead

We are excited to be recruiting for an Education Policy Lead to join The Difference’s Research, Impact and Influence (RII) directorate. The role will lead on the design and delivery of a new policy strategy targeting key audiences including Government (Westminster and Local Authorities), the media, and large MATs. This work will involve designing and testing feasible policy solutions through partnership work, then planning and targeting key policy audiences. Written communications and events will be planned and delivered by the policy lead working with our Coalition Campaigns Lead and Communications Manager. 

The policy lead will have deep knowledge of relevant education policy and practice and will advise and brief other colleagues on policy context. They will strategically convene others; implementing our planned school leaders’ board, working with our Youth Action Group and seeking input from other key sector partners via ongoing relationships and roundtables etc. The policy lead will also seek to amplify the voices of key individuals and groups in the sector, including teachers and youth action campaigners. This person will build on our existing networks, reputation and ability to influence externally, including with think tanks and political and policy stakeholders.

Person Specification

Essential knowledge, experience and skills

• Political acumen and awareness of changing policy and sector developments.
• A clear, concise and adaptable written style - able to summarise complex ideas in compelling prose and to write in a range of styles, from policy papers to blogs, newsletters and social media posts.
• A policy perspective, able to: understand incentives, levers and feasibility within institutions and across the education sector; to synthesise detail and identify significance; to rapidly learn about new topics and develop credible insights.
• Knowledge of England’s school sector including key organisations and individuals who are influential in terms of Ofsted, the Department for Education, sector debates and teacher/school leader opinion.
• A capacity to thrive in fast-paced environments: happy to work on your own initiative, comfortable in creating clarity in ambiguous context, and with great organisational skills to prioritise conflicting priorities and deadlines.
• Strong communication skills - with the ability to work closely with other colleagues, passing work between you; and building relationships with external stakeholders to build trust and persuade.
• A commitment to The Difference’s values and vision.

Desired knowledge, experience and skills

• Insight through work or life into school experiences of over-excluded young people, including young people with experience of the care system, of mental ill health, of special educational needs, of racism 
• Knowledge of exclusions/alternative provision policy.
• Experience of working in/with government in Westminster.
• Experience in social media strategy and execution.
• Experience of designing and delivering influencing activities, including events.
• Demonstrable experience of providing strategic and tactical political advice to senior leadership.

First Six Months - Key Responsibilities 

Policy Writing

• Author a 2023 update of The Difference’s seminal IPPR report, to gain national and sector media coverage, raising a new framing of our problem up the political agenda.
• Research and write a series of policy publications for audiences including: local and national governments, large MATs, the Alternative Provision sector and partner organisations working in and around schools. Topics in the first six months may include: safeguarding accountability, extended schools, internal AP and measuring quality in Alternative Provision schools.
• Grow the audience and quality our fortnightly Four Bullet Friday newsletter summarising the latest research, policy and storytelling about lost learning across exclusion and absence.
• Lead and coordinate responses to consultations and calls for evidence. 

Policy Influencing

• Build The Difference’s first School Leaders board from across The Difference’s partner schools and networks, to feed into our policy design and influencing activities.
• Map opportunities across the sector of key calendar events, data releases and opportunities across the academic year and prioritise the different policy solutions, practice learning and thought pieces for different audiences.  
• Deliver influencing strategy, targeting key audiences including Government (Westminster and Local Authorities), the media, large MATs and other key stakeholders.
• Keep abreast of latest policy change; sharing analysis and recommendations internally.
• Maintain The Difference’s policy and research network, staying aware of latest developments and spotting opportunities for collaboration towards shared objectives.
• Create opportunities to amplify the voices of key individuals and groups in the sector, particularly The Difference’s youth experts and school leaders.