Policy Officer

Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. We inspect and regulate services that care for children and young people, and services providing education and skills for learners of all ages.

Every week, we carry out hundreds of inspections and regulatory visits throughout England and publish the results online. We also report on standards across the country and are accountable directly to Parliament. Ofsted’s inspections are independent and impartial.

The Education Directorate is led by the National Director of Education. It is responsible for policy development in early years, schools, further education and skills, teacher development, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Directorate is responsible for the continuous improvement and development of Ofsted’s education inspection policy and methodology, driving improvement through the education system with a clear focus on pupils.

A significant part of the Directorate’s role includes leading on policy development and associated legislative change, including developing inspection frameworks, instruments and guidance. The Cross Remit Education team (CREd) sits within the Education Directorate. It holds overall responsibility for the continuous improvement of the education inspection framework (EIF) and leads the directorate’s cross-remit inspection work, including in special education needs and disabilities (SEND) and teacher development. We also lead, coordinate and influence cross-cutting work across all education inspection remits to ensure consistency and coherency

The key responsibilities of the role are outlined below. However, this is an overview of the role and is not exhaustive. Ofsted reserves the right to assign other duties appropriate to the B2 APT grade as required.

• To support the timely development, production and dissemination of policies, guidance and frameworks relating to area SEND.
• To lead on particular areas of policy work according to demand.
• To support relationships with a diverse range of external stakeholders.
• To provide prompt and high-quality responses to requests for information, including internal and external queries and briefings to senior managers.
• To support the delivery of advice and recommendations to colleagues on the detail of frameworks and policy to support the development and delivery of Ofsted’s activities.

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Knowledge and experience of developing policies, guidance and frameworks under which an organisation delivers its work.
• Knowledge and experience of managing a programme of work.
• Experience of building positive and effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders and team members.
• Experience of promoting change or influencing the behaviour and actions of others.

Ofsted operates a hybrid working approach, allowing colleagues to benefit from time in the office, with the flexibility also to work from home. Our expectation is that you will spend at least 60% of your time working in your office, or at external meetings or events. The exact balance will depend on the nature of your role and the suitability of your home environment, and will be discussed and agreed with your line manager.

Ofsted is committed to maintaining employee health and wellbeing, whether it is physically, emotionally, financially or socially, and offers a range of benefits to support employees in this. Such benefits include the option to join the Civil Service Pension Scheme, professional and personal development opportunities, 32.5 annual leave days per annum (plus eight days public holiday) and counselling and advisory services for you and your family.

Any move to Ofsted from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility here.

Job contact :

Name :
Ruxandra Rotaru
Email :
Jobs@ofsted.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
Jobs@ofsted.gov.uk