Endorsement

All applications must be endorsed by your Head Teacher or Quality Improvement Officer, as appropriate. They must be in agreement to your release to be involved in this work. This information is included in the ESA application form.

Engagement days

The maximum number of days per year will be 15.

It is important to stress that this is a notional figure. Any engagement is agreed on a case by case basis with the relevant local authority. This could vary depending on the experience of the individual.

Engagement may be over 2 to 3 weeks or spread over the year depending on the nature of the work.

Associate Inspectors

This is a different role from the established Associate Inspector role which plays a vital part in Education Scotland’s Inspection Programme. No individual could be an Associate Inspector and an ESA at the same time.

Reimbursement

A reimbursement of £196 per day will be made to the local authority once a project has been completed or the maximum number of days has been reached.

Who can apply

During this round of recruitment, we are seeking applications from curriculum area, subject and sector specialists who are currently employed as:

• teachers with a minimum of 5 years experience (primary and secondary)
• principal teachers (primary and secondary)
• faculty heads/leads (primary and secondary)
• headteachers or depute heads (ELC)

Professional qualifications and experience

Qualifications and experience should include:

Relevant academic and professional qualifications including an appropriate professional qualification in education.

Significant and current experience of working in a learning and teaching environment.

A passion for making a difference for children and a proven positive impact on improving outcomes for learners.

Confidence in dealing with a range of contacts and an ability to build and maintain effective working relationships.

Excellent skills in analysis, evaluation, and communication. 

Effective oral and written communication skills and an ability to write and present succinct, evaluative text.

Strong understanding of emerging developments and changes in education and inspection and the ability to keep up to date across all aspects of Scottish education.

Personal Characteristics

ESAs have:

• excellent inter-personal skills
• sound judgment based on evidence
• an ability to work independently and to clear deadlines
• good organisational and planning skills
• strong IT skills and confidence in using software to produce text
• experience of building and maintaining productive and high quality relationships with stakeholders and influencing strategic developments

Disclosure Scotland

You will also be subject to relevant checks by Disclosure Scotland.

The main responsibility of an Education Scotland Associate is to support improvement of national priorities.

ESA work alongside Education Scotland staff to enhance specialist capacity and support improvement and policy at national and local level. You may be asked to support curriculum development, professional learning or early work related to the CIC. This could be at national level, in an individual establishment or in a local authority.

As part of this work ESA:

• engage in professional discussions with practitioners, stakeholders, and senior managers
• Identify and promote highly effective practice
• gather and analyse information, including statistical data, from a wide range of sources
• maintain a high level of awareness of current and developing policy and practice in specific aspects of education provision
• engage in appropriate professional learning and development to build and maintain professional knowledge and expertise
• take account of equality and diversity in all aspects of work
• model good practice, challenge discrimination and promote equality to encourage positive outcomes across all education aspects and services

This is an opportunity to strengthen relationships and collaborate with local government colleagues. You will provide support where it is most needed.

Thank you for your interest in becoming an Education Scotland Associate at this pivotal time in Scottish education.

Working with stakeholders, you will play a vital role in supporting improvement in Scottish education for the benefit of learners.

Scottish Government's ambition is to be a world leading, diverse employer where people can be themselves at work.

We want to help you demonstrate your full potential whatever type of assessment is used. If you require any adjustments to our recruitment process, please let us know. 

To contact us about adjustments or for further information regarding this post please email the Education Scotland Associates Mailbox.

As part of any recruitment process, Scottish Government and associated public bodies collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants and applicants for public appointments.

Personal information you provide in the recruitment process will be made available to Scottish Government and our additional data processors.