Terms & Conditions: 37 hours, Full time
Department: Childrens and Education
Closing Date: 3rd July 2026
Interviews: TBC
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is seeking an outstanding leader to join our Children’s Services and Education directorate as Schools Admissions, Attendance and Governance Service Manager. This is a strategic management role with responsibility for leading key statutory education functions that make a direct difference to children, young people, families, schools and governors across the borough.
This is a high-profile leadership post spanning school admissions, attendance and education governance. You will provide strategic leadership, operational management and oversight across these areas, ensuring the Council discharges its legal duties lawfully, consistently and transparently, while delivering a responsive, high-quality service to schools, families, elected members and partners. The role includes oversight of coordinated admissions, in-year admissions, appeals, fair access, attendance strategy, support for vulnerable learners and governance services for maintained schools.
Why apply? This is an opportunity to shape and lead a service at the heart of the Council’s statutory responsibilities for school access, inclusion and governance. The role offers broad strategic influence across complex and high-profile service areas, including ensuring fair access to school places, improving attendance outcomes for children and young people, and supporting strong governance in maintained schools. It is an exciting opportunity to provide visible leadership, strengthen service delivery and ensure clear accountability across a wide and important portfolio.
About you
You will be an experienced manager with strong knowledge of education and local authority statutory responsibilities, alongside a proven ability to lead complex services, manage risk and drive improvement. You will be confident in working with senior leaders, headteachers, governors, elected members and partner agencies, and able to provide clear, credible advice in sensitive and high-profile situations.
Post details
Permanent, full time, 37 hours per week, Grade K.
For detailed information on the role, please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification. When completing your application, please demonstrate clearly how you meet the essential criteria, as these will be used to shortlist candidates for interview.
If you are looking for a role where you can provide visible leadership, shape service delivery and ensure strong statutory practice across school admissions, attendance and governance, we would welcome your application.
To find out more about the role, please contact [email protected]
