Terms of appointment
You must not have been previously barred from being a proprietor or head teacher of a school under section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008.
We welcome applicants on secondment, for example you may work for your current employer part-time and carry out this role part-time. In your application, please state the time-commitment you are able to offer. The majority of our current advisers work 2 days a week, but this can be flexible.
There are two possible appointment routes:
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Applicants who are currently employed by a school, trust or local authority will be employed via a secondment arrangement. This would be a bespoke agreement between the Department and the applicant's employer. Secondments would normally be agreed for 2 years, but subject to specific negotiation with the individual's current employer.
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Alternatively, for people who are self-employed, or not currently employed, there will be an alternative commercial route. We will share more details on application.
Where applicable, applicants are responsible for obtaining consent from their employer to apply for these roles. Applicants should also check whether their employment contract contains any restrictive covenants that would prevent them from accepting a post if they are successful in securing one. Appointments will be subject to successful Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks and enhanced security checks.
For those seconded into the department, their organisation will receive a day rate of £600.
For those who are appointed via the commercial route, the day rate will be £600 subject to the usual deductions e.g. tax.
Location
This post is available to remote workers and on the following site Sheffield, St Pauls Place.
This post requires frequent travel, often every day. Remote workers are expected to attend in-person meetings on DfE regional sites and at schools, trusts or local authority sites.
We will try to match advisers to LAs, trusts or schools within the region that they are based; however, any travel and accommodation costs incurred as part of delivering support work will be reimbursed by the Department, in line with agreed policies.
How to apply
The closing date for submitting an application is the 12 August 2026.
We cannot accept applications submitted after this closing date/time.
If you would like the opportunity to learn more about the RISE adviser role and working at the DfE we are running a virtual candidate engagement session on Friday 17 July at 10:15-11:00.
Please contact [email protected] and the MS Teams link will be sent to you to join this session.
Application
To apply for this role, you need to complete an online application via the Civil Service Jobs portal. Applications will be accepted until 23:55 on 12 August 2026. We cannot accept applications submitted after this closing date/time.
The application will include:
- A CV (no longer than 4 sides) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years
- A Statement of Suitability (1,000 words) about why you are suitable for this role against the criteria in the person specification. You can choose to outline any further information you believe is relevant or further demonstrates your suitability for the role.
If applicant numbers are significant, preliminary sifting will be done using only the first essential criteria.
For this role we will ask for the details of two references, these may be contacted pre-interview. The department may also take further references from other public bodies (such as Ofsted, Local Authorities etc).
Applicants will be informed if they have been successfully shortlisted for interview through Civil Service Jobs.
Only applications from individuals will be accepted.
Please email [email protected] address if you have any questions or require further information about these roles.
Interview
Applications will be sifted and short-listed candidates will be invited to a formal panel interview which will be scheduled to take place in September.
Interviews will be in person at one of the advertised DfE locations.
Candidates may be asked to prepare a presentation for the interview (further information will be shared with shortlisted candidates) and they will be asked questions to further assess their Experience. Experience will be assessed against the essential criteria.
There will be training provided which will be a requirement for advisers. More details will be available upon appointment.
You will be required to declare all conflicts of interest.
Other Information
Interviews may be via Microsoft teams or face to face; the vacancy manager will confirm prior to the Interview.
In your application, please dont include personal information that identifies you.
This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment .
Please ensure that you remove from your application, all references to your:
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name/title
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educational institutions
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age
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gender
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email address
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postal address
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phone number
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nationality/immigration status
We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.
Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.
The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check maybe carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Department of Education of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Department for Education do not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
Terms and conditions of candidates transferring from ALBs and NDPBs
Bodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.
Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.
Reasonable adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Department of Education via [email protected] soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Please refer to the attached Reasonable Adjustments Guide 05_2025 accessible version at the bottom of the advert, for further information.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
