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Head of School (Foundation School Director) - Thames Valley

NHS England

Reading, RG1 7EB Secondment Posted 28 August 2026 Apply by 13 September 2026

Home Office register entry: NHS England, Leeds

Visa sponsorship

This role is listed by an employer that holds a live Home Office sponsor licence on the Skilled Worker route.

NHS roles fall under the Health and Care Worker route. Public reference figures for that route: the general salary minimum is £25,000 a year, and salaries set by national pay scales (NHS bands) at or above the relevant band rate typically meet the occupation's requirement. Individual eligibility depends on personal circumstances. These figures are public reference information, not advice or a verdict on this job.

Role description

Job summary

NHSE is looking to make an interim appointment a Foundation School Director overseeing the Thames Valley Foundation School. The post would be an ideal opportunity for a Foundation Training Programme Director aiming to further develop their educational portfolio.

Please note: The post is offered on a contract for services basis and all candidates are reminded that if they are successful, they are responsible for securing written agreement from their Trust for release from clinical work for the specified number of PAs.

Main duties of the job

The Foundation School Director is professionally and managerially accountable to the Postgraduate Dean. The Foundation School Director will focus upon improvement of learner supervision, assessment and experience, engagement of faculty and ensuring effective educational outcomes, both now and in the future. The role is evolving and will also focus on whole workforce transformation and developing multi-professional links mas well as innovative ways of curriculum delivery and workforce well-being strategies.

The Foundation School Director will be expected to meet the challenges of leading the School and Education Providers to deliver the changing curricular in an evolving service landscape.

To support the Postgraduate Dean, Foundation School Director work across the spectrum of health and where relevant, social care, within the context of a team, so that the provision of education reflects changing service models. This will deliver an integrated workforce comprising individuals from a spectrum of professional and other backgrounds.

About us

NHS England has a wide range of statutory functions, responsibilities and regulatory powers. These are focused on supporting the wider NHS to deliver high quality care, as well as doing those things that are best done once for the whole NHS.

Our staff bring expertise across clinical, operational, commissioning, technology, data science, cyber security, software engineering, education, and commercial specialisms -- enabling us to design and deliver high-quality NHS services.

In March 2025, the Government announced that NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will increasingly merge functions, ultimately leading to NHS England being fully integrated into the department.

If you currently work within the NHS and if successful at interview, we will initiate an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR).This retrieves key data from your current or previous NHS employer to support onboarding, including competency status, Continuous Service Dates (CSD), and annual leave entitlement. You may opt out at any stage of the process.

Colleagues with a contractual office base are expected to spend, on average, at least 40% of their time working in our offices.

We cannot offer visa sponsorship for any vacancies.

Details

Date posted

28 August 2026

Pay scheme

Hospital medical and dental staff

Grade

Consultant

Salary

Depending on experience In line with HoS sessional payments

Contract

Secondment

Duration

3 years

Working pattern

Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

990-SE-EC4719-E

Job locations

Premier House

Caversham Road

Reading

RG1 7EB

United Kingdom


Job description

Job responsibilities

You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Secondments

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Person Specification

Behaviours and Values

Essential

  • Ability to make decisions autonomously when required on difficult issues
  • An academic interest in training and education across primary and secondary care
  • A transformation leadership style

Desirable

  • Perform all duties in a manner that supports and promotes NHSE commitment to equal opportunities
  • Conduct all duties in a manner that safeguards the health and safety of yourself and your colleagues, trainees and staff. Note the special responsibility as a manager for assessing and minimising risks to staff.
  • A continuing quest for personal and professional development

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Demonstrable leadership skills and an ability to influence and motivate others
  • Politically astute with an ability to sensitively manage complexity and uncertainty

Desirable

  • Ability to problem solve and maintain objectivity
  • Committed to own personal development and an ability to support others to develop and progress

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

  • Current clinical commitment in the region
  • Considerable experience of working with learners or doctors in training in an educational context
  • Experience of clinical and educational leadership and innovation, including managing a multi-professional team
  • Demonstrable track record of delivery in service and education
  • Understanding of developments involving the relevant Colleges/Faculties, professional bodies, related NHS organisations and regulatory bodies

Desirable

  • Trained and experienced in recruitment, selection and Equality and Diversity in the last 3 years
  • Active involvement in, and up to date with, appraisal processes
  • Knowledge of the NHS, its structures and processes, including an understanding of healthcare/multi-professional workforce matters

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Considerable and current experience at Consultant level in a relevant speciality
  • Primary clinical healthcare qualification
  • Membership/Fellowship of a College, Faculty, professional association and/or regulatory body

Desirable

  • Attendance at courses aimed to support educational development (example: educator courses, Train the trainer, etc)

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

NHS England

Address

Premier House

Caversham Road

Reading

RG1 7EB

United Kingdom


Employer's website

https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/working-for/

Job description

Job responsibilities

You can find further details about the job, organisational structure, recruitment profile, expected outcomes and benefits information in the attached Job Description and other supporting documents.

Applicants from within the NHS will be offered on a secondment basis only, agreement should be obtained from their employer prior to submitting the application.

Apply now

Last verified against our ingestion on 31 August 2026; sponsor register dataset 2026-08-25.