Issue details

Priority 6 of the GM Serious Violence Action Plan includes a commitment to; work with education settings (including primary, secondary, alternative provision, further education and pupil referral units) to keep pupils safe and reduce the likelihood of fixed term and permanent exclusions.

In order to progress this work, the VRU has identified the need to appoint an individual who can function at a senior level and invoke the necessary changes across the education system. This individual would be operating in a complex partnership environment, working with multiple stakeholders to identify best practice, implement strategy and effective intervention measures.

Building resilience within the school community and general education setting is vital in order to reduce the risk of young people becoming involved in violence, but also addressing the outcomes and factors when violence does occur. This work covers all elements of primary and secondary and further education as well as other specialist education provision.

It is proposed that the consultant would report directly to the Head of the Violence Reduction Unit and work closely with internal and external stakeholders, briefing senior colleagues and politicians such as the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and other leaders and Elected Officials.

In order to succeed in this work, it is necessary that the individual would need to have had extensive experience as a headteacher, someone who is both competent and fully conversant with the business landscape of education, including matters pertaining to national and local policy, through to direct operational delivery.

The seniority and experience of a retired Headteacher will not only offer the VRU and Police, Fire and Crime team benefits of being able to influence and negotiate with education leads across GM but will also offer significant benefits to wider GMCA work streams and priorities.