Progressive jobs in London

1Up Education Lead (Essex)

Salary

From £60,000 per annum, or Deputy / headteacher's salary scale (commensurate with experience)

Location

Southend (current site) and Basildon Town Centre (opening Summer 2026)

Contract

Full-time

Background on 1Up

1Up Collective is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company that supports young people to identify and reach their potential through education & social inclusion. Beginning in East London in 2015, 1Up has grown rapidly in Essex and is now delivering a range of work areas including youth violence and youth crime prevention, education of young people who have been excluded from or refuse school including those with SEMH and SEND.

The activities 1Up will provide from September 2026 include:

• A formal post-16 education offer that includes functional skills, vocational courses, personal development and therapy for students with SEMH, SEND and EHCPs in South Essex and London Borough of Havering
• Alternative education provision for both mainstream schools and Pupil Referral Units
• Mentoring and sports activities for young people known to the Youth Offending Service and Social Care
• An evening youth, sport and music provision in Basildon that focuses on reducing anti-social behaviour, youth crime and violence

Role Purpose

The 1Up Education Lead (Essex) will lead on all operational education delivery across 1Up Collective. This is the senior education role in the organisation— and the successful candidate will be the key education adviser to the Directors, shaping provision, developing the team, driving outcomes, and building the infrastructure needed for sustainable growth of a leading education provision.

This is not a role for someone who leads from behind a desk. You will work on the ground alongside staff, model excellent practice, lead by doing and be visible and active across both sites. You will combine the accountability of a headteacher with the adaptability and energy of someone who is genuinely building something.

Key Responsibilities

Educational Leadership and Outcomes

• Take overall responsibility for the quality of education delivered across both sites, including curriculum design, assessment, and progression pathways for post-16 EHCP students
• Drive excellent outcomes for young people — you will be held accountable for student progress, attainment, and destinations
• Work directly with staff to develop, innovate, and continuously improve the quality of provision
• Champion a bespoke, individual-centred approach to education that reflects 1Up's values and responds to the complex needs of the young people we work with
• Oversee functional skills delivery and any accredited or non-accredited programmes within the provision

Staff Development and Team Leadership

• Lead, support, and challenge the education team to achieve high standards and continual growth
• Work within 1Up's self-managing team model — supporting staff to take ownership of their work, develop their strengths, and contribute to collective decision-making
• Carry out supervision, appraisal, and professional development planning for education staff
• Work closely and collaboratively across the multidisciplinary team, including youth engagement specialists, tutors and support staff
• Contribute to recruitment and induction of education staff as the organisation scales

Compliance, Safeguarding and Statutory Responsibilities

• Hold the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) responsibility for the education provision, working within 1Up's safeguarding framework and multi-agency protocols
• Line manage the SENCO, providing strategic oversight and support for SEND provision, EHCP processes, and statutory compliance across the education function
• Ensure all provision meets relevant legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements, including GDPR, attendance monitoring, and MiE (Missing in Education) protocols
• Lead Ofsted readiness across the education function, including self-evaluation, quality assurance, and preparation for independent registration
• Maintain accurate and evidential records using 1Up's systems (including CPOMS and SafePoint)
• Ensure robust policies and procedures are in place and understood across the education team

Strategic Development

• Work with the Directors & Senior Staff to shape future direction of the organisation and advise on all matters relating to education provision, quality, and development
• Contribute to the annual education prospectus, timetabling, and planning for each academic year
• Support the organisation's ambition to expand, diversify, and register independently as a provider
• Contribute to commissioning relationships, partnerships, and the development of new provision models
• Lead on the development of 1Up's educational identity, ethos, and approach — helping to articulate what makes us different and why it matters

The 1Up Difference — What This Role Is Really Like

This is not a traditional Deputy / Headteacher role. We implement a model underpinned by self-management, diverse talent and genuine collaboration - inspired by organisations like Buurtzorg and the growing members of progressive organisations that put people at the centre.

That means less top-down management and more coaching, trust, and shared accountability. It means your job isn't to control the team — it's to help them be excellent. We see a bit of tension as something healthy and strive to build a work environment where everyone feels free to give their point of view.

Joining 1Up means being part of an organisation that is still growing, still building, and still figuring things out. You will be joining at a pivotal moment. We are opening a new site in Basildon Town Centre in Summer 2026, refreshing our education offer for 2026–27, and preparing to move toward independent registration. There is a lot to do, and it is genuinely exciting — but it requires resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering belief that things can be done differently.

The people who thrive here are those who are energised by innovation, unafraid of ambiguity, and fundamentally committed to getting good outcomes for young people who have often been failed by traditional systems. If that is you, we very much want to hear from you.

Please apply through Indeed or send your CV and covering letter to admin@1upcollective.com. For an informal discussion about the role please contact us at the same email address.

Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

Pay: From £60,000.00 per month

Benefits:

• On-site gym

Work Location: In person