Location
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, serving two London boroughs

Hours
Hybrid role with a combination of frontline and remote working

Salary
£60,843 per annum

About the Role
Ensure vulnerable children receive the education they deserve by leading vital statutory services with real purpose. As an Access to Education Manager, you will provide operational leadership and management for the Access to Education Service across two London boroughs. Your responsibilities include overseeing In-Year Admissions, Elective Home Education (EHE), and Children Missing Education (CME). You will line-manage a team of five officers, fostering a collaborative and positive culture focused on professional development, high performance, and supportive teamwork within complex casework.

A key part of your role is building strong working relationships across agencies and leading critical responses. You will manage Home Office emergency requests for refugee and asylum-seeker arrivals, oversee allocated government funding, and represent the service in high-level multi-agency settings. You will also represent community schools at independent admission appeal hearings, draft formal statements, and coordinate Fair Access processes to secure suitable places for hard-to-place young people.

When parents or carers prevent a child from receiving a suitable education, you will intervene with legal backing by drafting Council witness statements and representing the authority during School Attendance Order court proceedings. Alongside frontline leadership, you will analyse operational data to identify emerging trends, complete statutory Department for Education returns, and drive continuous digital process improvements across both authorities.

This role offers a rare opportunity to lead statutory educational services across two boroughs, providing significant exposure, influence, and variety. You will join a highly collaborative and supportive Bi-Borough team that values collective input, fresh ideas, and professional growth. The Council offers ongoing professional development, leadership training, competitive benefits, and a workplace culture that supports wellbeing while enabling you to lead high-profile service improvements.

Experience
Substantial senior-level experience in school admissions, access to education, inclusion, or related Children’s Services. Proven experience managing budgets and writing clear, formal reports. Comprehensive knowledge of relevant legislation and statutory guidance, including the Education Act 1996 and the School Admissions Code.

About you
An analytical thinker with sound judgement and practical resilience, comfortable making complex case decisions in formal, high-pressure settings under tight statutory deadlines. Outstanding interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills, enabling you to build trust and work collaboratively with headteachers, elected members, partner agencies, and families. You balance genuine empathy with professional composure to uphold statutory duties and demonstrate a deep commitment to equal opportunities, inclusion, and Council values.

Qualifications
A high standard of education is required. Standard DBS clearance is required for this role.