Trust Consultant Leader Opportunities - Two 0.2 FTE Available, Internal Applicants Only
Digital Strategy for Teaching & Learning
Digital technology and artificial intelligence are transforming how young people learn, work and participate in the world. At the GDST, we want to ensure that innovation remains human-centred, evidence-informed, safe and responsive to the specific needs of girls.
We are now inviting applications for two Trust Consultant Leaders to support the development and delivery of the GDST Digital Strategy for Education.
These roles offer exceptional practitioners the opportunity to influence digital teaching and learning beyond their own school, shape cross-Trust strategy and professional learning, and contribute directly to our ambition to help every student learn without limits and go on to lead a life without limits.
Working closely with the Director of Digital Strategy, school leaders and colleagues across Education and ITS, the successful candidates will help schools make purposeful and effective use of digital technology. They will support the development of digital and AI fluency, promote research-engaged practice and identify opportunities to share and scale successful approaches across the Trust.
Trust Consultant Leaders act as far more than convenors. They motivate and influence staff and students across the network to collaborate meaningfully and effectively. Whether through GDST Learn events, cross-phase networks, resource-sharing initiatives, specialist development sessions, student opportunities, or expert consultancy, they help drive a culture of curiosity, innovation, and excellence.
The Trust Consultant roles are also a tangible benefit of being part of the GDST: they offer a clear, attainable pathway for career progression, enabling more colleagues to connect across the network and contribute to our collective success.
The Role
As part of the central Trust Team, Trust Consultants work to:
- Help every school be excellent in its own right
- Help every school optimise the advantages of being part of the GDST network
They do this by providing expert guidance, leading research-engaged practice, delivering staff training, and creating inspiring student events. Each Trust Consultant brings their specialist expertise to shape and lead network activity, support schools, and amplify the very best of GDST practice.
Working closely with the Director of Digital Strategy and colleagues across Education, ITS and our schools, you will:
- Support the development and delivery of the GDST Digital Strategy for Education.
- Help schools embed effective, evidence-informed digital practice within teaching, learning and the curriculum.
- Lead and contribute to professional learning, research and the sharing of successful practice across the Trust.
- Identify emerging developments in educational technology and support schools with digital strategy and implementation.
- Help develop pupils’ digital and AI fluency, ensuring they are equipped for higher education, the workplace and wider society.
About You
You will be a qualified and experienced teacher with:
- Senior leadership experience, or equivalent experience leading the strategic delivery of digital education across a school.
- Proven expertise in integrating digital technology into teaching and learning.
- Experience of at least one of the principal technology ecosystems used across the GDST.
- A strong understanding of evidence-informed practice and an interest in educational research.
- The ability to influence, engage and build effective relationships with colleagues across schools and professional disciplines.
- A commitment to ensuring that digital innovation is purposeful, inclusive, safe and responsive to the needs of girls.
- The confidence to lead professional learning, facilitate networks and communicate complex ideas clearly.
- The curiosity and strategic awareness to identify emerging developments in technology, education and AI.
Training and Development
Trust Consultants are trained in a user-centred, solutions-driven approach inspired by Design Thinking. This human-centred methodology underpins their work and ensures they focus on the “right problems to solve” by remaining closely connected to the needs and experiences of colleagues across the GDST.
Appointment, Duration and Time Allocation
These roles are to run for one year.
Trust Consultants remain based in their school and carry out the equivalent of one day per week of cross-Trust work. The exact time allocation (usually around 10–20% of the working week) will be agreed between the successful candidate, their Head, and Trust, ensuring the role can be delivered effectively with minimal disruption to school commitments.
Trust Consultant contracts are paid separately at the agreed Trust Consultant pro-rata rate and funded by the Education Department. At the end of the tenure, colleagues return fully to their substantive role.
You can view the full job description on MyGDST, just search '"Trust Consultant Teachers"'.
How to Apply
Please submit your application and a brief cover letter. The cover letter should outline how you meet the job description and person specification for the Trust Consultant role(s) you wish to be considered for.
Please note, our academies and fee-paying schools are legally separate employers with different pay frameworks, pension schemes and contractual arrangements. Unfortunately, because of these structural differences, the Trust Consultant model only applies within the fee-paying school employment framework and can’t currently be transferred across to the academies.