Education Advocate – Virtual School

Hackney’s Virtual School has a long history of successfully supporting some of the most vulnerable children in the borough.

We are looking for a high-performing individual who can support Hackney’s Children Looked After  and ensure they get the best educational experience possible.

This role is situated in a highly successful team and you will have experience of supporting young people across a range of different educational providers.

You will be committed to best practice and service delivery, retaining a clear focus upon positive outcomes for children and young adults across the borough and beyond.

You will be advocating for children who are looked after and have an Educational Health Care Plan. You will be working closely with school, specialists and SEND services.  You will have knowledge of SEND and EHC policies and processes.

You will have high aspirations for all our children looked after and you will monitor progress and targets through the statutory Personal Education Planning process. 

Hackney’s Virtual School is renowned for its innovative practice and the successful candidate will be creative, flexible and be able to engage a wide range of stakeholders. You will be adept at building and maintaining relationships across professional networks.

An enhanced DBS check is required.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation. 

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Closing date for applications: 25 May 2026 (22:59)

Interview date: W/c 08 June 2026

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk

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