Virtual School Education Officer


Company:	Darlington Borough Council
Salary:	£30,001 to £40,000 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Darlington, DL1 5QT
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	15 Oct 2026
Closing date:	4 Nov 2026

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Summary

Darlington Virtual School is seeking a passionate and committed Education Officer to join our friendly and highly regarded team, helping to improve educational outcomes for children in care.

Our Virtual School supports over 200 children and young people attending more than 70 education settings, from early years through to post-16. We work collaboratively with schools, carers and professionals to champion education, raise aspirations and ensure children in care receive the support they need to thrive. This is a rewarding opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of some of our most vulnerable learners.

As an Education Officer, you will be a trusted advisor and advocate for children in care, working alongside schools, carers, social workers and partner agencies to remove barriers to learning, promote inclusion and drive educational progress. You will provide advice, support and constructive challenge to professionals, help remove barriers to learning, and promote high aspirations and achievement for every child.

No two days are the same. The role offers a varied workload including attending meetings, analysing educational progress, supporting Personal Education Plans (PEPs), working directly with education settings, and contributing to strategic developments that improve outcomes across the local authority.

In return, you will join a supportive team that is passionate about making a difference and benefit from flexible working arrangements, ongoing professional development opportunities, and the chance to contribute to improving the lives of children and young people across Darlington.

For detailed information about the role, please refer to the Role Profile and Additional Information.

For an informal discussion about the position, please contact Rebecca Wallace, Virtual School Head, on 07392 131635.

The rewards for working at Darlington Borough Council go beyond the salary you will receive; we have numerous additional benefits such as:

32 days Annual Leave, plus Bank Holidays, with option to purchase additional Annual Leave (pro-rata for part-time working)

Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme with option to make Additional Voluntary Contributions

Flexi-time scheme

Flexible working

Generous Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave schemes

Green Car Leasing Scheme

Access to a wide range of training, learning and development opportunities

Physiotherapy service

Confidential counselling service

Great wellbeing offer

Cycle to Work Scheme

Dolphin Centre Fit for Life Discounts

Local and National retailer discounts

Vivup employee benefit app and Lifestyle Savings

Arriva Employee Travel Club

For the full range of benefits we offer, please see our Why Work for Us page: https://www.darlington.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers-1/why-work-for-us/

Find out more about our organisation and what it is like to work for our great team by visiting: https://www.darlington.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/

This post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

General Information for Applicants:

If you have any further questions regarding applying for this role or the questions and required fields within the application form, please contact the HR Support team on 01325 403217 or HR@darlington.gov.uk.

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We are an equal opportunitiesand#39; employer. We welcome applicants from all sections of the community. We aim to interview any applicant who declares a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job.

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