Department for Education
Service Improvement Support (Improvement Technician (Level 3) Apprenticeship)
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Darlington (DL1 5QE), Manchester (M1 2WD), Sheffield (S1 2FJ)
Job Summary
IMPORTANT - This vacancy is using the Civil Service Numerical and Verbal tests. The deadline for completing the tests is the same as the vacancy closing date. Please ensure you complete the tests with sufficient time to complete the written application.
This role sits inside the Improvement and Insights division, which is involved in cross-departmental projects and improvement programmes. The division has a wide range of skills from project management, change and engagement and software development.
The Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (FBIT), which is a gov.uk service currently in public beta provides benchmarking services to schools, local authorities and trusts across England. The tool is under continued development in line with user feedback and the successful candidate would work alongside an internal team as well as a team from a third-party supplier.
This role is expected to provide support to other projects across the division in line with need.
Job Description
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Front line response for queries on FBIT from the sector, securing prompt answers from team members and ensuring the customer is kept up to date and receives a prompt response.
- Arranging and ensuring webinars with the sector are advertised and run smoothly.
- Support the testing of FBIT before releases are made to the school sector.
- Ensuring any bugs in FBIT are raised promptly with the third-party supplier and monitoring the resolution of those bugs.
- Ensuring the communication plan is delivered on time and with the appropriate approvals.
- Monitor all guidance related to FBIT on gov.uk website and ensure that it is kept up to date.
- Liaise with commercial colleagues and other areas of the Department to ensure that FBIT points to the latest advice, guidance and commercial frameworks that the Department produces.
- Support the FBIT team through project support functions, ensuring the effective running of the service in conjunction with the third-party provider.
- Support Project Managers across the wider division in delivery of their projects. This may include stakeholder engagement, data collection and analysis, writing and reviewing guidance, ensuring risk and benefits are captured and recorded.
Working Pattern
We welcome applications from candidates seeking part time or compressed working pattern. However, due to the nature of the work and the shift coverage required, the minimum number of contracted hours for this role is 30 hours per week over a 4 day period.
This role includes completion of the Improvement Technician Apprenticeship (Level 3). Please check the eligibility requirements below using the apprenticeship standard: (Improvement Technician / Skills England). This apprenticeship will take fourteen to eighteen months to complete (pro rata for part time) and will equip you with the opportunity to develop and make the most of your skills. You will be expected to maintain the commitment required to complete your training.
You must have lived in the UK for 3 years prior to apprenticeship start date and not be undertaking another apprenticeship at the same time.
You must not already have a substantial amount of the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard.
You must not have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard.
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Please Do Not Apply If:
- You already have all the skills and knowledge that is covered in the contents of the apprenticeship standard.
- You have already worked in a similar role, or your previous learning, and/or work experience covers the contents (Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours) of the apprenticeship standard.
- You have a degree (or equivalent) as an Improvement Technician
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Ability to build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, manage enquiries and provide clear, timely communications.
- Ability to plan, prioritise and manage multiple tasks while supporting project delivery and ensuring deadlines are met.
- Ability to identify issues, take ownership and drive them through to resolution.
- Ability to gather, analyse and interpret information, producing accurate outputs and recommendations.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to produce accurate, clear and professional communications.
Alongside your salary of £32,581, Department for Education contributes £9,438 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.
You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
Most DfE employees will be working a hybrid pattern, spending at least 60% of their time in an office or work setting. Changes to these working arrangements are available in exceptional circumstances but must be agreed with the line manager and in line with the requirements of the role.
Travel to your primary office location will not be paid for by DfE, but travel to an office which is not your main location will be covered.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
To apply for this role, please select 'Apply Now' at the top or bottom of this advert. CV details need to be included in the template within the application form; attached or emailed CVs will not be considered.
Stage 1: Civil Service Numerical Test (CSNT)
When you have completed your personal information, you will be asked to complete the CSNT. You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.
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Stage 2: Civil Service Verbal Test (CSVT)
When you have completed the CSNT, you will be asked to complete the CSVT. You must achieve the minimum pass mark to progress to the next stage.
It is important you allow enough time to complete the test online (within 24-48 hours is recommended), and obtain the results before you can complete your full application online prior to the test closing date and time.
Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours.
While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.
It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.
If you are unsuccessful in passing the online tests you will be unable to continue any further in the application process. If you successfully pass the tests, you will then progress to stage 3 of completing the full application.
Stage 3: Application
At sift stage, you will be assessed on your Experience in line with the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job advert.
To Apply For This Role, Please Provide:
- A Short CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role.
- Your Statement of Suitability – In no more than 1000 words, provide examples of how your personal skills, qualities and experience meet the essential criteria. This is not intended to be a cover letter, instead work through each essential criteria in turn. You may wish to follow the STAR technique to help focus your examples. The key things we are looking for are what you did, how you did it and what the outcome was.
To confirm, the maximum word count for the statement of suitability is 1000 words. Please adhere to this limit as anything over 1000 words will not be taken into account.
The CV and Statement of Suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria detailed in the advert.
Should there be a high volume of applicants, sifting will be restricted to just assessing the statement of suitability.
We reserve the right to increase the minimum pass mark for the CSNT and CSVT where there is a high volume of applications or a particularly strong field of candidates. Where this occurs, candidates who do not meet the revised pass mark will not progress further, and their written application will not be assessed.
Once you have submitted your application it cannot be amended; only submit your application when you have completely finished, answered all the relevant questions and reviewed the information entered
Please note, CV details must be contained within the template on the application form. Any CV or Statement of Suitability that has been emailed to our team will not be considered.
Application sifting will take place w/c 07 September 2026 onwards. Please note these dates are subject to change.
If you are successful at application sift stage, your application will be progressed onto Stage 4 part of the Selection
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