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Graduate Inclusion Leadership Associate

ELA Central Trust

Salary

£32,000

Contract

Permanent

Start Date

September, 2026

Apply By

June 30, 2026

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Salary

£32,000

Contract

Permanent

Start Date

September, 2026

Apply By

June 30, 2026

Email

We are seeking exceptional recent graduates who are motivated by social impact and interested in public sector leadership in the future.

Locations: Downham and Cambridge

This is a demanding, high‑impact role for individuals who combine intellectual ability with empathy, resilience, and the confidence to work directly with young people facing the greatest barriers to success.

About the role

For the majority of the week, you will work face‑to‑face with students who are hardest to reach – including pupils eligible for Pupil Premium and Free School Meals – focusing on improving both academic outcomes and their broader engagement with school.


You will:

  • Build trusted relationships with students and become a go‑to adult for those at risk of disengagement;
  • Design, deliver and refine initiatives that improve attendance, engagement, confidence and achievement;
  • Work closely with school staff to identify barriers to learning and test practical, evidence‑informed solutions;
  • Use insight from daily frontline work to shape and improve wider inclusion practice.

One day each week, you will step back from frontline delivery to work alongside school and trust leaders, including Heads of School and the Executive Team. During this time, you will:

  • Shadow senior leaders and contribute to strategic discussions;
  • Learn how system‑level decisions are made in a high‑performing multi‑academy trust;
  • Support our trust‑wide inclusion and engagement strategy, focused on improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged young people.

About us

We are a top‑10 multi‑academy trust nationally for student outcomes and are recognised for our sector leadership on inclusion and disadvantage.

We play a leading role in the Department for Education’s RISE programme and are actively shaping national thinking on how to support young people most at risk of disengagement. Our work aligns closely with the challenges set out in the Milburn Report on NEETs, and we are committed to remaining at the forefront of tackling this issue at both school and system level.

This role offers a rare opportunity to contribute directly to that work – bringing insight from the frontline into strategic conversations that influence practice beyond individual schools.


Who we’re looking for

This role is not about a specific degree or background. We are looking for graduates who demonstrate:

  • Strong intellectual capability and the ability to think critically about complex problems;
  • Excellent communication skills and the emotional intelligence to build trust with young people;
  • Resilience, professionalism, and a commitment to high standards;
  • A genuine interest in inequality, education, and future leadership in the public or social sector.

You should expect this role to be challenging, stretching and deeply rewarding. It is particularly well suited to those considering future careers in public service, policy, education, or system leadership.


What you’ll gain

  • Intensive experience working with young people facing the greatest disadvantage
  • First‑hand exposure to senior leadership and strategic decision‑making in a high‑performing trust
  • The opportunity to shape and influence inclusion work at school, trust and system level
  • A strong foundation for future leadership in education or the wider public sector.

What can ELA offer you?

ELA offer a sector leading staff benefits offer alongside bespoke, high quality CPD programmes, cross-trust events, and exceptional opportunities for career development within our innovative family of schools.

  • ELA know that our strength is our people, so we prioritise staff wellbeing, retention and development. Over 95% of ELA staff say they’re proud to work in their school.
  • ELA are firm believers in the power of recognising, celebrating, and rewarding talent: our track record in terms of retention, internal promotion opportunities and wider career development is excellent.
  • ELA staff enjoy a sector leading staff benefits package alongside bespoke, high quality CPD programmes, cross-trust events, and exceptional opportunities for career development within our innovative family of schools.
  • You can find out all about our Trust and staff offer here.

ELA staff benefits include: 

  • Reduced contact time to enable professional development;
  • EAP with access to counselling & physiotherapy; 
  • Health care cash plan; 
  • Paid annual family day; 
  • Extensive discount club access; 
  • Cycle to work & electric car lease schemes; 
  • Enhanced parental leave; 
  • Flexible work practices; 
  • Laptop & mobile phone payment plans; 
  • Ticket ballots for high profile events; 
  • Generous annual leave allowance for support staff; 
  • Discounted gym membership for all staff. 

Our Trust is committed to equal opportunities, to safeguarding and the promotion of the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.  All staff are expected to share this commitment and undergo the appropriate checks.  All positions within the Trust are subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references along with a Certificate of Good Conduct if applicable.  Only applications submitted on using the ELA application form will be accepted.  We do not accept applications by CV.  You can view our safeguarding policy here.


All shortlisted applicants should expect to be called for interview no more than 5 working days after the closing date. If you have not heard from us by then, your application has not been successful. Visits to ELA Central Trust are welcome. 

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