Specialist Curriculum Lead: Professional Pathways

About The Role

Professional Pathways is Ark’s sector-leading vocational KS5 route. With 1,000 students on the programme from 13 sixth forms, the Specialist Curriculum Lead role is instrumental raising the quality of education and increasing academic achievement in BTECs and AAQs.

The Specialist Curriculum lead will be responsible for working with the Head of Programme to support schools to improve their BTEC and AAQ provision in Applied Science, Business, IT and Sport and Exercise Science. The post holder will need to use a combination of school visits, regular meetings, resources, curriculum support, teacher training and problem solving, underpinned by kindness, ambition and experience, to improve outcomes.

The terms of this role are flexible for the right candidate. We would consider a 0.5FTE part time role supporting either Applied Science/Sport Science or Business/IT. We are able to offer this role on a secondment basis to current Ark staff, provided their Principal agrees. The days/hours allocation can be flexed to fit in with teaching commitments. Please get in touch with the Professional Pathways team to discuss further.

We’re keen to hear from those with experience leading BTEC/AAQ programmes, who are passionate about working as a Network to improve outcomes for students.

The Specialist Curriculum Lead Professional Pathways will report into Head of Professional Pathways. This role is currently operating hybrid working in our West London Office on a fixed term basis working part time and full time.

Interviews will take place in person w/c 10/11/2025

Key Responsibilities

• Support high priority school departments to solve problems and improve student outcomes. This element of the role will involve school visits across London and occasional trips to Birmingham.
• Provide coaching, mentoring and one-to-one support to new teachers or those who are struggling to deliver the course.
• Build capacity and expertise within Ark’s Network of teachers and Heads of Department.
• Secure alignment of departments to the network delivery plans for Extended Diploma BTEC and Extended Certificate AAQ qualifications.
• Use results, progress data and knowledge of Network to identify common challenges and work to mitigate these via training, resources or Network wide solutions.
• Work with the Head of Programme and Subject Network Leads to develop curriculum resources and share good practice to promote outstanding teaching, learning and assessment practices in BTEC classrooms.
• Source new partnerships with employers and universities, based on the needs of the Network.
• Contribute to the work of the wider Sixth Form and Destinations team as required.
• Contribute to network meetings (central team and schools) as required.

Key Requirements

• Educated to degree level
• QTS/PGCE
• Right to work in the UK

Benefits

• Our hybrid working model aims to offer the best of both worlds, striking the right balance between in‑person collaboration and remote working. You will work a minimum of two days per week in our state‑of‑the‑art office in West London allowing you to connect with colleagues, with the flexibility to work remotely, or in the office over the remaining days
• In addition to our current hybrid working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad
• Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 – 16.00, helping you prioritise your work‑life balance and personal commitments
• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3‑years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays
• Full office closure between Christmas and New Year
• As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS/TPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year
• Access to high‑quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face‑to‑face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest‑free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests.

About Us

Ark is an education charity that exists to make sure that all children, regardless of their background, have access to a great education and real choices in life. Our network of 39 schools reaches traditionally underserved communities in Birmingham, Hastings, London and Portsmouth. We educate 30,000 pupils and have nearly 3,000 teaching staff across our network. We also incubate and scale innovative ventures, which we roll out beyond our network of schools for the benefit of teachers, pupils and the education system as a whole. Current Ventures include Ark Curriculum Plus, which equips teachers with the subject expertise needed to ensure students succeed, and Ark Start, a growing chain of nurseries offering affordable, high‑quality early years education.

Recently, Ark moved to new offices at EdCity – a unique not‑for‑profit development in West London, in partnership with Hammersmith & Fulham council. EdCity is designed to bring mission‑aligned organisations together to focus on improving the lives of children, especially through education. It offers leased offices, a range of venues for training and events, and an innovation hub for the education sector to connect, collaborate and learn together.

Diversity and Inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.

Safeguarding Statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non‑disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment – this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an ongoing basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage you to submit your application at your earliest convenience.

For any questions, please contact recruitment@arkonline.org.