At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Braintree Campus and shape the Advanced Technology curriculum for future success.
- Company: Join Colchester Institute, a leading provider of education and training.
- Benefits: Be part of a supportive environment that values inclusion and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on learners and communities while driving educational excellence.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in curriculum leadership and a strong understanding of post-16 education.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth within a dynamic and ambitious senior leadership team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Join Colchester Institute - Where Your Career Makes a Difference. At Colchester Institute, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and communities. As one of the region's leading providers of education and training, we are proud to offer a dynamic, supportive and forward-thinking working environment where staff can thrive and make meaningful change. Our values: Inclusive, Collaborative, Respectful, Ambitious, Honest, and Safe are more than words; they define who we are and guide every decision we make.
This is a pivotal senior leadership role with the opportunity to shape the future of the Braintree Campus and lead the College's Advanced Technology provision. The Assistant Principal will drive high quality, employer responsive education that delivers strong learner outcomes, supports progression, and meets the skills needs of local and regional economies.
As a visible and values-led leader, you will build an ambitious, inclusive campus culture and develop a future-focused technical curriculum aligned to employer demand, apprenticeships and major growth priorities. Working closely with employers, partners and internal teams, you will strengthen industry engagement, grow provision and ensure learners are equipped with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing workforce. This role offers the chance to make a lasting impact on learners, staff and communities, while contributing at a senior level to the strategic direction and success of the College.
About the role: The Assistant Principal will provide senior strategic leadership for the Braintree Campus and for the College's Advanced Technology provision. The role will ensure the delivery of high-quality, employer-responsive education that enables learners to achieve strong outcomes, progress successfully, and contribute to local and regional economic growth. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will champion an ambitious, inclusive and aspirational culture focused on excellence, growth and an outstanding student experience.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Provide strategic leadership for the Braintree Campus, delivering targets for growth, quality, achievement and progression through visible, inclusive and aspirational leadership.
- Ensure the curriculum across all provision types (including 16-19, Adult, Apprenticeships, Bootcamps and Full Cost) is responsive to local skills needs, employer demand and community priorities, underpinned by strong employer and stakeholder partnerships.
- Lead the College's Advanced Technology provision, shaping a future-focused technical curriculum aligned to employer demand, skills priorities and growth infrastructure.
- Work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners to ensure high-quality, sustainable programmes with appropriate specialist resources and industry engagement.
- In conjunction with the Assistant Principal for Adults and Community Projects ensure targets for adult participation, skills development and lifelong learning outcomes are met or exceeded.
- Act as an effective member of the Senior Leadership Team, promoting continuous improvement, inclusion, compliance and strong external representation.
Essential Experience:
- Extensive experience of curriculum leadership in an FE environment, with a strong record of delivering high performance and improvement.
- Proven ability to plan and deliver responsive curricula aligned to learner, employer and stakeholder needs, informed by LMI and performance data.
- Strong understanding of post-16 education, including Study Programmes, apprenticeships, funding and quality requirements, with the ability to lead effective change.
- Experience of line managing and developing teams, including the effective use of HR policies to address performance and conduct.
- Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and partners.
- Clear commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and creating a safe, high quality learning environment.
Colchester Institute is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities employer. All successful applicants will be required to complete an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
Application timeline: All applications must be completed before Sunday 8 February 2026 when the advert closes. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a video screening, with face-to-face interviews scheduled for Monday 23 February and Tuesday 24 February 2026.
Asst Principal Braintree & Advanced Technologies employer: Colchester Institute
Contact Detail:
Colchester Institute Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Asst Principal Braintree & Advanced Technologies
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Colchester Institute on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the college's values and recent initiatives. Show us how your vision aligns with their mission to create an inclusive and ambitious campus culture.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share examples of how you've driven high-quality education and engaged with employers. We want to hear about your impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Asst Principal Braintree & Advanced Technologies
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Education: When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for education shine through! We want to see how you can make a difference in learners' lives and contribute to our inclusive culture.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in curriculum leadership and how it aligns with the role. We love seeing specific examples of how you've driven high performance and improvement in previous positions.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured responses that directly address the key responsibilities and essential experience outlined in the job description.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at Colchester Institute
✨Know Your Curriculum Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the curriculum areas relevant to the role. Understand how they align with local skills needs and employer demands. This will show your commitment to delivering high-quality education and your ability to lead effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare to discuss your leadership approach and how it aligns with the values of Colchester Institute. Be ready to share examples of how you've built inclusive and ambitious cultures in previous roles, as this is key for a senior leadership position.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve successfully collaborated with employers and partners in the past. Be prepared to discuss specific strategies you’ve used to strengthen industry engagement and how you plan to continue doing so in this role.
✨Demonstrate Your Commitment to Inclusion
Colchester Institute values inclusion highly, so be ready to talk about your experiences in creating safe and supportive learning environments. Share concrete examples of how you’ve promoted safeguarding and inclusivity in your previous positions.