Deputy Head of School - Workforce Development

South Thames College are seeking a Deputy Head of School to be responsible for the effective management of the suite of courses delivered through the ‘Business Centre’ at our Tooting campus. The workforce development courses are designed to help adults upskill or retrain and include areas such as Door Supervision, CCTV Operatives, Spectator Safety, Childcare and Adult Care, along with courses to support digital skills development.

The Deputy Head of School will combine leadership and management of their curriculum with being a member of the College Management Group (CMT) and a wider operational role for the College. You will have oversight of recruitment, enrolment, retention, achievement and success at all related delivery sites and liaise with the Head of School in regard to budgeting, performance and partnership management. You will be responsible for courses across a wide spectrum of employability and employer facing provision.

The focus is on ensuring that current and future students receive a first-class experience that enables them to progress and attain their qualifications and to develop long-lasting learning and employability skills. We are looking for someone who holds relevant professional qualifications, has an up-to-date record of professional development relevant to the needs of this post and has excellent teaching and/or pastoral skills with a history of good student outcomes, or better.

With excellent understanding of the work of Ofsted and other similar regulators including awarding bodies, you will have excellent knowledge of the Government policy context for the curriculum with a strong awareness of future developments that influence this, in particular the needs of the local and regional economy. You will have a thorough understanding of what makes for excellent evidence-based teaching, learning and assessment and how to monitor it effectively with comprehensive knowledge and understanding of national standards and what excellent curriculum provision and outcomes looks like.

With understanding and experience of managing students who are under-achieving and/or showing high risk behaviours and conduct, you will have a track record of leading and managing change and have highly developed information management skills and the proven ability to use standard College systems.

The successful candidate will be eligible for any increase in salary as a consequence of the annual cost of living review that will be implemented in the new academic year. Closing date for the return of completed applications is 27th April 2025.

The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 37 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year as well as an additional 5 days Wellbeing leave to enhance employees’ physical and mental health. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

The South Thames Colleges Group is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London’s largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students’ success at the heart of everything we do. We are looking for hard-working and collaborative people who can join our team and help challenge our students to achieve and progress.