At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead curriculum development and ensure quality education for learners with SEND.
- Company: Petty Pool College, a supportive and inclusive educational environment.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, term-time hours, generous holidays, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team committed to high standards and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives and shape the future of education.
- Qualifications: Qualified teacher status and leadership experience in FE or SEND education.
The predicted salary is between 45011 - 51652 £ per year.
The Assistant Principal for Curriculum is a senior leadership role responsible for driving the quality of education across Petty Pool College and ensuring learners with SEND receive an ambitious, inclusive and impactful curriculum experience.
Role Purpose
The Assistant Principal for Curriculum is a senior leader responsible for driving the quality of education across Petty Pool College and ensuring learners with SEND receive an ambitious, inclusive and impactful curriculum that prepares them for adulthood, independence, employment and meaningful futures. The role provides strategic leadership for curriculum design, teaching, learning, assessment, learner progress, destinations and quality improvement across the college. The Assistant Principal will lead Curriculum Managers and work closely with the Quality & Standards Lead to ensure the college remains inspection ready, evidence-informed and aligned to the expectations of the Ofsted Further Education and Skills Inspection Toolkit. The Assistant Principal will champion a culture of high expectations, accountability, innovation and continuous improvement, ensuring learners make strong progress from their starting points and achieve the very best outcomes possible.
The role focuses on five key areas:
- Strategic Curriculum Leadership
- Quality of Education
- Leadership & Staff Development
- Learner Progress & Outcomes
- Careers, Destinations & Preparation for Adulthood
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Curriculum Leadership
- Provide strategic leadership for the design, implementation and continuous development of an ambitious and progressive curriculum offer for learners with SEND.
- Ensure the curriculum prepares learners effectively for adulthood, independence and employment.
- Reflect learner aspirations, EHCP outcomes and preparation for adulthood priorities.
- Respond to local labour market intelligence, employer needs and Local Skills Improvement Plans (LSIPs).
- Promote meaningful destinations including employment, supported internships, volunteering, independent living and further learning.
- Embed Functional Skills meaningfully across the curriculum.
- Remain innovative, relevant and responsive to emerging national priorities and opportunities.
- Quality of Education & Inspection Readiness
- Lead and quality assure teaching, learning and assessment across the college, ensuring a consistently high-quality learner experience.
- Drive continuous quality improvement.
- Monitor the impact of teaching and learning.
- Analyse learner progress and outcomes.
- Evaluate curriculum effectiveness.
- Prepare for external inspection, audit and awarding body activity.
- Leadership & Staff Development
- Line manage Curriculum Managers and the Careers & Futures Lead, ensuring strong leadership, accountability and support across curriculum and learner progression functions.
- Develop a positive leadership culture where staff feel supported, challenged and valued.
- Support Curriculum Managers to effectively lead teachers and learner mentors.
- Learner Progress, Outcomes & Inclusion
- Lead robust systems for monitoring learner progress, attendance, behaviour, achievement and destinations across the college.
- Ensure learners make strong progress from their starting points.
- Use data intelligently to identify strengths, trends, risks and areas for improvement.
- Careers, Destinations & Employer Engagement
- Provide strategic oversight of careers education, transitions and destination planning through the line management of the Careers & Futures Lead.
- Ensure learners receive high-quality careers education, information, advice and guidance.
Non-Negotiable Expectations
- Be highly visible across the college.
- Know curriculum strengths, risks and priorities in detail.
- Maintain high expectations for quality, professionalism and learner outcomes.
- Ensure robust accountability systems are in place.
- Drive improvement through evidence-informed leadership.
Person Specification
Essential
- Qualified teacher status or recognised teaching qualification.
- Leadership experience within FE, SEND or inclusive education.
- Strong understanding of the SEND Code of Practice and Preparation for Adulthood agenda.
- Experience of leading curriculum quality improvement.
- Strong understanding of teaching, learning and assessment.
Desirable
- Leadership or management qualification.
- Experience of inspection leadership or nominee activity.
- Knowledge of supported internships, careers education and employment pathways.
Safeguarding & Professional Expectations
Petty Pool College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All staff are expected to share this commitment.
Staff Benefits
- Working 41 weeks per year (term time).
- 11 weeks holiday.
- On-site parking.
- Company Sick pay (after passing probationary period).
- Employee Assistant Programme.
- Free meals when commuting by car sharing, walking, or cycling.
- Bike rack.
- Company pension.
- Smart casual dress.
Please submit applications by 9:00am Monday 22 June 2026. Interviews to be held Monday 29 June 2026.
Assistant Principal – Curriculum – Petty Pool College, Cheshire employer: Natspec Association
Petty Pool College is an exceptional employer that prioritises the professional growth and well-being of its staff while fostering a culture of inclusivity and high expectations. Located in the picturesque Cheshire countryside, the college offers a supportive work environment with opportunities for leadership development, innovative curriculum design, and meaningful engagement with learners with SEND. With benefits such as term-time working, generous holiday allowances, and a commitment to employee welfare, Petty Pool College stands out as a rewarding place to build a fulfilling career in education.
