At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a team in Animal Care and Plant Sciences while delivering high-quality teaching.
- Company: Join RNN Group, a forward-thinking college committed to academic excellence and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, health benefits, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Flexible working hours and a supportive environment focused on diversity and well-being.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on students' lives and shape the future of education.
- Qualifications: Experience in teaching or course leadership with a passion for curriculum development.
The predicted salary is between 43672 - 43672 £ per year.
Hours: Full time (37 hours each week, all year-round)
Duration: Permanent
Salary: £43,672 a year + benefits
Location: Dearne Valley College, Rotherham
About The Role
Are you an experienced, high-performing lecturer or course leader ready to take your first step into operational leadership? Do you have a passion for driving academic excellence and inspiring both staff and students to reach their full potential? RNN Group is seeking a dynamic, passionate, and proactive Curriculum Performance Lead (CPL) to join our team. As a first-line leader, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our inclusive curriculum, ensuring our provision aligns with local, regional, and national skills needs for a sustainable future.
The Curriculum Performance Lead is a dual-element role combining operational leadership with a small teaching commitment (approximately 12 hours per week). You will lead a dedicated team of lecturers, assessors, and technicians across a variety of provisions—including Study Programmes (EPYP), Adult Learners, Higher Level Skills, Commercial, and Apprenticeships. This position is ideal for someone with a robust understanding of quality assurance and curriculum planning who is eager to improve performance through coaching, clear accountability, and collaborative practice.
Operational & Team Leadership
- Line Management: Provide clear direction, support, and professional challenge to lecturers, assessors, and technicians to drive high standards of performance and conduct.
- Performance & Development: Lead the Performance Development Review (PDR) process for your team, setting clear targets and identifying continuing professional development (CPD) needs.
- Staff Induction & Support: Provide personalised, structured induction and mentoring for new and developing staff to build team capability and confidence.
- Resource Planning: Efficiently manage staffing allocation, contribute to timetable development, and oversee delegated physical resources and budgets.
Quality Assurance & Curriculum Excellence
- Academic Rigour: Lead the local self-assessment process (SAR), manage Internal Quality Assessment/Moderation (IQA/EQA), and ensure absolute compliance with external awarding bodies.
- Quality Improvement: Conduct learning walks in collaboration with the Quality Team to continuously improve the classroom and training experience.
- Data Integrity: Manage student data tightly—ensuring highly accurate and timely registers, tracking enrolment, and monitoring exam claims alongside the MIS team.
Student Success & Inclusive Practice
- Teaching & Tutoring: Deliver high-quality teaching, planning, and assessment across a range of programmes tailored to your qualifications, while acting as a group tutor.
- Early Intervention: Constantly track student attendance, punctuality, and progress, implementing early intervention strategies to tackle underperformance.
- Inclusive Curriculum: Work collaboratively to eliminate barriers to education, ensuring students with Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCP) or those facing social exclusion receive preventative, tailored support.
- Employability & Recruitment: Engage with employers, schools, and parents to secure real-world projects, placements and guest speakers, while recruiting the "Right Students to the Right Course."
Key Role Objectives
- Foster a department-wide culture of high expectations, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Use empowering coaching techniques to support the mental health, well-being, life skills, and self-reliance of both staff and students.
- Ensure full institutional compliance with regulatory bodies, with a strong focus on Keeping Children Safe in Education and the Prevent Duty.
- Meet or exceed departmental KPIs, regularly reporting progress to the Curriculum Manager regarding student recruitment, retention, and achievement.
The Challenges You’ll Thrive On
- Being a Role Model: Remaining positive and solution-focused at all times, helping teaching and support staff overcome daily obstacles.
- Supporting Every Learner: Helping students achieve their absolute best, regardless of the personal or educational challenges they face.
- Navigating Change: Embracing and adapting to changing awarding body specifications and curriculum shifts with agility and support from your Curriculum Manager.
You Will…
- Be an experienced lecturer, or course leader within the area of Animal Care and Land Based provision, with a proven track record of excellent educational outcomes and strong knowledge of curriculum intent, quality assurance processes, and data tracking within Further Education, Adult and Apprentices.
- Be an empathetic, coaching-focused leader capable of motivating staff and building confident, independent learners.
- Be a collaborative professional ready to work cross-campus and participate in cross-college project working groups.
- Hold a Level 2 (or equivalent) qualification in English and Maths (or be willing to undertake), hold a recognised teaching qualification at Level 5 or higher, and a professionally relevant qualification within animal care, veterinary sciences or animal welfare or plant sciences. An assessor’s award (A1/CAVA) will be advantageous.
Department Info
Reporting to the Curriculum Manager, you will work alongside colleagues within the curriculum area and wider college departments. You will provide supervisory/first line management for lecturers, assessors and teaching assistants as directed by the Curriculum Manager.
Our Excellent Benefits And Rewards Package
- Access to teachers pension scheme (with employer contributions to 23.68%)
- Up to 50 days annual leave per year including closure during Christmas period
- Access to our gyms, restaurants and salons
- Staff health & wellbeing and benefits schemes including in-house Occupational Health service
- Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
- Full, part time and flexible working hours available in many roles
- Free Parking available at all of our sites
- Fantastic career development opportunities including funding for teacher training, apprenticeships and various other industry recognised qualifications
- New FE teachers can also apply for grants of up to £6,000 in STEM subjects (conditions apply) through the teacher retention initiative
- Recruitment Referral Scheme for all employees, worth £200 per referral made
Our Commitment to Diversity and Equality
We celebrate diversity and are proud to be recognised as Investors in Diversity for our commitment to the FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) model, fostering a supportive environment for all. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of background, proudly participating in the Disability Confident Scheme, and provide reasonable adjustments. All new employees will be required to undertake a DBS check and other associated checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education Guidance. All candidates must have the legal right to work in the UK.
Closing date: Monday 15 June 2026 – if you are shortlisted for this post, you will be contacted within a week of the closing date.
Curriculum Performance Lead – Animal Care and Plant Sciences/Horticulture in Rotherham employer: onlyFE
RNN Group is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant Dearne Valley College, Rotherham, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional development. With access to extensive benefits such as generous annual leave, a comprehensive pension scheme, and opportunities for career advancement, we empower our staff to inspire students and drive academic excellence in a collaborative environment. Join us to make a meaningful impact in education while enjoying a fulfilling work-life balance.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Curriculum Performance Lead – Animal Care and Plant Sciences/Horticulture in Rotherham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector, especially those who work at RNN Group or similar institutions. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info on the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the latest trends in curriculum development and quality assurance. Show us that you're not just passionate but also knowledgeable about the field!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Think of examples where you've inspired others or improved performance. We want to hear how you’ve made a difference in your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at RNN Group.
We think you need these skills to ace Curriculum Performance Lead – Animal Care and Plant Sciences/Horticulture in Rotherham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for animal care and plant sciences shine through. We want to see how your passion aligns with our mission to inspire students and staff alike!
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in curriculum planning and quality assurance. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate a strong understanding of these areas, so be specific about your achievements!
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, so avoid jargon and make it easy for us to see why you’re the perfect fit for the Curriculum Performance Lead role.
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 ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at onlyFE
✨Know Your Curriculum Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the curriculum specifics for Animal Care and Plant Sciences. Familiarise yourself with current trends, quality assurance processes, and how they align with local and national skills needs. This will show your passion and readiness to lead.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your coaching techniques and how you've motivated staff and students alike. This is your chance to demonstrate that you can foster a culture of high expectations and collaboration.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about handling challenges in the classroom or during team management. Think of specific situations where you implemented early intervention strategies or improved performance through clear accountability. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Engage with Their Vision
Research RNN Group's values and commitment to diversity and inclusion. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to their goals, especially in fostering an inclusive curriculum and supporting every learner. Showing alignment with their mission will set you apart.
