Lecturer - Orchard Hill College

Orchard Hill College is an Outstanding Specialist College (Ofsted, April 2025) offering life‑changing learning opportunities to young people and adults with a range of special education needs and/or disabilities. We operate vibrant community‑based College Centres across London and Surrey, where committed specialist teams deliver a variety of programmes designed to meet the diverse needs of our students. Students who study with us have a wide range of needs including profound and multiple learning disabilities, communication and behavioural difficulties and specific medical needs. All students are individual, and their learning programme is designed to support and empower them to achieve their aspirations and goals, whilst developing skills to become more independent members of their community.

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and innovative Lecturer to join our dedicated and welcoming team. You will be responsible for managing and directing teaching teams and ensuring effective, learner‑centred learning opportunities to meet the needs of adults with special needs.

• Effective planning of teaching/learning within designated curriculum.
• Ensuring that student learning experiences are organised in a progression which supports the development of the individual.
• Implementing appropriate assessment, objective setting, recording, reporting and evaluation of educational programmes.
• Effective management and supervision of team members, including whenever necessary, volunteers, students and visitors.
• Participation and planning/delivery in appropriate staff development opportunities to up‑date or develop new skills.

Must hold a Certificate of Education (CertEd) on appointment, or an alternative equivalent teaching qualification, or currently be undertaking or willing to undertake the Certificate of Education (CertEd).

Able to implement appropriate assessment, objective setting, recording, reporting and evaluation of educational programme.

Able to communicate effectively with students, carers and professionals.

Able to communicate a commitment to the view that students with special needs can and do achieve.

Able to demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and to promote and comply with the College's Safeguarding, Equality and Diversity and Health and Safety Policies.

A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high‑volume, seasonal and high‑peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non‑disabled people.

• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme – you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Home Electronics Scheme).
• Employee Wellbeing – We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme.
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more).
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).

The College is an Academy sponsor and established Orchard Hill College Academy Trust in 2013 which is home to 13 special schools. Together Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust provide for over 1500 pupils and students with SEN across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our vacancies page.

Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential. As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities. It is an exciting time to be part of OHC and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference.

In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the college directly. Visits to the College in advance of applications are encouraged. Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.