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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage educational programmes and build relationships with schools to ensure quality support.
- Company: Join Quest for Learning, a charity dedicated to improving educational outcomes for disadvantaged children.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, uncapped leave, and a supportive team culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while enjoying a strategic role in a growing charity.
- Qualifications: Experience in education or programme management, strong relationship-building skills, and a passion for supporting children.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with regular travel to schools and occasional evening commitments.
The predicted salary is between 25000 - 28000 £ per year.
Remuneration: £30,000 - £32,000 FTE (dependent on experience)
Reports to: Chief Executive
Term of appointment: Permanent
Hours of work: 0.8 FTE (30hrs per week) (flexible for the right candidate)
Holidays: Uncapped annual leave, plus two week-long shutdowns
Main work address: Hybrid - split between Abingdon office (2 days per week minimum) and home working (with regular travel to schools and occasional evening commitments)
About the role
We are looking for a dynamic, relationship-focused, and highly organised individual to oversee our teaching programmes, school partnerships, and tutor network. This role is crucial to ensuring our programmes are high-quality, well-managed, and meeting the needs of schools. You will be the first point of contact for schools, building strong relationships with headteachers and SENCOs, and ensuring that we offer the right support at the right time. You will manage our team of tutors, ensuring they have the resources, training, and support needed to deliver our programmes to the highest standard. You will also oversee safeguarding and the measurement of programme impact, working closely with the fundraiser to ensure we have strong data for funding applications. If you have experience in education, relationship building, programme management, or charity leadership, and you’re passionate about ensuring all children get the support they need, this role is for you.
Key responsibilities
- School relationships and programme development (account management)
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with schools and other stakeholders, ensuring our programmes align with their needs.
- Be proactive in identifying opportunities for growth, understanding school funding challenges, and positioning Quest for Learning as a key partner.
- Stay abreast of educational trends, school funding pressures, and local needs, using this market intelligence to shape programme delivery and ensure our offer remains relevant, impactful, and responsive to the challenges schools and pupils face.
- Support marketing efforts by sharing impact stories, case studies, and insights from schools.
- Support and develop approaches that foster meaningful engagement with parents and carers, helping them to feel confident and involved in their child’s learning journey.
- Maintain a strong understanding of school funding arrangements (e.g. National Funding Formula, Pupil Premium, EHCP funding), using this knowledge to position our programmes effectively and align with school priorities.
- Tutor management and quality assurance
- Manage the tutor team, ensuring high standards of teaching and professionalism.
- Oversee tutor recruitment, training in programmes, and performance management.
- Ensure tutors are properly equipped with resources and training to deliver high-quality sessions and further relationships in schools.
- Provide pedagogical guidance and support to tutors where needed, drawing on strong educational knowledge to help resolve teaching queries or challenges.
- Actively develop the tutor pool, ensuring we have the right expertise and capacity across Oxfordshire.
- Programme coordination and delivery
- Oversee the scheduling and logistics of our tutoring programmes, ensuring smooth delivery and efficient coordination of tutors and bookings.
- Ensure end-of-programme reporting is completed by tutors and shared with schools and other necessary stakeholders.
- Safeguarding (Designated Safeguarding Lead - DSL)
- Act as the DSL for Quest for Learning (once trained) with support from the Chief Executive as Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, ensuring all safeguarding policies and processes are followed.
- Train tutors in best safeguarding practices and ensure incidents are properly reported and recorded.
- Liaise with schools and external agencies where necessary.
- Impact measurement & fundraising support
- Ensure a strong framework of assessment and impact measurement for pupils and our programmes.
- Analyse and collate data on programme effectiveness, reporting to the team.
- Work with the fundraiser to provide teaching-related content for funding bids and reports.
Person specification
Essential:
- Strong experience in account management, partnerships, or relationship management (preferably in education or the charity sector).
- Experience working in education or service delivery (e.g. as a teacher, tutor, or programme manager).
- Strong pedagogical knowledge and the ability to support tutors with teaching-related queries.
- Excellent people skills, able to build relationships with schools, tutors, and funders.
- Highly organised and proactive, with strong project management skills.
- Strong ability to problem-solve, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities.
- Understanding of safeguarding in education (or willingness to train as a DSL).
- Ability to gather and analyse data to measure impact.
Desirable:
- Good understanding of school funding streams and financial pressures in the primary sector, including national funding formulas, pupil premium, and SEND-related funding (e.g. EHCPs).
- Experience managing a team (e.g. teachers, tutors, or volunteers).
- Experience in developing education programmes or training.
- Familiarity with funding applications and impact reporting.
- Knowledge of the Oxfordshire school landscape.
Why join us?
- Make a meaningful difference beyond the classroom. This role is perfect for experienced educators - whether you’re a teacher, SENCO, literacy lead, or school leader - looking to apply your expertise in a more flexible, strategic, and mission-driven setting.
- Stay connected to what matters: improving outcomes for disadvantaged children and supporting high-quality teaching across schools.
- Enjoy a supportive team culture, hybrid working, generous leave, and the opportunity to help shape the future of a growing charity with a strong reputation in Oxfordshire.
- Bring your knowledge, build partnerships, and be part of something that’s both impactful and personally rewarding.
How to apply
To apply, please email recruitment@questforlearning.org.uk for a job pack and application form. For an informal chat about the role, please contact Chris Higgins, Chief Executive at recruitment@questforlearning.org.uk
Closing date: Midday, Monday 7 July
Interviews: Friday 11 July or w/c 14 July
Contact Detail:
Quest for Learning Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Education and Programme Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the current educational trends and funding challenges that schools face. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your proactive approach to understanding the needs of potential partners.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the education sector, especially those involved in programme management or school partnerships. Attend relevant events or webinars to build connections that could provide insights or even referrals for the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully built relationships in previous roles. Highlight your experience in managing teams and delivering educational programmes, as these are key aspects of the job.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Quest for Learning thoroughly, including their mission and impact stories. Being able to articulate why you want to work with us and how you can contribute to our goals will set you apart from other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Education and Programme Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in education, programme management, and relationship building. Use specific examples that demonstrate your skills and achievements related to the role of Education and Programme Manager.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that clearly outlines your passion for education and your understanding of the challenges schools face. Mention how your background aligns with the key responsibilities of the role and express your enthusiasm for making a difference.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasise your organisational skills, project management experience, and ability to build relationships. Provide concrete examples of how you've successfully managed teams or programmes in the past, particularly in educational settings.
Showcase Your Understanding of Safeguarding: If you have experience with safeguarding policies, mention it explicitly. If not, express your willingness to train as a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and your commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of children in educational environments.
How to prepare for a job interview at Quest for Learning
✨Research the Organisation
Before your interview, take some time to research the organisation thoroughly. Understand their mission, values, and the specific programmes they offer. This will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Prepare for Relationship Management Questions
Given the emphasis on building relationships with schools and stakeholders, be ready to discuss your past experiences in relationship management. Prepare examples that showcase your ability to foster partnerships and navigate challenges in educational settings.
✨Showcase Your Educational Knowledge
As the role requires strong pedagogical knowledge, be prepared to discuss educational trends, funding challenges, and how they impact programme delivery. Highlight any relevant experience you have in education or programme management to reinforce your suitability.
✨Demonstrate Organisational Skills
The position requires excellent organisational and project management skills. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully managed multiple priorities or projects in the past, ensuring you highlight your proactive approach and problem-solving abilities.
