Job Title: Assistant Head of Department (English, Maths & Inclusion)
Reporting To: Head of Department
Department: Construction
Location: Cambridge
Salary: £46,407 per annum
Type: Permanent - Full-time
Hours: 37 hours per week
Mode: On-site
Please note: This role is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check with a Barred List check.
Job Purpose
- To support the Head of Department in leading and managing the English, Maths and Inclusion provision across the college campuses.
- The role focuses on delivering high-quality learning support, promoting inclusive teaching practices and ensuring that students, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and High Needs, receive personalized learning and support to achieve their full potential.
- The post holder will coordinate staffing, resources and learning support activities, monitor student progress and achievement, and work collaboratively with teaching staff, support teams, parents, local authorities and other external stakeholders to maintain high standards of teaching, learning and assessment.
Key Responsibilities
1. Leadership and Team Management
- Support the Head of Department in managing and developing the curriculum, staffing and resources across the department.
- Allocate staff to support students with High Needs and coordinate learning support timetables effectively.
- Manage Learning Support Mentors and English and Maths staff, conducting regular one-to-one meetings, appraisals, probationary reviews and performance management activities.
- Develop and maintain staff cover rotas to ensure continuity of learning support.
- Deputize for the Head of Department at meetings with senior colleagues, parents, external stakeholders and local authorities when required.
- Monitor staff performance, identify development needs and provide appropriate guidance and support.
2. Inclusive Teaching, Learning and Assessment
- Promote inclusive teaching practices and ensure students with SEND and High Needs have access to appropriate learning opportunities.
- Support the development and delivery of personalised study programmes with ambitious and achievable outcomes.
- Lead the planning, preparation and adaptation of learning resources to meet the diverse needs of students.
- Support colleagues in making reasonable adjustments to teaching, learning and assessment activities.
- Develop inclusive schemes of work, lesson plans and assessment plans in collaboration with the Head of Department.
- Integrate English, Maths, Functional Skills, safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion into the curriculum.
- Deliver teaching and assessment, including cover teaching when required, to maintain high-quality curriculum delivery.
- Maintain up-to-date learning materials on college platforms and ensure teaching and assessment meet relevant college and awarding body requirements.
3. Student Progress and Learning Support
- Monitor student progress, achievement and attainment in vocational learning, English and Maths.
- Coordinate reviews for students with High Needs and ensure accurate progress information is maintained.
- Monitor Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) outcomes and ensure relevant assessments, targets and progress updates are recorded on the college's student management systems.
- Ensure appropriate learning support interventions are implemented, reviewed and evaluated.
- Share relevant student information and recommended adjustments with teaching and support staff to ensure consistent support.
- Work with internal and external professionals to develop effective strategies for students with different learning needs.
- Ensure learning support interventions are evidence-based, impartial and focused on improving student outcomes.
- Provide feedback and progress reports to students, parents or guardians, employers, external agencies and the Head of Department.
4. Quality Assurance and Continuous Improvement
- Work with the Head of Department and relevant teams to maintain high standards of teaching, learning and assessment.
- Participate in learning walks, deep-dive activities and other quality assurance processes.
- Support the implementation of college quality procedures and ensure learning support provision meets relevant inspection requirements.
- Monitor the quality and effectiveness of learning support interventions and inclusive teaching practices.
- Contribute to course reviews, evaluations and curriculum development initiatives.
- Support colleagues in improving teaching practices and developing inclusive learning environments.
- Ensure assessment, moderation and internal quality assurance processes are completed in line with college requirements.
5. Student Recruitment, Admissions and Transition
- Assist with the recruitment and admission of new students.
- Attend promotional events, open days, taster sessions and other activities to promote the department and its programmes.
- Work with schools, parent groups, local authorities and relevant transition teams to support students moving into college.
- Coordinate effective transition arrangements for students with High Needs, ensuring information from feeder schools and external agencies informs learning support planning.
- Ensure students receive appropriate support during welcome events and transition activities.
- Contribute to course information, prospectuses, leaflets and other promotional materials.
- Identify students who require specialist English, Maths or other learning interventions and arrange appropriate referrals and support.
6. Administration and Stakeholder Liaison
- Maintain accurate student records and ensure relevant administrative processes are completed.
- Coordinate learning support timetables and ensure they are accurately recorded on the college's timetabling systems.
- Liaise with Management Information Systems (MIS), timetabling teams, registers teams and other relevant colleagues.
- Work closely with awarding bodies, external verifiers, moderators and other professional representatives.
- Contribute to EHCP annual reviews by providing evidence of student progress against vocational, English and Maths targets.
- Ensure relevant student information, including vocational profiles and review documentation, is updated and shared appropriately.
- Handle complaints relating to inclusion and High Needs within the department and areas of delegated responsibility.
- Communicate effectively with colleagues across the college and with external stakeholders.
7. Staff Development and Professional Practice
- Identify staff training needs and provide feedback to the Head of Department to support appropriate development opportunities.
- Support the development of Learning Support Mentors and teaching staff through guidance, mentoring and collaborative working.
- Promote the sharing of good practice in inclusive teaching and learning.
- Maintain professional knowledge and practice within the relevant specialist area.
- Complete required training, including training related to inclusive learning.
- Work with internal and external professionals to ensure appropriate intervention strategies are implemented across the department.
- Act as a key point of contact for inclusive practices within the department and direct colleagues to specialist support when required.
8. Safeguarding, Equality and Health & Safety
- Promote and safeguard the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
- Follow the Client's safeguarding policies, procedures and practices.
- Promote equality of opportunity and foster good relationships across the college community.
- Adhere to equality, diversity and inclusion policies and ensure inclusive practices are embedded in departmental activities.
- Maintain current Health & Safety knowledge relevant to the role and ensure appropriate adjustments are considered.
- Carry out Health & Safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the position.
9. General Responsibilities
- Work collaboratively with the Head of Department, other Assistant Heads of Department, lecturers, technicians and support staff.
- Advise on staffing and resource requirements to support the effective delivery of courses and learning programmes.
- Contribute to curriculum development and new course initiatives.
- Develop professional links with relevant external organisations and industry professionals.
- Attend departmental meetings, course reviews, marketing events and external projects as required.
- Work flexibly across the Cambridge and Huntingdon campuses and travel between locations as required.
- Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade and responsibilities of the role.
Qualifications and Experience
- A degree or equivalent qualification in a relevant subject.
- A recognised teaching qualification, such as DET, DTLLS, Cert Ed or PGCE.
- Extensive teaching experience within Further Education or a post-16 training environment.
- Significant experience working in specialist SEND education or supporting students with additional learning needs.
- Experience managing a team and supporting staff performance, wellbeing and development.
- Experience implementing reasonable adjustments and inclusive learning practices.
- Experience working with parents, schools, local authorities and other external stakeholders.
- Knowledge of student management systems and processes for monitoring student progress.
- Current Health & Safety knowledge relevant to the role.
Skills and Competencies
- Excellent interpersonal, administrative and communication skills.
- Strong leadership and team management abilities.
- Excellent organisational skills and the ability to meet competing deadlines.
- Ability to build effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to motivate and support a diverse team to deliver a high-quality student experience.
- Strong understanding of inclusive teaching, learning support and reasonable adjustments.
- Ability to monitor student progress and maintain accurate records.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and other relevant software applications.
- A flexible and responsive approach, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
- A positive, professional and motivational attitude.
- Ability to work under pressure and prioritise competing responsibilities.
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding.
Working Arrangements
- Permanent, full-time position.
- 37 hours per week.
- Full-year contract.
- Work across the Cambridge and Huntingdon campuses, with independent travel between locations as required.
- Occasional attendance at marketing events, external projects and other activities as required.
Safeguarding Statement
- The Client is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All employees are expected to share this commitment.
- This position is subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including an Enhanced DBS check with a Barred List check. The role involves regulated activity.
Step Ahead is acting as an Employment Agency. Step Ahead is committed to preventing discrimination in its recruitment practices by stimulating genuine equality of opportunity.
This means that everyone is treated solely on the basis of competence and merit, regardless of age, gender, marital status, sexuality, ethnicity, racial, religious or disability considerations, and we welcome applications from all sectors of the community.