Assistant Manager: Functional Skills

Dovetail & Slate Ltd; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Dovetail & Slate Ltd in the East Midlands is recruiting an Assistant Manager: Functional Skills to lead prison education delivery of English and Maths, reporting to the Education Manager.

You will manage Functional Skills tutors, drive quality assurance and curriculum planning, and deputise as needed in a secure environment. A Level 5 teaching qualification and Level 3 English/Maths are required.

Qualifications

• Qualified to Level 5 teaching standard with PGCE or equivalent.
• Level 3 Maths and English qualifications.
• Proven experience delivering Functional Skills English and/or Maths.
• Experience of supporting or managing teaching staff.
• Enhanced DBS check and HMPPS security vetting.

Responsibilities

• Support the Education Manager with day-to-day operations across the Functional Skills curriculum.
• Oversee delivery and quality assurance of Functional Skills English and Maths.
• Lead tutor coaching, appraisals and development plans.
• Deputise for the Education Manager when required.

Skills

Functional Skills

English teaching

Maths teaching

Team management

Quality assurance

Staff mentoring

Curriculum planning

Learning walks

Observations

Appraisals

Education

Level 5 teaching qualification (PGCE/Cert Ed/DTLLS)

Level 3 Maths & English qualifications

Job description

Recruitment for education and the public sector

Prison Education From £35,000 per annum Permanent senior Level 27 October 2026

Assistant Manager: Functional Skills- HMP

Location: the East Midlands

Salary: From £35,000 per annum

About the Role

We are recruiting an Assistant Manager: Functional Skills to join the senior leadership team of a training provider in the justice sector, taking responsibility for the quality and delivery of Functional Skills English and Maths within a prison education setting.

Working closely with the Education Manager, you will lead and develop a team of Functional Skills tutors, ensuring provision is well planned, inclusive and genuinely supports learners progressing towards qualifications, employment and rehabilitation. This is a role for someone who combines strong subject and teaching credentials with the confidence to lead, coach and deputise within a secure environment.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supporting the Education Manager with day-to-day operations across the Functional Skills curriculum, including learner inductions, allocations and progress tracking.
• Overseeing delivery and continuous improvement of Functional Skills English and Maths, ensuring provision meets awarding body standards.
• Leading quality assurance processes, including observations and learning walks, to drive consistently strong teaching.
• Managing, mentoring and developing tutors through appraisals and tailored support plans.
• Deputising for the Education Manager when required.

What We're Looking For

• A Level 5 teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, DTLLS or equivalent)
• Level 3 qualifications in both Maths and English, or equivalent
• Proven experience delivering Functional Skills English and/or Maths
• Experience of supporting or managing teaching staff
• Strong communication skills and the resilience to work within a secure environment

Desirable (but not essential):

• An Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) qualification
• Prior experience within prison education, FE or adult learning settings
• Working knowledge of Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework

If you're ready to take the next step into leadership and help shape a Functional Skills curriculum that genuinely changes lives, we'd love to hear from you.

A real person, not an automated email. If we are not the right fit for you we will say so quickly rather than leave you waiting.

• Level 5 teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, DTLLS or equivalent)
• Level 3 qualifications in both Maths and English
• Proven experience delivering Functional Skills English and/or Maths
• Experience of supporting or managing teaching staff
• Resilience to work within a secure environment
• Enhanced DBS check
• HMPPS security vetting

Skills & Qualifications

Functional Skills delivery English teaching Maths teaching Team management Quality assurance Staff mentoring Curriculum planning Learning walks Observations Appraisals

Not quite the right role? We'll email you when something closer comes in.

Your search

• Location: East Midlands
• Sector: Prison Education
• Phase: Prison
• Subject: Functional Skills