Curriculum Area Manager - Quality, Teaching and Development

ARU London; Writtle; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

ARU London, in partnership with Writtle College, seeks an ambitious Curriculum Area Manager to lead quality assurance and improvement across the college's FE and apprenticeship provision. You will develop robust quality frameworks, support teaching and learning, and help prepare for Ofsted inspection while collaborating with ARU's quality leadership team to drive growth.

The role requires strategic leadership, stakeholder engagement and a track record of raising standards in a further education

Qualifications

• Experience of quality assurance and quality improvement within a further education environment, from a curriculum management perspective or in a quality-focused role.
• Openness to candidates from General Further Education or land-based colleges and positive impact on the quality agenda.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement robust quality frameworks across FE and apprenticeship provision.
• Provide support to teachers and embed innovative pedagogical approaches.
• Lead preparation for Ofsted and inspection readiness across ARU and Writtle College.
• Collaborate with colleagues across ARU and Writtle College to share good practice with the Higher Education quality leadership team.

Skills

Quality assurance

Leadership

Curriculum development

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in Education or related field

Job description

Writtle College is a leading specialist provider of land-based education, delivering high-quality further education and apprenticeship programmes that meet the evolving needs of industry while providing an inclusive and ambitious learning experience for all students.

In 2024, Writtle College merged with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), creating exciting new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and regional impact, while securing the college's long-term sustainability. Our shared values of ambition, collaboration, inclusion and integrity underpin our mission to transform lives and create an environment where excellence can thrive.

Located on a stunning 150-hectare campus in the Essex countryside, within easy reach of central London, Writtle College offers an exceptional learning environment. Our specialist facilities include dedicated equine, animal and canine centres, alongside a working farm, on-site accommodation for 300 students and a range of industry-standard resources that support both further and higher education provision. We are proud of our modern, industry-focused curriculum and the strong partnerships we have built with employers, civic organisations and sector stakeholders, creating meaningful progression pathways for our learners.

Following a successful Ofsted inspection in May 2025, which resulted in a Good rating, the college is going from strength to strength. We have experienced significant growth in student numbers over the past two years, maintain an outstanding financial position, and have ambitious plans to further enhance our curriculum offer and specialist facilities.

As part of ARU, Writtle College benefits from being embedded within one of the UK's most dynamic universities. ARU was named University of the Year by The Times Higher Education in 2023 and holds a TEF Gold rating for educational excellence. The University continues to strengthen its reputation through research-led innovation, extensive partnerships and significant investment across its four campuses.

The Opportunity

We are seeking an ambitious and forward-thinking manager to work with and support our new Assistant Principal Quality, Teaching and Development with the overall quality agenda for our further education and apprenticeship provision, ensuring consistently high standards, exceptional student outcomes and a culture of continuous improvement.

This is a newly-created role, with a focus on driving consistency and excellence across all areas of provision during a period of significant growth. The Curriculum Area Manager will support on the development and implementation of robust quality frameworks and a clear teaching, learning and assessment strategy, providing support to teachers and embedding innovative pedagogical approaches. You will have the opportunity to shape research-informed practice, inclusion, progression and student success, while also supporting on our future Ofsted preparation and inspection process. A key priority will be working collaboratively with colleagues across both Writtle College and ARU, including sharing good practice with the Higher Education quality leadership team.

This is an outstanding opportunity to bring fresh ideas, help to create a teaching and learning philosophy for the college, and make a lasting impact on the future of a specialist institution with ambitious plans for growth.

The Candidate

Our successful candidate will have experience of quality assurance and quality improvement within a further education environment, either from a curriculum management perspective or in a quality-focused role.

We welcome applications from individuals seeking to step upwards and we will provide support and development to help you succeed and continue your leadership journey. We are equally open to considering candidates from either General Further Education or land-based colleges, as previous land-based sector experience is not essential. What matters most is your ability to have a positive impact on the quality agenda, inspire colleagues and raise standards to deliver exceptional outcomes for our students and communities.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a talented and committed leadership team at a pivotal point in the college's development. By combining Writtle's specialist heritage with the strengths and opportunities offered through ARU, you will help shape the next chapter of our success and make a meaningful difference to the lives of our students, staff and wider communities.