English Curriculum Tutor

The Open University UK; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

The Open University invites applications for a Curriculum Tutor to support the PGCE Programme in Wales, delivering online distance education for Secondary English and related subjects, with routes via employment-based or part-time study. The role involves teaching, assessment and mentoring across multiple levels while collaborating with regional partners to ensure coherent programme delivery across Wales.

You will lead curriculum development, contribute to QA with ESTYN, and engage in research

Qualifications

• Masters level qualification or PhD in education/ITE, with commitment to doctoral studies if applicable.
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Experience teaching English in a school context and online delivery.
• Strong English communication skills and ability to teach online.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver online seminars and assess named student groups.
• Collaborate with Academic Production Team and regional delivery partners in Wales.
• Mark portfolio work and provide constructive feedback on student learning.
• Lead subject QA for English and participate in examination boards.
• Contribute to curriculum development and educational research in Wales.

Skills

English proficiency

Module design

HE teaching experience

Welsh teaching

Research capability

Travel willingness

Education

Masters in Education

PhD in Education

Qualified Teacher Status

Tools

Adobe Connect

Job description

Fixed Term Contract: End Date: 36 months from start date

Change your career, change lives

The Open University is the UK’s largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link).

About the Role

We are currently recruiting for a Curriculum Tutor to support the PGCE Programme at the OU, which offers two routes into teaching in Wales via an employment-based approach or through part time study.

The role holder will be part of the Curriculum Tutor team for the PGCE and will have specific responsibility for the Secondary English pathway. The role holder will teach and assess student teachers across a range of core and professional ITE curriculum areas, as well as providing specialist teaching and support in relation to the English subject curriculum. The role holder will also support student teachers following the English pathway to develop their teaching in a minor second subject, such as Media or Drama, and in related areas within the Languages, Literacy and Communication Area of Learning and Experience.

You will work closely with student teachers, school partners and others to ensure the quality and delivery of the programme pan-Wales via online distance education tuition as well as contribute to the wider activity and work of the OU ITE Partnership.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and deliver online seminars, contribute to maintenance and production of online materials and undertake the assessment for named groups of students.
• To work closely with colleagues in the Academic Production Team based in Milton Keynes and the delivery partners of Regional Consortia/Local Authority and Schools in Wales to ensure the coherence of the programme.
• To mark students’ portfolios at the end of each level of study (3 levels) including reports on their School Practice.
• To feedback to students on their academic work constructively and effectively.
• To teach groups of students directly and interactively via Adobe Connect conferencing tool and communicate asynchronously via online Forums.
• Be the responsible academic lead for their subject in the PGCE programme and be accountable for subject QA from ESTYN.
• Be involved in Examination Boards and Quality Assurance via Partnership Committee as required.
• Carry out educational research in Wales – either by continuing current research interests towards potential REF submission or by registering on an EdD programme.
• Be involved in the management and training of Mentors and Practice Tutors across Wales.
• Contribute more broadly to the activities of the Programme, the OU in Wales and the School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport as required.

About You

• A higher level post-graduate qualification to at least Masters level in a professional area related to ITE or education or a PhD in a professional area related to ITE or education. Applicants at Masters level will need to demonstrate the commitment to enrol on a taught Doctorate in Education at the Open University.
• Qualified Teacher Status
• Experience of teaching English within the school context.
• Excellent command of spoken and written English, with the capacity to teach online, communicate clearly and influentially with students and stakeholders.
• Knowledge and experience necessary to contribute to the development and delivery of teaching materials in ITE-related curriculum.
• Knowledge of the field of ITE and understanding of the approaches to ITE within Wales.
• Ability to work effectively and flexibly in a team and collaboratively in a team with others.
• Proven ability to plan and organise workload to agreed deadlines, within resource constraints, and sometimes under pressure.
• Demonstrable evidence of having used ICT for a variety of purposes including learning and teaching, and evidence of understanding of the potential of new and emerging technologies to enhance learning.
• Ability to engage in research and scholarship through activities such as publications and/or widely recognised and disseminated contributions to learning and teaching.
• Knowledge of the new Curriculum for Wales and awareness of changes to teaching in Wales.
• Ability and willingness to travel for work purposes, to live within reasonable commuting distance of the Open University in Cardiff and to be working in Wales for more than 50% of contracted time.
• Ability to apply inclusive and fair practices in the delivery of the role.
• The ability to communicate effectively and to teach through the medium of Welsh to a high standard (highly desirable).
• Experience of HE teaching and module design that engages and retains students or the proven potential to effectively contribute to this process.
• Higher education teaching experience including creating and marking assessments.
• Expertise in bilingualism, cultural and ethnic diversity.
• Qualification for teaching in a Higher Education context.

Support with your application

If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on 01908 541111 or email [e-mail] quoting the advert reference number.

What's in it for you?

At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window).

We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it’s a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you.

Working Location:It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Cardiff, it is expected that some attendance in the office will be required when necessary and in response to business needs. We’d expect this to be 2 days per month, but this could be more often if business needs dictate. Full-time working based from our Cardiff site is also supported if this is preferred by the candidate. Expenses associated with travel to our Cardiff site are not reimbursable.

Next steps in the Recruitment process

Interviews are likely to be held in late September, early October 2026.

Early closing date notification

While most roles will remain open until the advertised closing date, applications may be reviewed on an ongoing basis. In some cases, vacancies may close earlier if a sufficient number of suitable applications have been received and equality impacts have been appropriately considered. All roles will remain advertised for a minimum of one week before any early closure is implemented.

If you have started an application or were in the process of applying when the advert closed, we encourage you to get in touch. We are committed to understanding individual circumstances and can offer further support where needed, including reasonable adjustments for applicants with protected characteristics.

Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles?

Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies.

The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.