Functional Skills English Tutor- HMP

Dovetail & Slate Ltd; Sutton Green; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave (plus bank hols)

Paid volunteering day each year

Enhanced Wedding Leave

Enhanced Maternity Scheme

Retail discounts via Additions portal

Life Assurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Job summary

Dovetail & Slate Ltd seeks a Functional Skills English Tutor to join the on-site prison education team at HMP High Down in Sutton. You will deliver City & Guilds Functional Skills English from Entry Level 1 to Level 2 to small classes, building literacy and confidence while tracking progress with BKSB and ILPs.

You will assess learners, tailor delivery, and prepare them for formal exams, collaborating with prison staff to ensure holistic learner outcomes and sustained literacy improvement.

Qualifications

• Level 5 teaching qualification preferred or willing to work towards.
• Proven delivery of Functional Skills English with strong classroom management.
• Experience teaching in a secure environment or prison education is advantageous.
• Excellent administrative capability (ILPs, registers, assessment logs) and DBS clearance.

Responsibilities

• Plan and deliver interactive Functional Skills English lessons to small groups (up to 12).
• Conduct initial assessments, build ILPs, and track progression using BKSB tools.
• Utilise digital resources to make literacy engaging and accessible.
• Prepare learners for City & Guilds assessments and qualifications.
• Promote literacy and numeracy across the prison environment.
• Collaborate with prison staff and employability teams to achieve positive outcomes.

Skills

Functional Skills English delivery

City & Guilds qualifications

BKSB diagnostic tools

Individual Learning Plans (ILPs)

Initial assessment

Adult education

Literacy teaching

Inclusive teaching methods

Digital resources

Exam preparation

Multi-agency collaboration

Education

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

Tools

BKSB

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Functional Skills English Tutor

Location: HMP (Sutton, Surrey)

Salary: From £30,000 + £5,000 London Weighting

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

The Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an inspiring Functional Skills English Tutor to join our prison education team on-site at HMP High Down. In this deeply rewarding role, you will deliver City & Guilds Functional Skills English qualifications from Entry Level 1 through to Level 2. Working with small class sizes (up to 12 learners), you will play a vital role in boosting literacy, building self-esteem, and helping individuals reshape their futures.

What You Will Be Doing

Engaging Delivery: Plan and deliver interactive, inclusive Functional Skills English lessons tailored to small groups of adult learners with varied educational backgrounds and learning needs.

Assessment & ILP Management: Conduct initial assessments and use BKSB diagnostic tools to establish starting points, construct Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), and track continuous student progression.

Adaptive Pedagogy: Utilise innovative, practical, and digital resources to make literacy accessible, engaging, and relevant for all learners.

Exam Preparation: Prepare learners for formal City & Guilds assessments and qualifications, celebrating their literacy milestones and personal development.

Promoting Literacy: Actively encourage reading for pleasure and promote literacy and numeracy standards across the prison environment.

Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Partner with prison staff, learning support practitioners, and employability teams to ensure positive, holistic learner outcomes.

What We Are Looking For

Teaching Credentials: Level 5 teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, DTLLS, or equivalent) is preferred. No Level 5 qualification? Candidates with relevant delivery experience who are willing to work towards a Level 5 qualification are encouraged to apply.

Teaching Experience: Proven track record of delivering Functional Skills English qualifications with strong classroom management and lesson planning skills.

Core Competencies: Excellent administrative capability (ILPs, registers, assessment logs), strong communication skills, and the resilience to teach in a secure environment.

Desirable Criteria: Prior experience within prison education, FE, or adult learning settings, familiarity with BKSB diagnostics, knowledge of Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework (EIF), or an IQA qualification.

Our Benefits Include:

• 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Paid volunteering day each year
• Enhanced Wedding Leave & Enhanced Maternity Scheme
• Access to hundreds of retail discounts via the Additions portal

What's on Offer

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Paid volunteering day each year
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Enhanced Wedding Leave
• Enhanced Maternity Scheme
• Access to retail discounts via Additions portal

• Level 5 teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, DTLLS, or equivalent) preferred or willingness to work towards
• Administrative capability (ILPs, registers, assessment logs)
• Resilience to teach in secure environment
• Enhanced DBS check required
• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Paid volunteering day each year
• Cycle to Work scheme

Skills & Qualifications

Functional Skills English delivery City & Guilds qualifications BKSB diagnostic tools Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) Initial assessment Adult education Literacy teaching Inclusive teaching methods Digital resources Exam preparation Multi-agency collaboration