Head of Alternative Education

Dovetail & Slate Ltd; Bath; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Youth Connect South West is seeking a Head of Alternative Education to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of our Alternative Provision (AP) and SEND education services. You will lead a diverse team to deliver a flexible, personalised curriculum for around 120 young people, ensuring high standards of teaching, safeguarding and learner progression.

The role requires senior leadership experience in education, with deep knowledge of SEND, Ofsted frameworks and funding compliance.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in alternative education.
• Strong understanding of SEND and EHCP processes.
• Experience with Ofsted and quality assurance.
• Experience securing funding and delivering externally funded contracts.
• Excellent communication and partnership-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all Alternative Provision and SEND education services.
• Lead the development and implementation of the education strategy.
• Oversee a flexible, personalised curriculum and ensure high standards of teaching and learner progression.
• Lead quality assurance, Ofsted readiness, and compliance with funding and ILR requirements.
• Develop and maintain relationships with Local Authorities, schools, colleges and providers.
• Support safeguarding, risk management and wellbeing across provision.
• Set and monitor performance measures and support staff development.
• Explore opportunities for Future growth and registration as an education provider.

Skills

Senior leadership

Alternative Provision

SEND knowledge

Curriculum design

Ofsted inspections

Contract management

Funding compliance

Safeguarding

People management

Communication

Education

Teaching qualification (Level 5+)

Job description

Make a lasting difference to young people who need education to work differently.

Youth Connect South West (YCSW) is an independent, not-for-profit charity committed to supporting young people across Bath, Somerset and beyond. We provide a wide range of opportunities for young people aged 11-25, combining universal and targeted support across youth work, mentoring, careers advice and bespoke educational provision.

We are now looking for an exceptional Head of Alternative Education to provide strategic leadership and operational oversight of our Alternative Provision (AP) and SEND education services. This is a significant leadership opportunity for someone who understands that traditional education does not work for every young person and who is passionate about creating flexible, personalised and relationship-led provision that enables young people to thrive.

As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, you will report directly to the CEO and take overall responsibility for the quality, development and performance of our Alternative Education provision. You will lead a diverse team of up to 50 members of staff supporting around 120 young people, many of whom have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are unable to access mainstream education or training.

Our approach is deliberately relationship-led. We invest heavily in the individual relationships between staff and learners, with key workers providing intensive, personalised support alongside curriculum, teaching, group work and activity-based provision. You will therefore need to be equally comfortable thinking strategically and getting close to the operational detail of delivery.

This is not a traditional education leadership role. We are looking for someone who can combine senior leadership expertise with a genuine understanding of alternative provision, SEND and the needs of young people who may have experienced significant barriers to education.

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Provide strategic leadership for all Alternative Provision and SEND education services.
• Lead the development and implementation of our education strategy, ensuring it aligns with organisational priorities and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Oversee the design, delivery and continuous improvement of a flexible, personalised curriculum.
• Ensure high standards of teaching, learning, assessment, accreditation and learner progression.
• Lead on quality assurance and inspection readiness, including Ofsted requirements, Self-Assessment Reports and Quality Improvement Plans.
• Ensure compliance with funding requirements, contracts, ILR processes and statutory returns.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Local Authorities, schools, colleges, training providers, employers and other partners.
• Provide strategic oversight of SEND provision, ensuring learners’ needs, dignity and voices remain central to planning and delivery.
• Lead safeguarding across the education provision and ensure robust risk management, health and safety and wellbeing arrangements.
• Set and monitor meaningful performance measures, including attendance, learner outcomes and progression.
• Lead, support and develop a diverse team of education professionals, encouraging reflective practice and continuous improvement.
• Work closely with the CEO and wider SLT to identify opportunities for growth and future development.
• Play a key role in exploring and progressing the potential registration of YCSW as an education provider.
• Ensure the financial, operational and educational sustainability of existing and future provision.

What we are looking for

We are looking for a senior education leader with substantial experience of alternative provision, SEND, education or further education. You will bring a strong understanding of the regulatory and operational environment in which alternative education operates, including:

• Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework and inspection expectations.
• SEND legislation and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Education and training funding requirements.
• ILR and funding compliance.
• Contract management and commissioning.
• Quality assurance and improvement.
• Safeguarding and risk management.
• Curriculum design and learner progression.
• Leading and developing multidisciplinary teams.

You will have experience of leading at a senior level and be comfortable balancing strategic priorities with the realities of frontline delivery. A background in youth work and/or teaching would be particularly valuable, as would experience within a charity, social enterprise or other not-for-profit organisation. Most importantly, you will have a genuine commitment to young people and understand how strong relationships, personalised support and high expectations can help young people overcome barriers to education. You will be curious, collaborative and determined, with the confidence to challenge existing approaches and the creativity to develop new ones.

You will ideally have:

• Significant management experience within education, SEND or alternative provision.
• A recognised teaching qualification at Level 5 or above, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience of leading successful Ofsted inspections or other robust quality assurance processes.
• Experience of securing, managing and delivering externally funded education or training contracts.
• Strong knowledge of funding regulations, ILR processes and compliance requirements.
• Experience of curriculum development aligned with Ofsted expectations.
• Senior-level safeguarding experience.
• A strong understanding of SEND practice and legislation.
• Experience of leading and developing staff teams.
• Excellent communication, partnership-building and organisational skills.
• A valid driving licence (desirable) and the ability to work flexibly across YCSW's sites and community settings.

Experience of registering a new education or training provider, post-16 provision achieving a positive Ofsted outcome, or Youth Work delivery would be advantageous.

About Youth Connect South West

At Youth Connect South West our values are central to everything we do

• Keeping young people safe - putting young people at the centre of everything we do.
• Collaboration - working with families, communities and partners to create better outcomes.
• Meeting expectations - going the extra mile for young people.
• Inclusion - being there for all those who need us.
• Determination and creativity - trying new things, continually learning and never giving up.

You will join an organisation that is committed to doing things differently and creating opportunities for young people who may not have found their place within mainstream education.

Location and working arrangements

The role is based across Bath and North East Somerset, with the majority of our Alternative Education provision delivered in Bath and additional provision across the wider area. The role is predominantly site-based, with the expectation that you will spend the majority of your working week with teams and learners. Some home working may be agreed, subject to service requirements. You will also be expected to work across other venues, including schools and community settings, where appropriate.

Safeguarding

Youth Connect South West is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are expected to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a satisfactory DBS check and participate in relevant safeguarding training and supervision.