Head of Education

S Knights Recruitment; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

S Knights Recruitment is seeking a Head of Education – Government Funded Education to lead strategic and operational efforts across government funded education provision. You will work with the COO and executive team to drive growth, improve learner outcomes and ensure high-quality delivery across multiple sites.

You will shape safeguarding standards, contract compliance and curriculum design while building strong partnerships with stakeholders and employers in the sector.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in government funded education, FE, skills, training or ITP sector.
• Experience with Study Programmes, Supported Internships and SEND provision.
• Strong understanding of ESFA-funded provision and government contracts.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across government funded education provision.
• Advise the COO on opportunities, risks and developments in education provision.
• Lead and develop management teams across multiple sites to drive learner outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to grow education provision and maximise ESFA contracts.
• Drive Ofsted readiness and safeguarding, with high standards for learner experience.
• Oversee staffing, resources and performance to achieve KPIs.
• Ensure financial and contract management across government funded provision.

Skills

Senior leadership

Education sector expertise

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Governance compliance

Education

Level 5 Management

Level 4/5 teaching qualifications

Vocational qualifications

Job description

Head of Education – Government Funded Education

Location: Suffolk

Salary: £45,000 - £55,000

Contract: Permanent

The Opportunity

Are you a senior education leader with extensive experience across government funded education, Study Programmes, Supported Internships and SEND?

This is an opportunity to provide strategic and operational leadership across government funded education provision, with responsibility for driving growth, improving learner outcomes and ensuring consistently high-quality delivery.

You’ll work closely with the COO and senior management team, leading education managers and delivery teams across multiple sites while ensuring the organisation remains Ofsted ready, ESFA compliant and focused on outstanding learner experiences and positive destinations.

About the Organisation

Our client delivers government funded education provision focused on supporting learners to achieve their potential and progress towards positive destinations.

The organisation has an established presence within the Independent Training Provider (ITP) sector, delivering Study Programmes, Supported Internships and SEND provision.

This is an opportunity to join a leadership team with an ambitious focus on growth, quality, learner outcomes and developing strong partnerships across the education and skills sector.

The Role

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across government funded education provision, including Study Programmes, Supported Internships and SEND.
• Act as a senior education advisor to the COO, identifying internal and external opportunities, risks and developments affecting education provision.
• Lead and develop management teams across multiple sites, creating a high-performing culture focused on learner outcomes, staff performance and continuous improvement.
• Identify and develop opportunities to grow education provision, maximise ESFA contracts and generate sustainable income.
• Drive Ofsted readiness, ensuring consistently high standards across education, safeguarding, leadership and learner experience.
• Work closely with the Designated Safeguarding Lead on safeguarding standards and complex education safeguarding matters.
• Oversee staffing, resource deployment and performance management to ensure teams have the capacity and support required to achieve KPIs.
• Ensure effective financial and contract management across government funded provision, including ESFA requirements, budgets, income and recruitment targets.
• Work with the Quality Improvement team to strengthen curriculum design, learning programmes, learner outcomes, progression and destinations.
• Represent the organisation with strategic partners, employers, learners and wider stakeholders, building its reputation and influence locally, regionally and nationally.

The Ideal Candidate

• Significant senior leadership experience within government funded education, further education, skills, training or the ITP sector.
• Extensive experience across Study Programmes, Supported Internships and/or SEND provision.
• Exceptional understanding of ESFA-funded provision, funding requirements and government funded education contracts.
• Strong track record of preparing for and maintaining Ofsted-ready education provision.
• Proven ability to lead managers and delivery teams, developing performance, accountability and staff capability.
• Experience identifying and delivering opportunities for education growth, income generation and contract development.
• Strong understanding of curriculum design, learner progression, destinations, attendance, achievement and quality improvement.
• Relevant senior management and teaching qualifications, including Level 5 Management and Level 4/5 teaching qualifications, alongside relevant vocational qualifications.
• Minimum Level 2 Functional Skills or equivalent in English, Mathematics and ICT, with strong digital and written communication skills.

Why Apply?

• Take a senior leadership position with responsibility for a significant area of government funded education provision.
• Shape the growth and development of Study Programmes, Supported Internships and SEND.
• Influence curriculum, quality, learner outcomes and organisational strategy.
• Lead and develop education managers and delivery teams across multiple sites.
• Build strategic relationships with employers, partners and key education stakeholders.
• Play a central role in developing an organisation recognised for high-quality education and positive learner destinations.