Head of English, 16-18

Barking & Dagenham College; Romford; On-site; GBP 57,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading further education institution in Romford is seeking a Head of Specialism to enhance English curriculum delivery and drive strategic improvements. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership skills, a proven track record in Further Education, and innovative approaches to teaching. This permanent full-time position offers a competitive salary of £57,788 - £72,348 per year, along with generous benefits including substantial annual leave and an excellent pension scheme.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Excellent pension scheme

Generous annual leave package

Free on-site gym

Subsidised hair and beauty treatments

Qualifications

• Experience leading provision in Further Education or Adult Education.
• Strong understanding of Ofsted requirements and regulations.
• Demonstrated success in delivering curriculum quality improvements.

Responsibilities

• Drive strategic development and continuous improvement across the English provision.
• Shape a future-focused curriculum aligned with employer needs.
• Lead high-impact teaching practices and staff development.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum development

Performance monitoring

Innovative delivery

Stakeholder collaboration

Job description

Recruiter Barking & Dagenham College • Location: Romford [Greater London] • Salary: £57,788 - £72,348 Per Year (PA inclusive of London Weighting) • Posted: 02 Dec 2025 15:47 • Closes: 31 Dec 2025 23:59 • Reference 1069255 • Sector: Further Education • Job Level: Head of Specialism • Contract Type: Permanent • Hours: Full Time • Organisational Type: General Further Education College • Teacher Training: Not Offered

Are you an ambitious educational leader who loves unlocking potential and driving high‑quality teaching? Do you thrive on the energy of developing strong teams, solving challenges and creating a real legacy? If so, this is your next career step.

Barking & Dagenham College of Further & Higher Education is a vibrant environment committed to the success of our learners, colleagues and community alike. Established in 1961, our college is comprised of four campuses across the Borough of Barking & Dagenham, supporting thousands of learners in their journey towards self‑sufficiency.

Why Us?

At Barking & Dagenham College, English is more than a subject – it’s a life‑changing foundation for young people within our community. The department has already made significant strides in both improvement and innovation, and we’re now ready for a strong trouble‑shooter to take us further long the journey.

If you’re skilled in implementing smart solutions and driving rapid development while sustaining long‑term growth, this is perfect stage for your leadership.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Work closely with the Faculty Director to drive strategic development and continuous improvement across the English provision.
• Be creative, forward‑thinking and bold in trying new approaches, with the autonomy to innovate and think outside the box.
• Shape a curriculum that is responsive, future‑focused and aligned with employer needs, local demand, and the College’s mission.
• Identify barriers, performance gaps and improvement opportunities quickly—and take decisive action to address them.
• Lead high‑impact teaching, learning and assessment practices, embedding a culture of quality, performance and professional development, acting as a champion for positive cultural change, fostering high morale, empowered staff, and shared success.
• Deliver and oversee all aspects of the College’s quality cycle including observations, standardisation, performance monitoring, RARP & A audits, verification processes, staff training and Ofsted readiness.
• Drive curriculum planning to achieve strong outcomes in attendance, achievement, progression and income targets.

What We’re Looking For

• Genuine passion for the English curriculum delivery to drive and lead impactful improvements through innovation.
• A track record of turning challenge into progress—whether through process, people development, innovative delivery or data‑driven intervention.
• A strong understanding of Ofsted requirements, awarding body regulations and how they translate into day‑to‑day practice.
• Demonstrable experience leading provision in Further Education or Adult Education.
• Proven success delivering performance improvements in curriculum quality and learner outcomes.
• Excellent leadership skills—able to motivate, influence and strengthen high‑performing teams.
• Experience of working collaboratively with partners and internal stakeholders.

What’s In It for You?

We offer a wide range of benefits including a competitive salary £57,788 - £72,348 per annum (DOE), an excellent pension scheme, a generous annual leave package of 35 days per annum, in addition to two‑weeks Christmas close and several wellbeing days, free on‑site gym and parking, subsidised hair and beauty treatments, and plenty more!

Safety and Inclusion Statements

Barking & Dagenham College is committed to best practice relating to safer recruitment and safeguarding. Please note that all employment checks are made in‑line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education guidelines. For further information relating to onboarding expectations/our safeguarding framework, please speak with the Talent team directly.

Barking & Dagenham College is proudly an inclusive employer, striving towards an open culture whereby everyone can be themselves. We welcome applications from all, irrespective of gender, ethnicity, race, religion, beliefs, disability, neurodiversity, sexual orientation or age.

We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the adverts should we receive a sufficient level of interest!