Head of Government-Funded Education & Growth

S Knights Recruitment; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

S Knights Recruitment is seeking a Head of Education to lead government funded education provision across multiple sites in Suffolk. You will drive growth, learner outcomes and high-quality delivery, reporting to the COO and shaping strategy with senior management.

You will oversee Study Programmes, Supported Internships and SEND, ensuring ESFA compliance, safeguarding, and outstanding learner experiences while building partnerships with employers and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience within government funded education, FE, 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Senior leadership

Education sector knowledge

Ofsted readiness

Strategic planning

Staff development

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Level 5 Management qualification

Level 4/5 teaching qualifications

Functional Skills Level 2 (English)

Functional Skills Level 2 (Mathematics)

Functional Skills Level 2 (ICT)

Job description

S Knights Recruitment is seeking a Head of Education to lead government funded education provision across multiple sites in Suffolk. You will drive growth, learner outcomes and high-quality delivery, reporting to the COO and shaping strategy with senior management.

You will oversee Study Programmes, Supported Internships and SEND, ensuring ESFA compliance, safeguarding, and outstanding learner experiences while building partnerships with employers and stakeholders.