Head of Quality and Curriculum

Application Deadline: 9 January 2026

Department: Skills Management

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Hybrid

Reporting To: Siobhan Clegg

Compensation: £40,000 - £44,000 / year

Description

We reserve the right to close this advertisement at any time if we receive suitable applications for the role.

An exciting opportunity for you to develop your career with the third fastest growing training provider in the United Kingdom. Acorn Training is a highly successful, skills, justice, employment and health provider with strong corporate values and inclusive ethos – winner of The World Skills UK Social Inclusion and Diversity Network of the Year award.

To lead and coordinate quality assurance, curriculum development, and continuous improvement strategies across Apprenticeship, Adult Learning, and devolved skills contracts. The role ensures compliance with regulatory frameworks, drives excellence in teaching, learning and assessment, and supports organisational growth in line with the Strategic Plan.

Key Responsibilities and Key Performance Indicators

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Support directors to coordinate the completion of a comprehensive Self-Assessment Report (SAR) and Quality Improvement Plan (QIP).
• Coordinate the process of creating programme and department-level self-assessment and quality improvement planning, including post-inspection action plans, ensuring a culture of continuous improvement.
• Provide nominee support during an Ofsted inspection, ensuring compliance and effective communication throughout the process.
• Monitor external practice and guidance from sources such as the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, DfE Apprenticeship Accountability Framework, AELP, ERSA, IEP, and QAR data to inform internal practice.
• Undertake work scrutiny audits in line with an audit plan that contributes towards ISO9001, ensuring all aspects of the learning journey are effective and weaknesses are identified and rapidly improved.
• Manage relationships with awarding organisations to ensure centre and scheme approval is maintained.

Data Analysis and Reporting

• Analyse data and trends across Apprenticeship, Adult Learning, and devolved skills contracts to identify improvement areas, including learners past planned end date, apprenticeship withdrawals, and breaks in learning.
• Use a range of data sources and qualitative information to analyse and make judgements about trends in the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.
• Complete monthly quality and performance reports and present findings at monthly management meetings.
• Report to EMT monthly on the quality of teaching, learning and assessment.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

• Coordinate a comprehensive observation of teaching, learning and assessment programme internally and with subcontractor partners.
• Lead information learning technology (ILT) initiatives to develop teachers’ use of technology in the learning environment.
• Coordinate and deliver continued professional development (CPD) to improve the quality of teaching, learning and assessment, working collaboratively with HR and subcontractor partners.

Staff Development and Wellbeing

• Coordinate strategies to enhance staff wellbeing collaboratively with HR.
• Work collaboratively with HR to develop CPD and staff wellbeing plans that drive forward key objectives such as Talent Management, Staff Retention and Staff Wellbeing.
• Support staff on a one-to-one and small group basis where intensive action planning and skills development are required.

Leadership and Management

• Line manage the Lead IQA to coordinate all EQA activity.
• Line manage Head of Data Analytics & Reporting.
• Line manage Curriculum Development & Quality lead.
• Coordinate Education and Training programmes, including monitoring all internal apprentices.
• Support senior leaders with the management and implementation of new systems as required.
• Support senior managers to develop the business and achieve growth targets in line with the Strategic Plan, including bid writing and partnership development.

Key Performance Indicators

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• SAR and QIP Completion: Comprehensive Self-Assessment Report and Quality Improvement Plan completed and approved by agreed deadlines.
• Ofsted Readiness: Maintain full compliance with Ofsted Education Inspection Framework and DfE Apprenticeship Accountability Framewor