Oaklands College
Assistant Principal Professional, Sport & Digital Industries
How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Assistant Principal Professional, Sport & Digital Industries
Overview: Oaklands College
Oaklands College is a prominent further education provider in Hertfordshire, serving over 8,000 students across campuses in St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, and Borehamwood. Established in 1921, the College boasts a strong heritage in delivering high-quality education, with a focus on inclusivity and community contribution. It offers diverse programmes—A-Levels, apprenticeships, higher education, engineering, construction, business, creative industries, and elite sport—and is nationally recognised for its outstanding provision for learners with mild and severe learning difficulties.
The College’s vision centres on expanding opportunities for students, apprentices, and adults through courageous innovation and strong employer partnerships. With recent achievements in Ofsted ratings, Oaklands continues to grow while maintaining its reputation as a top 7 provider for young people’s achievements in England.
Key Mission & Growth
Oaklands aims to:
- Shape the future workforce through well-aligned education and training
- Invest in modern, technology-enabled facilities to support innovation
- Expand inclusivity and industry alignment, ensuring learners are industry-ready
Role: Assistant Principal, Professional, Sport & Digital Industries
About the Role
The Assistant Principal will provide operational leadership across Professional, Sport & Digital Industries, ensuring a high-quality, inclusive, and industry-relevant curriculum. As a member of the Senior Management Team, the postholder will:
- Drive excellence in teaching, learning, and assessment to secure strong student outcomes
- Achieve ‘Exceeding Expectations’ Ofsted judgements and Distinction QAA outcomes
- Position Oaklands as one of the leading colleges nationally for quality and impact
Senior Scope & Accountabilities
The role holds leadership responsibility for:
- Curriculum planning, performance, and quality across all ages and levels (including apprenticeships, higher education, and leisure learning)
- Inclusive teaching, learning and assessment standards
- Learner outcomes (achievement, retention, behaviour, attendance, and progression)
- Compliance with Ofsted, QAA, OfS and Apprenticeship Accountability Framework (AAF) requirements
- Employer partnerships and work-related learning
- Digital and AI-enabled curriculum enhancement
- Budget management, staff leadership, and resource deployment
Reasons to use Rodeo
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
It searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key Responsibilities
-
Curriculum Leadership & Development
- Strategically plan and develop all curriculum offerings in line with industry needs and labour market demands
- Drive innovation in course design, including progression pathways into employment, higher education, and apprenticeships
- Ensure clear, inclusive student journeys across all provision types
-
Teaching, Learning & Assessment (TLA)
- Set high standards for delivery, consistency, and quality
- Improve learner progress through high-standard assessment practices
- Promote curriculum staff professional development
-
Inclusion, Equality & Student Experience
- Embed inclusive teaching practices to remove barriers for all learners
- Champion a positive student experience, including engagement and behaviour standards
- Support implementation of the College-wide Inclusion Strategy
-
English, Maths & Core Skills
- Upskill learners in literacy, numeracy, and digital competency
- Integrate core skills into curriculum delivery
-
Industry Engagement & Employer Partnerships
- Build partnerships with employers, using real-time industry trends to shape the curriculum
- Support the development of new programmes aligned to skills demand
- Promote work experience, placements, and employer-led learning
-
Performance & Quality Improvement
- Monitor learning performance through data, addressing gaps in risk/outcomes
- Ensure ofsted and QAA readiness, supporting external and internal inspection processes
Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
-
Digital, Data & AI-Enabled Practice
- Lead uses of digital tools, AI, and data analytics to improve curriculum quality
- Model standards for ethical use of AI by staff
-
Resources, Finance & Sustainability
- Manage budgets to maximise value for money and quality outcomes
- Optimise staffing and resource deployment
-
Leadership & Management
- Provide visible leadership across multiple campuses
- Support decision-making for the Deputy Principal
- Represent the College in meet & greet activities
- Manage staff performance and talent development
Person Specification
Essential Criteria
- ** Degree or professional qualifications equivalent
- Teaching qualification (or equivalent)
- Significant senior leadership experience in Further Education (FE), sixth form, or equivalent
- Proven expertise in curriculum leadership and performance improvement
- Construction of Ofsted Education Inspection Framework (EIF) understanding
- Relevant industry experience (minimally in Professional, Sport, and Digital contexts)
- Financial awareness and budget management experience
- Inclusive leadership with an ED&I focus
- Values-driven leadership capable of inspiration and accountability-based management
- Demonstrable AI literacy, with a commitment to ethical, up-to-date practices
Desirable Criteria
- Diverse provision experience (high school, adult education, higher education, apprenticeships)
- Apprenticeship and employer partnership experience (especially in digital/industrial sectors)
- Experience in multi-campus, collegiate operations
- Postgraduate or extensive leadership qualifications
- History of leading ‘Outstanding’ inspection outcomes
- Experience in curriculum transformation with digital or AI product development
Please contact [recruitment contact] for further details.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London
Skills