Oaklands College
Head of Business, Travel, AI, Tech & Digital
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About Oaklands College
Oaklands College is a large further education provider in Hertfordshire, serving over 8,000 students across campuses in St Albans, Welwyn Garden City and Borehamwood, alongside a growing online presence and arable farm. Established in 1921, the College has a strong heritage of delivering responsive, high-quality education and supporting students to achieve their ambitions and contribute to their communities.
The College offers a broad range of academic and vocational programmes, including A-Levels, apprenticeships, higher education and specialist courses in areas such as engineering, construction, business, creative industries and elite sport. It is nationally recognised for its outstanding provision for learners with mild and severe learning difficulties, with a significant proportion of students receiving additional support.
Oaklands is ambitious and forward-looking, committed to expanding opportunities for young people, adults and apprentices to develop skills, reskill or upskill for the future. This is underpinned by a strong focus on high standards, innovation and collaboration between staff and students, ensuring learners are well prepared for progression into employment or further study.
Recently recognised with strong Ofsted judgements, the College continues to build on its reputation for excellence. Despite a challenging further education landscape, Oaklands remains a vibrant and supportive community, proud to be ranked 7th nationally for the achievement of young people and within the top 10% overall.
The Future
As Oaklands College expands, it is entering a significant phase of growth, building on over 100 years of educational excellence in Hertfordshire. With a clear mission to prepare learners for work, careers and life, the Group is adapting to meet the demands of a changing skills landscape.
Its strategy is centred on delivering high-quality teaching and learning, strengthening employer partnerships, and aligning the curriculum to local, regional and national priorities. Investment in modern, technology-enabled facilities will further support innovation and growth.
A key strength is its integrated model, bringing together further and higher education, apprenticeships, professional training, elite sport and commercial activity. This approach, alongside strong employer engagement will support workforce development and regional economic growth.
Looking ahead, Oaklands College aims to expand its reach while maintaining its strong community focus, positioning itself as a leading provider that develops talent, supports industry and delivers meaningful social impact.
SUMMARY OF POST
The Head of Curriculum will provide strategic and operational leadership across their designated curriculum areas, ensuring the effective delivery, quality and performance of provision aligned to local, regional and national skills priorities.
Working as part of the College Management Team, the postholder will drive excellence in teaching, learning and assessment, securing strong student outcomes and progression. The role will champion continuous improvement and innovation with a clear ambition to achieve an ‘Exceeding Expectations’ Ofsted judgement and to position Oaklands College as a high-performing provider nationally in terms of quality, outcomes and impact.
SCOPE & ACCOUNTABILITY
The postholder holds management responsibility for:
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- Curriculum planning, performance and operational delivery across their designated curriculum areas.
- Managing quality within the provision across all ages and levels, including study programmes, apprenticeships, adult, higher education and learning for leisure.
- Teaching, learning and assessment standards across the area.
- Student outcomes, including achievement, behaviour, retention, attendance and progression.
- Employer engagement, industry collaboration, partnerships and work-related learning.
- Supporting quality assurance, inspection readiness and continuous improvement.
- Digital, data and AI-enabled curriculum practice.
- Visible leadership and effective management of staff, resources and budgets within remit.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Curriculum Leadership & Development
- Lead the operational planning, delivery and continuous improvement of the designated curriculum areas.
- Translate the College’s curriculum strategy into effective operational delivery plans within the area.
- Ensure curriculum programmes remain innovative, inclusive and aligned to current industry practice, standards and labour market intelligence.
- Develop progression pathways across all levels that support learners into employment, higher education, apprenticeships, and professional careers.
- Contribute to curriculum growth strategies and support the development of new programmes aligned to emerging skills needs and industry demand.
- Ensure clear and inclusive learner journeys across all provision types.
- Maintain curriculum compliance with awarding organisation and regulatory requirements.
2. Teaching, Learning, Assessment & Quality
- Undertake a teaching commitment of up to 7 hours per week, as required, to support curriculum delivery and modelling high-quality teaching, learning and assessment practice.
- Promote clear expectations for high quality, learning and assessment across the College.
- Work in partnership with the Quality Team to drive sustained improvements in learner progress, achievement and outcomes.
- Ensure robust assessment practices, maintaining validity, reliability and integrity across all programmes.
- Ensure best practice and continuous professional development for curriculum staff.
3. Inclusion, Equality & Student Experience
- Embed inclusive practice across all designated curriculum areas, ensuring equitable access, participation and achievement.
- Identify and address barriers to learner success, particularly for disadvantaged and vulnerable students.
- Promote a positive student experience, including high standards of behaviour, attendance and engagement for all learners.
- Support the implementation of the College wide Inclusion Strategy.
4. English, Maths & Core Skills
- Ensure delivery, quality, consistency, and impact of English, Maths and core skills across the area.
- Promote the integration of literacy, numeracy and digital skills within curriculum delivery to support learner success and employability.
5. Industry Engagement & Employer Partnerships
- Support employer engagement across the provision, developing and maintaining strong partnerships across relevant industries.
- Ensure curriculum content reflects industry practice, standards and workforce needs.
- Work collaboratively with employers and Oaklands Training & Development to design and develop new programmes, aligned to skills demand and commercial opportunities.
- Promote meaningful work experience, industry placements and employer-led learning opportunities.
- Support the development of progression routes into employment and apprenticeships.
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6. Performance & Quality Improvement
- Take direct accountability for the delivery and performance of curriculum provision within the area, ensuring achievement, retention, progress and positive progression outcomes are met or exceeded.
- Identify risks and underperformance, implementing timely and effective interventions to improve student outcomes.
- Ensure the curriculum area is inspection ready, contributing to Ofsted, QAA and internal and external quality review processes.
- Support self-assessment and quality improvement planning across all relevant areas of the provision.
7. Digital, Data & AI-Enabled Practice
- Manage the effective use of digital systems, data and AI across the curriculum to improve quality, insight and outcomes.
- Champion innovation in curriculum design and delivery, promoting the effective integration of digital technologies and forward-thinking approaches to enhance the student experience and outcomes.
- Model the responsible and effective use of AI within the role to enhance efficiency, ensuring ongoing awareness of developments, risks and best-practice guidance.
8. Resources, Finance & Sustainability
- Manage budgets within the area, ensuring effective value for money.
- Align curriculum delivery with affordability and sustainability.
- Ensure efficient deployment of staffing, timetabling, and resources.
9. Leadership & Management
- Provide visible, values-led management across campuses and curriculum areas.
- Act as duty manager on a rota basis and take part in College meet & greet activities, supporting a visible and proactive presence.
- Support talent development, succession planning and staff performance management.
- Contribute actively to College Management Team priorities and cross college initiatives.
- Work closely with the Assistant Principal to deliver curriculum strategy, performance targets and improvement priorities within the area.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Criteria:
- Educated to degree level or equivalent professional qualification.
- Teaching qualification or equivalent professional recognition.
- Significant management experience within FE, sixth form or related education environment.
- Proven management of performance, quality and performance improvement.
- Strong understanding of Ofsted EIF and inspection requirements.
- Experience within one or more relevant sectors relating to the curriculum area.
- Experience of management staff and resources effectively.
- Employer engagement and partnership experience.
- Ability to manage inclusively, and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
- Credible, values-led leader able to inspire, challenge and hold staff to account.
- Demonstrable understanding of how to use AI tools appropriately and effectively within the role, with a commitment to keeping knowledge up to date.
Desirable Criteria:
- Experience across multiple provision types (16–19, adults, HE or apprenticeships).
- Experience within a multi-campus or group organisation.
- Experience of contributing Outstanding/Exceeding Expectations inspection outcomes.
- Experience of digital or AI-enabled transformation.
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