College Principal

• Salary

  Competitive Salary plus benefits including up to 45 Days leave + Bank Holidays

• Sector

  Education

• Type

  Permanent

Due to the present incumbent’s imminent retirement, we are looking for a College Principal to develop and grow the provision, lead the curriculum, and further enhance teaching and learning at Carshalton College and Merton College, building on the strong foundations established by the Colleges’ leadership teams.

This role will be part of the wider Group Leadership Team, working across the successful South Thames Colleges Group (STCG) by drawing on practice from a wider context and sharing developments consistently with other team members. The post holder will also have responsibility across the Group to support the delivery of English and Maths, SEND and HNS, Apprenticeships and Skills delivery within the Curriculum.

We are looking to appoint an individual who has a proven track record of successful leadership in the FE sector, backed by strong evidence of driving student outcomes forward, promoting great teaching and learning and supporting innovation in curriculum delivery.

You will demonstrate a committed understanding of the values and mission of South Thames Colleges Group and be comfortable working in a demanding and complex role as part of the wider leadership team. You will have a proven track record of success, excellent communication skills and the leadership qualities necessary to secure sustainable and deep-rooted improvements to student outcomes as well as the skills to develop effective approaches to teaching and learning.

You will also have a passionate commitment to student success, a strong understanding of the financial implications of curriculum management and the vision and ability to deliver equal opportunities in an inclusive learning context.

STCG very much encourages applications from candidates whose backgrounds are as diverse as the learners who attend the Group’s Colleges.

Closing date for the return of completed applications is 10 March 2024.

When clicking on ‘Apply’, you will be taken to the STCG Recruitment platform where you can download some supporting documents including a comprehensive Candidate Recruitment Pack that outlines the planned recruitment schedule as well as further information about the position, the two Colleges and the whole Group including the senior leadership organisation structure. In addition, you can download some further documents including the job description and person specification, the Group’s 2021-2024 Strategic Plan, the latest STCG Ofsted Inspection Report from Feb 2020 and the 2022/23 Financial Statements.

Should you wish to arrange an informal conversation with Peter Mayhew-Smith, the Group Principal & CEO, please email him in the first instance at peter.mayhew-smith@stcg.ac.uk

The benefits package includes generous annual leave of 37 days plus up to 8 additional days over Christmas/New Year. This leave is all in addition to Bank Holiday entitlement. There is an excellent pension scheme that receives a significant financial contribution from the employer (Teachers Pensions or Local Government Pension Scheme), subsidised sports facilities and professional development and training plus a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme.

STCG is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

As outlined in the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010, we are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage and civil partnerships.

As part of our due diligence checks on prospective employees, successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, an online search and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Carshalton College is situated close to both Sutton and Croydon and offers high quality vocational education at all levels. Located in an attractive area with lots of green spaces, parks and the Carshalton ponds, the College has been an education provider in Sutton for over 60 years. Merton College boasts industry standard facilities and is adjacent to the beautiful grounds of Morden Park.

Together, we have fantastic success rates, making us part of one of the best FE college groups in London. We have knowledgeable tutors who have a wealth of industry experience as well as established employer links for our Apprenticeships and students’ work experience. Our mission is to achieve the ambitions of more students and partners than ever before.

STCG is made up of Carshalton College, Kingston College, Merton College and South Thames College, which merged on 1 August 2017. South Thames Colleges Group is one of London’s largest providers of post-16 education and training and is an ongoing and significant contributor to its local communities. We aim to put students’ success at the heart of everything we do.

When you click on ‘Apply’, you will be forwarded to the application page which sits on a platform hosted by an external partner called Blue Octopus who support STCG throughout the recruitment process.