About ARU:
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.
At our ARU Writtle campus, we specialise in animal, environmental, agricultural and horticultural courses, for learners aged 16 to 18, adult learners, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
Writtle College is a leading specialist provider of land-based education, delivering high-quality further education and apprenticeship programmes that meet the evolving needs of industry while providing an inclusive and ambitious learning experience for all students.
In 2024, Writtle College merged with Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), creating exciting new opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and regional impact, while securing the college's long-term sustainability. Our shared values of ambition, collaboration, inclusion and integrity underpin our mission to transform lives and create an environment where excellence can thrive.
Located on a stunning 150-hectare campus in the Essex countryside, within easy reach of central London, Writtle College offers an exceptional learning environment. Our specialist facilities include dedicated equine, animal and canine centres, alongside a working farm, on-site accommodation for 300 students and a range of industry-standard resources that support both further and higher education provision. We are proud of our modern, industry-focused curriculum and the strong partnerships we have built with employers, civic organisations and sector stakeholders, creating meaningful progression pathways for our learners.
Following a successful Ofsted inspection in May 2025, which resulted in a Good rating, the college is going from strength to strength. We have experienced significant growth in student numbers over the past two years, maintain an outstanding financial position, and have ambitious plans to further enhance our curriculum offer and specialist facilities.
As part of ARU, Writtle College benefits from being embedded within one of the UK's most dynamic universities. ARU was named University of the Year by The Times Higher Education in 2023 and holds a TEF Gold rating for educational excellence. The University continues to strengthen its reputation through research-led innovation, extensive partnerships and significant investment across its four campuses.
About the Role:
We are seeking an ambitious and forward-thinking leader to take overall responsibility for the quality of our further education and apprenticeship provision, ensuring consistently high standards, exceptional student outcomes and a culture of continuous improvement.
Reporting directly to the Principal and working closely with the Board, the Assistant Principal will play a highly visible role in shaping the future direction of the college, championing research-informed practice, outstanding teaching and learning, inclusion, progression and student success. As the college Nominee, you will also take ownership of our future Ofsted preparation and inspection process.
A key priority will be driving consistency and excellence across all areas of provision during a period of significant growth. Working collaboratively with colleagues across both Writtle College and ARU, including sharing good practice with the Higher Education quality leadership team, you will lead the development and implementation of a clear teaching, learning and assessment strategy, embedding innovative pedagogical approaches and robust quality frameworks.
This is an outstanding opportunity to bring fresh ideas, create a teaching and learning philosophy for the college, and make a lasting impact on the future of a specialist institution with ambitious plans for growth.
To apply for this role please follow this link: Assistant Principal - Quality, Teaching and… | Association of Colleges
The Candidate
Our successful candidate will have experience of leading curriculum and/or quality improvement within a further education environment, with a proven ability to inspire colleagues and raise standards.
We welcome applications from individuals seeking to step upwards and we will provide support and development to help you succeed and continue your leadership journey. We are equally open to considering candidates from either General Further Education or land-based colleges, as previous land-based sector experience is not essential. What matters most is your ability to lead the quality agenda, embrace new challenges and share our ambition to deliver exceptional outcomes for our students and communities.
You will hold a degree plus demonstrable professional experience for the role or relevant professional/degree level qualification appropriate to the specific role being appointed to plus demonstrable professional experience for the role. You will also have a recognised teaching qualification and/or Assessor and Verifier Awards.
Why Join Us?
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a talented and committed leadership team at a pivotal point in the college's development. By combining Writtle's specialist heritage with the strengths and opportunities offered through ARU, you will help shape the next chapter of our success and make a meaningful difference to the lives of our students, staff and wider communities.
Informal enquiries can be made to Philip Grant, Principal, at [email protected]
Find out more about working with us and how we recruit.
We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package. Visit our benefits page for full details.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.
All appointments at ARU Writtle are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced criminal records with Children’s Barred List check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information can be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check. Shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any prior disciplinary action or investigation related to sexual misconduct or abuse.
This role is considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.
We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
We have a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK and will conduct Right to Work checks in line with UKVI’s Right to Work policy and our own institutional policy. Furthermore, we must note:
- Applicants applying from outside the UK: At this time, ARU is unable to sponsor applicants applying from overseas for a Worker Route visa.
- Applicants already in the UK: ARU is unable to offer Worker Route visa sponsorship to applicants whose salary does not meet our minimum sponsorship threshold, which aligns with roles at Grade 6 and above.
Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
Guidance Notes:
Please download the Job Description Person Specification for key requirements. To apply, demonstrate how your skills and experience meet the criteria.
