Organisation: Thrive Education Services
Location: Nottinghamshire (across 3 sites)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Role Purpose (Ofsted EIF aligned)
The Quality Lead & Curriculum Lead will have strategic responsibility for curriculum quality, internal quality assurance (IQA), and standards of education across Thrive Education Services. The role ensures that curriculum intent is ambitious and inclusive, implementation is consistent and high quality, and impact is evidenced through pupil progress, engagement and positive destinations, in line with Ofsted’s Education Inspection Framework.
The postholder will lead quality assurance systems, internal verification, and curriculum oversight to ensure that teaching, learning and assessment enable pupils with SEND to make strong progress from their starting points, particularly within an alternative provision context.
Key Responsibilities (Aligned to EIF Judgement Areas)
Quality of Education – Curriculum Intent
- Lead the development and oversight of a clearly articulated curriculum intent across all subjects and sites
- Ensure the curriculum is:
- Ambitious, broad and balanced
- Designed to meet the needs of pupils with SEND
- Sequenced to build knowledge, skills and confidence over time
- Ensure curriculum pathways support:
- Re-engagement in education
- Preparation for next steps (education, employment or training)
- Work closely with the SENCo to ensure:
- EHCP outcomes inform curriculum planning
- Reasonable adjustments are embedded at curriculum level
- Ensure curriculum intent is clearly evidenced and understood by staff
Quality of Education – Curriculum Implementation
- Lead on Internal Quality Assurance (IQA) across all Thrive provisions
- Design, implement and maintain QA and IQA systems that:
- Monitor consistency of teaching and learning
- Quality assure learners’ work
- Verify assessment decisions
- Meet awarding body and certification requirements
- Implement a structured programme of:
- Teaching and learning observations
- Work scrutiny
- Assessment sampling
- Learner progress reviews
- Ensure teaching reflects:
- Adaptive teaching strategies
- Trauma-informed and SEND-inclusive practice
- High expectations for all pupils
- Support staff through coaching, feedback and targeted CPD to improve classroom practice
Quality of Education – Impact
- Monitor and evaluate the impact of the curriculum on pupil outcomes, including:
- Progress from starting points
- Engagement and attendance
- Learner confidence and independence
- Ensure learners are:
- On track
- Appropriately entered for qualifications
- Making meaningful progress in line with their needs
- Quality assure certification and claims processes to ensure accuracy and compliance
- Use data and evidence to inform:
- Curriculum refinement
- Teaching improvements
- Organisational self-evaluation
- Ensure impact is clearly evidenced for inspection purposes
Leadership & Management
- Lead and embed a culture of high expectations, reflective practice and continuous improvement
- Ensure QA systems contribute to accurate self-evaluation and improvement planning
- Support inspection readiness across all sites
- Work collaboratively with:
- Senior Leadership Team
- SENCo
- DSLs
- Data & Compliance Officer
- Contribute to internal audits aligned to Ofsted standards
- Ensure staff understand their role in delivering high-quality education
SEND & Alternative Provision Context
- Ensure all quality and curriculum systems reflect:
- The SEND Code of Practice
- The needs of pupils with SEMH, ASD and complex profiles
- Promote inclusive practice that enables pupils with disrupted education histories to succeed
- Ensure progress measures reflect starting points and individual pathways, not solely age-related expectations
- Support staff to adapt teaching to meet diverse and complex needs
Person Specification
Essential
- Significant experience in quality assurance and curriculum leadership
- Experience acting as an IQA / Internal Verifier
- Strong understanding of the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework
- Experience in alternative provision, SEND or specialist education
- Knowledge of curriculum design for pupils with SEND
- Ability to evaluate curriculum intent, implementation and impact
- Strong leadership and organisational skills
Desirable
- Teaching qualification
- IQA or quality assurance qualification
- Experience working with awarding bodies
- Experience supporting Ofsted inspections
Safeguarding Statement
Thrive Education Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The successful applicant will be subject to enhanced DBS checks and safer recruitment procedures.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Work Location: In person
