Job Title: Alternative Provision Lead
Salary: £32,000–£38,000 FTE (dependent upon experience)
£27,266.27-£32,378.70 actual based on 37.5 hours per week, 40 weeks per year
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract: Full Time
Location: Swindon Tuition Centre (working across all centres)
Reports to: Director of Operations
Job Purpose
The Alternative Provision Lead is a key middle leadership role responsible for leading
high-quality educational provision across a portfolio of Alternative Provision centres.
Working closely with Centre Managers, tutors and the safeguarding team, the postholder will
ensure excellent standards of teaching, learner engagement, safeguarding, behaviour and
operational delivery.
The role combines educational leadership with operational management, ensuring learners
receive high-quality, personalised provision whilst supporting tutors to continuously improve
their practice.
This role has been designed to distribute leadership responsibilities across several
experienced leaders, providing resilience, consistency and succession planning as the
organisation continues to grow.
Key Responsibilities
Educational Leadership
● Lead and promote high-quality teaching and learning across allocated centres.
● Support tutors in planning engaging, differentiated learning.
● Monitor Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), lesson evidence and learner progress.
● Support tutors in adapting teaching approaches to meet SEND and SEMH needs.
● Promote high expectations for learner achievement and engagement.
● Monitor curriculum delivery to ensure consistency and quality.
● Support the development of creative learning opportunities and enrichment activities.
● Assist with exam preparation and assessment arrangements.
Quality Assurance
● Undertake lesson observations and learning walks.
● Provide constructive coaching and feedback to tutors.
● Monitor curriculum quality and standards.
● Identify areas for improvement and support action planning.
● Monitor the quality of learner records and assessment evidence.
● Ensure compliance with organisational quality assurance processes.
● Analyse learner progress and identify trends requiring intervention.
Operational Leadership
● Support the day-to-day operational running of allocated centres.
● Work alongside senior leaders to ensure staffing levels remain effective.
● Support timetabling and learner allocations.
● Assist with referrals, admissions and learner transitions.
● Respond proactively to operational issues.
● Build positive relationships with schools, local authorities and external professionals.
● Represent the organisation professionally at multi-agency meetings where
appropriate.
Staff Leadership
● Provide day-to-day leadership, coaching and support to tutors.
● Hold regular supervision and professional development conversations.
● Support probation reviews and performance management processes.
● Identify staff training needs.
● Mentor new members of staff.
● Promote a positive, collaborative team culture.
● Lead by example in professionalism, communication and organisational values.
Behaviour & Student Engagement
● Support tutors with behaviour management strategies.
● Promote restorative approaches.
● Assist with behaviour support planning.
● Work collaboratively with families and professionals to reduce barriers to learning.
● Support learners to improve attendance, engagement and outcomes.
Safeguarding
● Act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) following successful
completion of training.
● Promote a strong safeguarding culture.
● Ensure safeguarding concerns are reported promptly.
● Support safeguarding investigations where appropriate.
● Work closely with the DSL to monitor vulnerable learners.
● Ensure safeguarding records remain accurate and compliant.
Data & Performance
● Monitor learner attendance, progress and engagement.
● Analyse performance data to identify trends.
● Produce reports for senior leaders.
● Support preparation for inspections, audits and quality assurance visits.
● Use data to inform decision making and continuous improvement.
Partnership Working
● Develop positive relationships with:
○ Schools
○ Local Authorities
○ Parents and carers
○ External agencies
○ Community organisations
● Support referral meetings and learner reviews.
● Promote the organisation positively within the local community.
Direct Delivery
As a middle leader, the postholder will continue to work directly with young people where
required by:
● delivering occasional tuition;
● modelling excellent practice;
● supporting challenging learners;
● assisting during periods of increased operational demand.
General Responsibilities
● Promote the organisation's values and CARES behaviours.
● Participate in CPD and Leadership Academy development.
● Support whole-organisation improvement projects.
● Travel between centres as required.
● Undertake any other duties reasonably requested within the scope of the role.
Person Specification
Essential
Qualifications
● Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Education, Youth Work, Social Care
or related field.
● Full UK Driving Licence.
● Willingness to complete DSL/DDSL training.
Experience
● Experience working within Alternative Provision, SEND, SEMH or specialist
education.
● Experience supporting children and young people with additional needs.
● Experience leading or mentoring staff.
● Experience working collaboratively with external professionals.
● Experience managing challenging behaviour positively.
● Experience monitoring learner progress.
● Experience using educational data to improve outcomes.
Knowledge
● Safeguarding legislation.
● SEND Code of Practice.
● Behaviour management strategies.
● Trauma-informed practice.
● Inclusive teaching approaches.
● Curriculum planning and assessment.
● Ofsted expectations for Alternative Provision.
Skills
● Excellent communication.
● Coaching and mentoring.
● Organisation and prioritisation.
● Problem solving.
● Decision making.
● Relationship building.
● Data analysis.
● Report writing.
● IT literacy.
Personal Attributes
● Calm under pressure.
● Resilient.
● Solution focused.
● Compassionate.
● Professional.
● Reflective.
● Adaptable.
● Positive role model.
● Committed to continuous improvement.
What Success Looks Like
Within the first 12 months, the postholder will:
● Improve consistency of teaching and learning across allocated centres.
● Increase tutor confidence through coaching and supervision.
● Ensure high-quality ILPs and learner records.
● Contribute to improved learner attendance and engagement.
● Support positive safeguarding outcomes.
● Build strong relationships with families, schools and professionals.
● Demonstrate positive leadership aligned with Swindon Tuition Centre's values.
Pay: £27,266.27-£32,378.70 per year
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Company events
- Cycle to work scheme
- Referral programme
Work Location: In person
