We’re looking for an Assistant Principal, interested?
Do you want a role where you’re recognised for what you do, given the opportunity to thrive and have the chance to be the best version of yourself? Interested in joining a great organisation with an employee offer and experience that rivals others? Are you looking for a new challenge? If so, please keep reading as you’re just what we’re looking for!
The team…
Learning and Skills is Gateshead Council’s post-16 provision. We are a large, innovative team who provide learning opportunities to over 3,500 residents a year including apprenticeships, adult education, 16-18 programmes, and specialist SEND provision. We are dedicated to helping residents improve their life chances, build resilience and develop skills through learning opportunities. We work collaboratively with colleagues across the local authority, partners and stakeholders to ensure residents receive an outstanding service.
About the role…
We are seeking an ambitious Assistant Principal who can achieve exceptional results. You’ll provide clear vision and leadership, ensuring the highest standards across the business. As a result, our learners will be successful in their learning, and thrive in work, their community, and life. You will deliver sustained performance and business improvement, working closely with the Principal of Learning and Skills to ensure the strategic ambitions for the service are realised.
This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of learners and the wider community by driving performance, innovation, and strategic growth in post-16 education.
Your role will involve leading and managing staff to meet ambitious targets, addressing underperformance through effective interventions, and overseeing all funding, budgets, and income. You will play a key role in shaping a responsive and forward-thinking curriculum by using market intelligence and local economic data, driving business improvement and growth, and identifying new opportunities that maximise commercial and collaborative ventures.
You will lead on monitoring and improving learner outcomes and business performance, ensuring quality assurance and continuous improvement are embedded throughout the service. Innovation will be central to your role, as you research and implement new technological and pedagogical approaches. You will also contribute to the Council’s strategic vision for post-16 education by working collaboratively with partners and stakeholders across the Borough. You will act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead and will serve as shadow nominee during Ofsted inspections.
To be successful in this role, you must have a deep understanding of funding and contracting rules related to post-16 education, including Apprenticeships, Adult Skills Fund, and Skills Bootcamps. You should be well-versed in national education policy, the Ofsted Education Inspection Framework, and outstanding teaching and assessment practices. A recognised teaching qualification and a strong grasp of safeguarding requirements are essential.
You will bring extensive senior management experience in a post-16 education or similar setting, with a proven track record of driving growth, innovation, and performance improvement. Your leadership, coaching, and mentoring skills will be key to facilitating success across the service. You will have experience in using complex data to inform strategic and operational decisions that improve outcomes.
Strong communication skills are key to this role, along with the ability to work collaboratively, develop creative solutions, and manage competing priorities. A commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity, and inclusion is fundamental.
If you are ready to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact, we would love to hear from you. Apply now and help us shape the future of post-16 learning.
A bit about Gateshead Council…
Gateshead is a constantly changing borough combining modern facilities with a fascinating heritage and the demand for our services continues to grow. We engage with many partners and contract a high number of services to deliver the best outcomes for our community. We’re truly committed to providing our customers with the highest quality of service and we need like-minded people who can help us deliver a sector leading service.
We need people who want to make a difference, who are talented, possess the right knowledge and skills and who want the chance to demonstrate how good they are.
People really are our greatest asset at Gateshead Council, and we value every employee. We encourage our people to think differently, do the right thing and be innovative.
What’s in it for you? Well, there’s so much on offer and here’s just a few of the highlights!
It’s time to apply!
We’re delighted that you want to come and work with us. Please take a look at the full job profile via this link JOB PROFILE. It’s important that you read it in full and check that you meet the essential criteria, because when we start choosing people to come and meet us we’ll be checking to ensure that they meet the essential criteria as set out in the job profile.
For additional information about this position please follow this link: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
If successful, you will have to apply for an enhanced Disclosure.
For an informal discussion or if you need any assistance, please contact Melanie Crosby on 0191 433 8650.