Deputy Head of Department – A Levels & Creative (Arts & Humanities)

Salary £44,885 – £49,208 per annum

*Plus 28.7% Employer pension Contribution

Contractual hours 37

Permanent – All Year Round (AYR)

This is an exciting time to join the newest and most ambitious College Group in the country. UCS College Group combines four colleges – Bridgwater, Taunton, Cannington & Strode College to provide exceptional learning opportunities for students across Somerset. Our vision is to transform lives and communities through learning and partnerships. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to join us on our journey.

The person appointed to the Deputy Head of Department will have an integral role in designing and delivering outstanding provision, through excellent leadership of curriculum teams and coordinating the operational delivery of provision. Working collaboratively with the Assistant Principal for the area and other members of the University Centre Somerset College Group (UCS College Group), Management Team, you will be a key figurehead in managing and supporting the continued success of the department.

This Deputy Head position will be based at Strode College, within the area of A Levels and Creative and be responsible for the Arts & Humanities based provision. The most significant area of this role is leading and managing a range of A Level subjects and vocational based art provision. Strode College has a long track-record of excellent A Level results and the successful candidate will be ambitious, driven and be able to deliver a strategy that enables staff and student to achieve exceptional outcomes.

You will play a critical role in overseeing the operational day to day running of the department, whilst supporting the Assistant Principal in achieving departmental KPIs, appropriate financial contribution and implementing a robust curriculum plan that allows for growth, meeting the needs of our students and local, regional & national skills priorities.

This is an exciting time for UCS College Group and our high-performing departments, we are seeking a proactive, dynamic and experienced practitioner to continue to relentlessly pursue the highest standards and outcomes for our students. We are passionate about teaching, learning and assessment and as such, critical to this post, the post-holder will need to be an excellent classroom practitioner, with the ability to develop and lead teaching & learning initiatives and pedagogical practice.

Critical to the values of UCS College Group, the Deputy Head position requires effective communication and people management skills. The ability to motivate, talent develop and unlock the potential of individuals and teams is critical. Being a strong team-player who is positively solution focused, with the ability to work collaboratively with leaders and managers across different areas is essential.

The UCS College Group offer a range of fantastic employee benefits including:

Generous pension scheme

Competitive holiday entitlement

Dedicated CPD days

2 wellbeing days

2-week Christmas closure

On-site discounted gym

Free parking

Discount package, this includes top retailers, supermarkets, holidays, entertainment packages and much more!

UCS College Group is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and communities. We are also a disability confident employer and we’ll do all we can to help with your application. Please let us know if you need to request reasonable adjustments. We encourage everyone to apply who wishes to and we believe that everyone should have an equal opportunity.

Bridgwater & Taunton College are proposing to merge with Strode College in August 2025 to form a stronger College Group to continue to serve its learners, employers, and the wider Somerset Community.

Applicants who apply for a role at Bridgwater & Taunton College and who start their employment after 31 July 2025 will be contracted under the newly merged organisation to be known as UCS College Group (University Centre Somerset College Group)