Head of Curriculum and Quality

About the Company

Pure Innovations Ltd is a forward-thinking charity with a 30-year legacy of empowering people with disabilities and barriers to education and employment. We’ve been transforming lives across Greater Manchester by providing life-changing opportunities to young people through tailored education and employability programmes. From school partnerships to Supported Internships, our work is driven by the belief that every individual deserves a chance to thrive—not just in education, but in life.

In 2022, we opened Pure College, a specialist employability college for students aged 16-24 with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP). This dynamic, inclusive setting has rapidly grown, and this year we’re proud to offer 36 student places. Our aim is to give students the knowledge and skills to succeed in life: through work experience, industry placements, travel training, and a focus on building confidence, wellbeing, and independence.

Be part of an Ofsted-rated ‘Good’ college committed to innovation, with a clear focus on supporting students to achieve successful outcomes. 70% of our students progress into paid employment as a direct result of their experience at Pure College.

We welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds and experiences. You may already be a curriculum leader or a senior practitioner ready to take the next step. What matters most is your commitment to inclusive education and your ability to lead with integrity and purpose.

About the Role

We are looking for a values-driven Head of Curriculum and Quality, who is also a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) or willing to undertake the training.  This key leadership role will act as a deputy to the Head of College, with strategic and operational responsibility for delivering high-quality, student-focused provision that meets student, employers, and community need.

You’ll play a vital leadership role in shaping and sustaining the quality of education at Pure College. Working closely with the Head of College and wider management team, you’ll ensure provision is inclusive and ambitious, supporting students to achieve their goals and progress into further education, employment, or training.

Responsible for leading high-quality curriculum delivery, robust internal quality assurance, and continuous improvement of teaching, learning, and assessment – particularly addressing our priority to strengthen the consistency and quality of formative and summative feedback.

You will lead on observation cycles, learning walks, curriculum design, and professional development, with a clear focus on evaluating and improving impact. You will also act as the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL), helping to uphold a culture of safety, inclusion, and high expectations.

Although the role does not carry a standard teaching timetable, the postholder must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and may occasionally be required to teach, model best practice, or support curriculum areas directly.

Duties and responsibilities/What you’ll be doing

• Curriculum Leadership
• Lead the development, review, and delivery of high-quality, sequential curriculum pathways aligned with students’ aspirations and EHCP outcomes
• Design, review and quality-check schemes of work and curriculum units
• Embed high expectations for inclusive, adaptive teaching and functional skills across all programmes
• Ensure compliance with awarding bodies (e.g., Open Awards, Functional Skills)
• Lead evaluations and impact analysis of CPD related to curriculum and teaching

Quality Assurance and Feedback

• Implement and embed internal quality assurance systems including teaching observations, learning walks, and student progress reviews
• Monitor and improve the consistency and impact of formative and summative feedback
• Lead the assessment strategy, ensuring it is purposeful, proportionate, and responsive to individual student needs
• Ensure all accredited learning is robustly tracked and aligned with awarding body requirements
• Lead and attend standardisation meetings, maintain AIV status, and support continuous improvement through data-driven analysis
• Work with staff to identify areas for development and deliver targeted, high-quality CPD

Staff leadership and line management

• You will deputise for the Head of College in their absence by overseeing daily operations, staff management, and coordinating student support.
• Support tutors in their management of Learning Coaches
• Contribute to recruitment, induction, performance management, and staff development
• Promote a positive, collaborative working culture and support staff to deliver high-quality, personalised education

Strategic and external engagement

• Work with the Head of College and Director of Learning and Development to lead on strategic developments, policy changes and innovation in SEND and employability
• Build strong professional relationships with commissioners, partners, and external agencies
• Stay informed of local and national developments in SEND, transition, and education policy

Additional responsibilities

• Provide in-house training, chair meetings and provide cross-college management support where required
• Attend relevant meetings, conferences, contribute to internal reviews, and uphold Pure Innovations policies and procedures and safeguarding duties
• To maintain an up-to-date knowledge of relevant legislation and service developments and to adhere to all appropriate policies, procedures and guidelines
• To uphold Pure’s key values Respectful, Aspirational, Responsive and Inclusive in everything we do

Any other reasonable tasks as directed by your line manager. The company reserves the right to reasonably amend duties in line with business needs.

Essential Qualifications and Experience:

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)

Qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) or willing to undertake the relevant qualification (Internal Quality Assurance of Assessment Processes and Practice)

Proven experience in curriculum leadership and internal quality assurance

Strong understanding of SEND, Preparation for Adulthood, and personalised learning

Track record of improving the quality of teaching and feedback

Ability to coach, mentor, and lead others effectively

Excellent knowledge of awarding body frameworks and assessment standards

Commitment to safeguarding and equality

Desirable Qualifications and Experience:

Experience designing or leading Preparation for Adulthood (PfA) pathways, with a focus on employability outcomes

Direct experience in job coaching, supported internships, or community-based learning for young people with SEND

Familiarity with Open Awards accreditation, including unit selection, registration, internal verification, and centre moderation processes

Experience teaching or overseeing delivery of Functional Skills in English and maths, especially in Entry Level 3 to Level 2

Experience embedding vocational profiling and student-led goals into curriculum planning

Other Information

• Pure Innovations is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• This role is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and the successful candidate will be required to undertake an enhanced criminal record check via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). In addition, following recommendations from Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) an online search will form part of this recruitment process.

Pure Innovations is an equal opportunity employer and a proud supporter of the Disability Confident scheme and the Armed Forces Covenant. If you have a disability or are a member of the armed forces community, please let us know, and you will be automatically invited to interview, provided you meet the essential criteria.

Additionally, please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments or support with the recruitment process.