Programme Manager – Adult English & Maths and ESOL

Role: Programme Manager – Adult English & Maths and ESOL

Location: Bedford College – Cauldwell Street Campus

Salary/Benefits: Salary is between £40,000 and £46,349 per annum DOE and Qualifications, 35 days annual leave plus Bank holidays, Teacher’s pension, Retail and Leisure Discounts, excellent professional and personal development opportunities, accessing college courses.

Hours/Weeks: 37 hours per week – 52 weeks per year

Contract Type: Permanent – Full Time

About the role:

We are currently seeking a Programme Manager in Adult English & Maths and ESOL to join our Adult & Community Learning & ESOL department at The Bedford College Group.

As a Programme Manager, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Curriculum Leadership & Development – Lead the design, delivery, and growth of ESOL and AEM programmes, ensuring they are engaging, relevant, and aligned with college strategy and progression pathways.
• Quality Assurance & Student Outcomes – Monitor and improve teaching, learning, and assessment standards; track student progress, retention, and achievement; and take action to address underperformance.
• Team Management & Collaboration – Line manage teaching staff and support roles, oversee recruitment and development, and ensure consistent implementation of college policies and performance frameworks.
• Operational Oversight & Stakeholder Engagement – Coordinate student recruitment, timetabling, awarding body liaison, and enrichment activities; maintain strong relationships with internal teams, external partners, and local authorities.
• Statutory Duties & College-Wide Contribution – Uphold safeguarding, equality, and health & safety standards; teach a fractional timetable; and actively participate in cross-campus activities, events, and continuous professional development.

About you:

• Qualifications & Subject Expertise – Holds a degree or relevant qualification in ESOL/English/maths (e.g. CELTA), a recognised teaching qualification (PGCE/Cert Ed), and GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
• Leadership & Teaching Experience – Proven success in leading teams and teaching across levels in ESOL and/or AEM, with experience in quality assurance, curriculum development, and performance management in Further Education.
• Professional Skills & Attributes – Strong communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills; able to lead with credibility, influence at all levels, and respond creatively to challenges.
• Digital & Data Competence – Confident in using IT systems and data to monitor and improve course delivery, support ILT integration, and maintain accurate records with attention to detail.
• Values-Driven & Flexible – Committed to safeguarding, equality, and professional boundaries; adaptable to changing business needs, willing to travel across campuses, and aligned with TBCG values and policies.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: 10 October 2025

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisationalVISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork – We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously – We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred – At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive – We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring – We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence – We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

About The Bedford College Group
The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students
The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group’s policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.

Documents

TBCG Ex-Offenders Policy.pdf

JDPS – Programme Manager AEM&ESOL.docx