Vice Principal: Progress & Performance

This is a new role to support our Principal in taking our inclusive and collaborative College forward, converting strategy into opportunities that benefit our community and local economy.  

We are searching for a people-centred, values driven person who puts students and community at the heart of everything they do.  An inspirational leader with high expectations of their team to deliver the best.  Someone with integrity and a tenacious approach who will thrive within our caring culture.  Leading systems change, the College is at the forefront of innovation through place-based curriculum to level up and bring opportunities to all.  

Building on a strong financial and quality base, LMC is well placed to creatively and innovatively thrive, fulfilling its role as an anchor organisation with roots back to 1824.  A great place to live and work, Morecambe Bay is surrounded by areas of outstanding natural beauty and serviced by excellent road and rail links. 

This is a Senior Postholder position accountable to the Corporation and responsible to the Principal.   

Closing date for applications is 4pm on Friday 04 February 2022 and selection will be held at the College on Thursday 24 and/or Friday 25 February 2022. 

If you wish to have an informal discussion or visit, please contact Wes Johnson, Principal & Chief Executive on 01524 521289 or email w.johnson@lmc.ac.uk.  

Application forms and further details can be obtained from Oona Cushen, Governance Adviser, Lancaster & Morecambe College, Morecambe Road, Lancaster, LA1 2TY.  Tel: 01524 521238 or email o.cushen@lmc.ac.uk.  
 

Disclosure & Barring Service: This post is subject to an enhanced DBS Certificate

Job Purpose:  

• Design and implement curriculum strategy to ensure the measurable progress of all learners and apprentices.  Maximise curriculum efficiency to ensure the College achieves funding targets and delivers its financial plan.

• Drive strategic development of effective provision, enabling the College to meet the skills and technical education needs of its community, employers, learners and apprentices. 

• Ensure the College safeguards and meets the individual needs of all learners and apprentices, fulfilling its statutory responsibilities

Key Tasks / Responsibilities:

Leadership

1. Take full Senior Leadership Team responsibilities, exercising good judgement and demonstrating a whole organisation approach.  

2. Strategically lead the College’s intent, implementation and impact of provision, ensuring that the curriculum planning process leads to cost effective plans being set in each delivery area that will meet local need and strategic objectives.

3. Ensure appropriate strategies, policies and procedures are in place in relation to all aspects of curriculum delivery, as well as learning, pastoral and careers support for learners.

4. Represent the College in a range of external fora and act as ‘Quality Nominee’ for any relevant external scrutiny of educational performance and progress.

Management

1. Guide the Curriculum Directors in performance managing the impact of teaching and learning, driving up standards and tackling any areas of under-performance quickly, to deliver outstanding learner progress, outcomes and destinations across all curriculum provision.  
2. Manage the Curriculum Directors and work with other senior staff to ensure that the College achieves its strategic objectives and operational performance indicators.

Safeguarding and Learning Support 

1. Set the strategic direction for safeguarding, acting as the Senior Designated Safeguarding Lead and ensuring the College meets all statutory requirements.   

2. Manage the Safeguarding Manager to fully meet the requirements of ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, ensuring the service meets learners’ needs.  

3. Strategically drive equality, diversity and inclusion through the College’s learning support services, ensuring that a cohesive and comprehensive support system is implemented and maintained within budget constraints, contributing positively to inclusive learner progress and minimising achievement gaps.

4. Pro-actively support and promote health and safety compliance within the curriculum.

Other 

1. Other duties commensurate with the grade of post as required.
2. As a Senior Postholder, the Vice Principal has direct line of access to the Corporation if serious issues arise, which, in the opinion of the postholder, require such contact.
    

• Demonstrate commitment and contribution to the College’s continuous improvement
• Show commitment to the College and its internal and external customers
• Practise and promote a high standard of Health and Safety and ensure compliance with all College policies, procedures and legal obligations
• Promote and safeguard the welfare of young persons and vulnerable adults
• Practise and promote the College’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion policy
• Promote College sustainability policies and strategies by personal commitment and example
• Take responsibility for own CPD, updating professional skills and qualifications as required
• Regularly attend and proactively participate in all relevant College meetings, 
• Actively support the College’s marketing activities and promotional events
• Work respectfully and co-operatively with colleagues at all levels across college
• Adhere to Professional Standards for Teachers and Trainers (see The Education & Training Foundation: www.et-foundation.co.uk)
• Adhere to the College Values: 
  Community – caring, collaborative and inclusive; 
  Opportunity – accessible, aspirational and transformative

Competencies 

Essential - Measured by presentation and interview

• Strong and authentic leader who demonstrates integrity and diplomacy. 
• People-centred, values driven and inspirational leader. 
• Resilient and tenacious in challenging situations, exercising good judgement and whole organisation thinking. 
• Excellent communication skills, demonstrating professional credibility to all our stakeholders, internally and externally

Desirable - Measured by presentation and interview

• An understanding of a ‘trauma based’ approach to supporting learning and managing behaviour. 

Skills / Abilities

Essential - Measured by application form and interview

• Innovative and creative in providing effective curriculum that meets local need.  
• Collaborative people management skills, and ability to inspire and develop a team. 
• Proven ability and impact in tackling poor performance and non-compliance 
• Ability to interpret, analyse and evaluate complex data, both quality and financial 
• Strategic report writing skills including ability to prepare and present timely, accurate and evaluative information to Corporation.

Desirable - Measured by application form and interview

• Commitment to personal development within a caring culture
• Commitment to a place-based curriculum

Experience 

Essential - Measured by application form and interview

• Significant and effective experience of leadership in the FE and Skills sector.  
• Broad experience of performance, quality and financial management with measurable impact
• Experience of safeguarding; equality, diversity & inclusion; and learner support legislation and expectations

Desirable - Measured by application form and interview

• Ability to develop wider ‘outstanding’ place-based measures.
• Experience as an Ofsted Inspector

Qualifications

Essential - Measured by application form and certificates

• Degree or equivalent level qualification or experience
• Leadership and management experience
• GCSE Grade 4/C or above in Maths and English

Desirable - Measured by application form and certificates

• A higher degree
• Qualified as Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) 

JOIN OUR TEAM

Lancaster & Morecambe College is a thriving FE College, rated GOOD by Ofsted and justifiably proud of its strong links with our local community. Located between Lancaster and Morecambe, and within commuting distance of Central Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, our industry-standard facilities attract colleagues from across the North West.

We are excited to be working in partnership with the Eden Project & local partners to develop the Morecambe Bay Curriculum to meet future employment needs and to utilise our wonderful local landscape as a unique learning resource. 

LMC is a respectful, welcoming safe space to work, learn and thrive with high expectations for all. Valued as a significant local employer, we work hard to provide a supportive, productive and fulfilling working environment for our staff. We are always looking for talented and innovative people to join us

Valued as a significant local employer, we work hard to provide a supportive, productive and fulfilling working environment for our staff. In addition to a friendly team culture and a range of excellent on-site facilities, we offer:

• Relevant staff training and development and good progression opportunities
• Defined Benefit Pension Schemes for all staff (Local Government and Teachers' Pensions Schemes)
• Generous leave entitlement
• A range of family-friendly and other supportive HR policies
• FREE College gym membership
• Dedicated Occupational Health
• On site The Salon, Restaurant and catering facilities
• FREE parking