Candidate Pack Director of Education: Community Learning
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Candidate Pack
wea.org.uk
Director of Education:
Community Learning
Candidate Pack 2
Introduction
and welcome
Dear Candidate, The opportunities for the WEA, even in challenging
times, are endless.
Thank you for your interest in this new role, which is
essential to the delivery of our vision to bring adult In 2020, I set out a bold One WEA strategy and
education within reach. designed a new leadership team to bring our mission
to life. As Director of Education: Community Learning,
If you are passionate about the power of adult you will be responsible for building on the success of
education, an expert in your field, and a born leader our rich and popular community-based adult learning
able to inspire and empower your team, this could be provision.
just the role for you.
You will manage our regional and branch delivery. This
Founded in 1903, the Workers’ Educational Association includes providing strategic direction and ensuring
(WEA) is a charity dedicated to bringing high-quality income targets are met, and most importantly that our
education into the heart of communities across students receive an excellent learning experience.
England and Scotland. Initially WEA’s focus was to
bring access to the liberal arts, otherwise inaccessible You will need to balance long-term strategic
to workers. Now, we deliver a hybrid of arts, crafts improvements, medium-term development of new
and essential employability training from English as a curriculum and services, while maintaining robust
second language, digital skills, literacy and numeracy, operations which mean our tutors deliver an excellent
opening doors to opportunity. experience every day for our students.
We are here to serve those who need us, often in some Reporting directly to me, you will be welcomed into
of the most deprived communities in the UK. Unlike a dynamic, creative and target-driven team. We are
other educational institutions, our students do not determined to maximise the impact of the WEA, whilst
need any previous knowledge or qualifications to join ensuring sustainability in a post-Brexit and pandemic
most of our courses, only a willingness to share with economic environment.
others their curiosity, ideas and experience.
To achieve this we are building a positive, collaborative
In 2020 we fast-tracked the conversion of our teaching and supportive culture, focussing our teams on
and learning online. This has proven essential through delivering our One WEA mission.
the pandemic. Though we look forward to returning
to face to face delivery, which we know many of our Inspired by this challenge? Then, please do apply. I very
students prefer, online delivery will continue to be a much look forward to welcoming you to the team.
core part of our offer.
Simon Parkinson
CEO and General Secretary, WEA
Candidate Pack 3
Who we are
The WEA has been providing high-quality Values
educational opportunities to communities
since 1903. Today, our Vision, Mission and Democratic
Values inform everything we do.
Equal
Inclusive
Vision
Accessible
“A better world - equal, democratic and
just; through adult education the WEA Open
challenges and inspires individuals,
communities and society”
Approach to Education
and Learning
Mission
The WEA is committed to adult education
Raising educational aspirations for social purpose and to achieve social
justice. To find out more, click here
Bringing great teaching and learning
to download the WEA Approach to
to local communities
Education and Learning.
Ensuring there is always an
We deliver our mission by developing
opportunity for adults to return to
partnerships to meet individual and
learning
collective needs, using active learning
Developing educational opportunities and a student centred approach in which
for the most disadvantaged teachers and students work as equals. We
constantly strive to adapt our services to
Involving students and supporters as meet people’s needs, making full use of
members to build an education technology.
movement for social purpose
Inspiring students, teachers and
members to become active citizensCandidate Pack 4
Our students
No rush,
no pressure The WEA has made
so much possible for
me now
Here at WEA, we are passionate about The course was an introductory guide to IT, and I
giving our students an excellent learning found it really enjoyable. You can take your time.
No rush, no pressure. In a way, the lockdown was
experience and supporting them to make
a blessing, as I couldn’t rush back into life. I had to
the most out of their life. One student who go slow. I did a lot of walking with my dog Walter.
exemplifies this is Vicky. It meant I could recover properly. I count myself
lucky.
Vicky completed our Include IT course at I have since done courses in English and maths
Change Grow Live in Widnes. During lockdown, in college. I applied for a job as an account
she received support from the WEA, including assistant and came second out of more than
the use of a tablet. She has now progressed to 200 applicants. The feedback was so good for
studying maths and English, and is completing an my confidence. My son tells me I’m a changed
accountancy course at college. person. Without Jill, I really wouldn’t be where I
am today. The WEA has made so much possible
“I’ve had a tough time with my health in recent
for me now.”
years, and I was out of work and badly lacking
in confidence. I’ve always been a worker and so
really wanted to take baby steps towards getting
back on the job ladder. My tutor Jill at the WEA
has been amazing. I can’t speak highly enough
about her. She got me going again.Candidate Pack 5
Job description
Job title: Director of Education: Community Learning
Business unit: Education
Grade: LT FTE 1.0
Reports to: CEO & General Secretary
Direct reports: Heads of Region
Place of work: TBC
Purpose of the role: All posts at the WEA will support the vision for "A better
world - equal, democratic and just; through adult
education the WEA challenges and inspires individuals,
communities and society.”
Reporting to the CEO & General Secretary the Director
will provide, vision, strategic direction and leadership for
the Regions. Balancing long term strategies to improve
performance while ensuring the robust operational day to
day delivery and development of the vital services.
The post holder will develop, direct, influence and
implement the regional business plans and contribute
to the National improvement strategy. The Director will
achieve the successful delivery of the Regional plans within
budget and to restricted and unrestricted income targets.
The post holder will lead on the curriculum outcome areas
as well as being responsible for specific, distinct national
partnerships and to continually improve and raise the
profile of the Association.Candidate Pack 6
Job description
Director of Education: Community Learning
Key areas of responsibility
1. Ownership of the overall relationship of the 12. Management oversight of all Regional activities,
Head of Regions / Regional Committee structures, ensuring that operational /educational
ensuring effective communications and activity deliverables are regularly reviewed to optimise
coordination across the WEA. Identification and student learning experience and profile in line with
resolution of cross-functional issues. WEA 2025 strategy
2. Along with the Director of Education: 13. Embed and lead a culture of ‘student excellence’
Employability & Skills the role holder is responsible and continuous improvement within the Regions
for developing and implementing the Regions
14. Contribute to business/strategic planning
Strategic direction.
and delivery of relevant KPIs; monitor
3. Lead, shape and influence WEA’s education performance in responsible areas and drive/lead
delivery policy, recognising the link between change and improvements.
education and other policy area
15. Responsible and accountable for the delivery
4. Accountable for the Performance of the of the WEA’s grant and contract commitments,
directorate, ensuring the successful delivery of course / education management, contact /
business strategy, Key Performance Indicators student management.
(KPIs) and objectives, whilst adhering to
16. Determine the operational practices of the region,
regulatory compliance and achieving high
making sure each runs smoothly, cleanly, complies
outcomes for learners.
with marketing and sales campaigns and meets
5. Accountable for ensuring all aspects of budget and operational goals.
delivery are quality assured and meet internal,
17. Responsible for setting clear goals and
external and contractual assurance requirements.
performance expectations and ensures that
6. Support the Director of Quality & Student all managers and staff have a objectives and a
Services with an annual programme of personal development plan, and that regular
performance reviews that test self-assessment reviews and an annual appraisal take place for all
judgements, provide evidence of progress linked staff in the region.
to quality improvement plans.
18. To Lead, coach and ensure a competent
7. Support the Director of Quality & Student management team, getting behind their efforts
Services with all regulatory and inspectorate and helping them to accelerate plans and deliver
activities across the Association. improvements where required.
8. Develop, nurture and manage national and 19. Conduct meetings with Heads, Regional
international alliances including relationships Leadership Teams and Regional Committees to
with agencies supporting the WEA’s educational review the impact of Regional plans and develop
themes of Health & Wellbeing, Community and implement improvement strategies
Engagement and Culture as well as policy groups,
20. .Reviewing and promoting Regional participation
adult learning communities and professional
in Association wide projects and activities;
bodies.
21. Build and support diverse and effective
9. Involving and engaging national and regional
volunteer and member engagement activities
governance in the planning process and ensuring
for the Region, and monitor their effective
that they are engaged and involved in the
implementation
implementation of strategies and plans.
22. To develop strong partnerships with MCA’s
10. The Director is responsible for the implementation
external Partners and organisations
of the people strategy in the Regions and to
demonstrate role model behaviours 23. Any other reasonable request from the line
manager
11. Ensure frameworks are in place to support
partnership development at regional and local
levels
To be used in conjunction with relevant person specificationCandidate Pack 7
Person specification
Director of Education: Community Learning
Assessment method
(for recruitment only)
Criteria Essential Desirable A Application Form
I Interview
T Test
Education & qualifications
Degree or equivalent Yes A/I
Experience
Proven track record in delivery of large scale
Yes A/I
contracts and projects
Strong contract and project management skills Yes A/I
Demonstrates strong leadership
experience at level 5 plus Yes A/I
Experience of developing cross functional coherent
business plans and project planning within an agreed Yes A/I
budget
Strong networking and public speaking experience Yes A/I
Experience of working with a wide range of internal and
Yes A/I
external stakeholders
Demonstrates strong commercial acumen with a
Yes A/I/T
General Manager background
Experienced Business development Yes A/I
Manager
Knowledge & skills
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Yes A/I
(written and verbal)
Strong influencing and leadership / motivational skills. Yes A/I
Excellent planning, organisational and time
Yes A/I
management skills
Proven project management and strategic
Yes A/I
planning skills
Ability to work well under pressure, prioritise a heavy
Yes A/I
workload and work both reactively and pro-actively
Strong financial acumen
Shows a deep motivation and commitment to improving
adult and community learning and to making a real Yes A/I
difference to students
To be used in conjunction with relevant person specificationCandidate Pack 8
Person specification
Director of Education: Community Learning
Assessment method
(for recruitment only)
Criteria Essential Desirable A Application Form
I Interview
T Test
Competencies
Communicates and translates strategic priorities Yes A/I
setting clear metrics and deliverables to drive
continuous improvements and high performance
Makes informed and brave and relevant strategic
decisions and finds solutions that will work within the Yes A/I
culture and values within the capability of the WEA
Identifies and establishes and maintains strong
strategic stakeholder partnerships and alliances at an Yes A/I
Association National level.
Actively keeps up to date with wider sector issues and
Yes A/I
professional development
Champions and benchmarks all quality standards
against all aspects of service to deliver high levels of Yes A/I
service and standards
To represent the WEA messages to and to
communicate WEA
Additional requirements
Comply with all WEA’s Policies and Procedures, e.g.
Code of Conduct, Health and Safety and Equality and Yes A/I
Diversity Policy
A willingness to travel within the UK Yes A/I
Be prepared to work flexibly, including outside of
Yes A/I
normal office hours
To be used in conjunction with relevant person specificationThe WEA
4 Luke Street
London
EC2A 4XW
T. 0300 303 3464
E. ExecRecruitment@wea.org.uk
@WEAadulted
weaadulteducation
The WEA is a charity registered in England and Wales
(no. 1112775) and in Scotland (no. SC039239).You can also read
