Job Role: Quality Manager – Prison Education
Location: HMP Sudbury
Salary: £35,000+ DOE
Contract: Permanent, full‑time
Working Environment: Prison‑based role requiring full on‑site delivery and direct staff/learner engagement
Role Overview
We are recruiting a proactive and experienced Quality Manager to lead and improve the quality of teaching, learning, and assessment across the education provision at HMP Sudbury. This role plays a key part in driving high standards, supporting staff development, and ensuring exceptional learner experiences across all curriculum areas, including Functional Skills.
You will lead on quality assurance, implement improvement strategies, line manage Neurodiversity and Reading Specialists, and help shape a culture focused on positive outcomes, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
Quality Leadership & Assurance
- Lead the full Quality Cycle across the education department.
- Plan and conduct lesson observations, deep dives, learning walks, and blended learning reviews.
- Produce clear reports, action plans, and follow‑up support for teaching staff.
- Quality‑assure teaching, neurodiversity support, reading interventions, and inclusion processes.
- Monitor and coordinate IQA/EQA schedules and perform IQA duties where required.
Teaching Staff Development
- Coach and mentor teachers to improve classroom practice and achieve action‑plan targets.
- Deliver CPD that reflects trends from observations, audits, and quality reviews.
- Support new teachers through induction, mentoring, and ongoing skills development.
- Share best practice and cascade learning from bi‑monthly quality meetings.
Neurodiversity & Inclusion Management
- Line manage Neurodiversity Specialists, Reading Specialists, and Inclusion Support Coordinators.
- Oversee screening, support plans, and interventions for Tier 3 learners, ensuring monthly reviews.
- Monitor and develop reading interventions, including programmes such as That Reading Thing.
- Ensure consistent approaches to inclusion, accessibility, and learner support.
Operational & Quality Systems
- Maintain and update the Quality Toolkit monthly and report into central teams.
- Support learner‑engagement strategies, ensuring they are embedded across the provision.
- Provide teaching cover where needed to maintain continuity of provision.
- Promote equality, diversity, safeguarding, and positive behaviours throughout learning activities.
Essential Criteria
- Degree or equivalent qualification.
- Teaching qualification (e.g., QTLS) and/or Assessor/Verifier Award.
- Minimum Level 3 qualification in English or Maths.
- Evidence of a recent Grade 1 lesson observation.
- Experience coaching teachers to improve classroom practice.
- Knowledge of current Functional Skills initiatives and quality frameworks.
- Strong leadership, communication, and stakeholder‑influencing skills.
- Ability to manage workload under pressure and meet deadlines.
Desirable Criteria
- Experience working within custodial or community education settings.
- Track record of improving quality and raising teaching standards.
- Experience supporting Ofsted inspections and contributing to SAR/QIP processes.
- Knowledge or experience of neurodiversity and reading interventions.
- Willingness to travel across sites to share best practice
