COURSE LEADER – Creative Arts and Digital programmes

JOB SPECIFICATION

Salary: £34,643 - £42,040 per annum

Working Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week

A Levels, Creative, Technical &

Area:
Professional Studies

Reporting to: Deputy Head – Creative Arts

Location: Taunton Campus

Closing date: 12 midnight, Thursday 8 August 2024

Job Purpose

The post-holder will be motivated, enthusiastic and a strong team player who strives to deliver
the best possible outcomes for our learners by maximising their potential to make positive
progress towards timely success.

The ideal candidate will have some creative industry and teaching experience and be flexible
in their approach to adapt to the various levels and needs of learners. You will be expected to
co-ordinate a highly effective teaching, learning and assessment experience across allocated
courses including leading on Level 1 Creative Arts and Level 2 T Level Foundation Creative
and Digital Industries courses as part of a highly successful team of staff to contribute to the
college’s expectations of quality.

BTC is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applicants from all
backgrounds and communities.

Job Responsibilities

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

To deliver high quality teaching and learning across related programmes in your subject
specialisms
To formally report on individual student progress through the College’s quality systems
and/or partner agreements
To produce and provide resources for students to enable more effective learning

To use and apply modern technology to enhance the learning experience for students (e.g.
ILT, VLE, specialist software/resources)
Where applicable, to set, mark, record and feedback on student work/assessment,
evidencing student progress and achievement, including internal verification as required

Course Leadership

To oversee the quality and development of relevant College programmes which will be
assigned to you, identifying areas for improvement and action where applicable
To act as the first point of contact for internal queries, issues and actions concerning the
students on programme or for other programme related matters
To act as tutor for the programmes where applicable and to act as the first point of contact
for external persons such as parents and employers
To record and report on student retention and achievement and other related matters via
the College’s quality assurance processes
To oversee the effective implementation of the internal verification process on the
programme and to liaise with the external verifier over external quality checks where
applicable

To ensure that course files are complete and current

To lead and take part in regular course team meetings where applicable

To ensure all students on programme are correctly registered for qualifications and to
ensure achievements are recorded accurately

To ensure that marketing materials related to the programme are up to date and relevant

Tutoring

Work as a personal tutor and engage with student services as required

Use the College disciplinary process as a positive way to support student success

Complete one-to-one tutorials with learners and record progress and outcomes on the ILP

Support learners on study programmes to participate in, and gain value from, the cross
college tutorial programme
Ensure the effective use of value-added data and systems to plan and support individual
learner progress across allocated courses/programmes/subjects
Ensure the College’s value-added system is used to support emotional, social and
employability skills alongside learners’ studies
Prepare learner reports and contribute to parents’ evenings and provide employers with
progress updates as appropriate
Participate in learner interviews and plan and deliver taster days, ‘keep warm’ activities,
welcome days, enrolment and induction activities

Quality

Support students to participate in student forums and surveys and collate

course/programme/subject ‘learner voice’ feedback to support action planning for
continuous improvement
Ensure and maintain standards and quality by engaging with and using the College quality
systems
Ensure high quality progression and destinations including Level 3 qualifications, T Levels
and Apprenticeships.
Contribute to the evaluation of TLA procedures to enhance the learner experience and
support Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Be accountable for course/programme/subject key performance indicators (KPIs)

Hold team meetings to standardise practice, share information and good practice, and plan
and implement improvements

Ensure course/programme/subject files are complete and up to date

Undertake the role of IV/IQA as required and devise and implement subsequent action
plans
Prepare for, and take a lead on, awarding organisation external quality processes with
support from the Deputy Head and the Area of Staff, Curriculum & Quality Services
(SCQS)
Complete a Self-Assessment Monitoring (SAM) record including a Quality Improvement
Plan for the courses/programmes/subjects allocated

Contribute to the course approval process by providing subject specialist information

Continuous Professional Development

Participate in staff development activities to support Continuous Professional Development

(CPD) and keep a Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) to evidence personal
development and impact on practice
Actively participate in the College performance management processes, including
appraisals to support personal and professional development and enhance learner
experience

Contribution to the Section and Area Team

To attend and contribute to course team meetings, section meetings, tutor and Area team
meetings where applicable
To work closely with colleagues in developing and improving the current curriculum offer
for programmes within remit
To partake in marketing and recruitment activities for the Section, including open evenings,
school tasters and visits, student profiling for publications etc. These may occur offsite
 Other

Attend Department, Area and College meetings as required

Contribute to and support delivery of the College strategic and operational plans

Support and promote equality and diversity at the College to ensure equality of opportunity
for all students, visitors and staff and the elimination of discriminatory practices.
Maintain and promote a healthy and safe environment at the College to ensure students,
visitors and staff are safe from harm.
Support and promote the safeguarding agenda at the College to ensure students, visitors
and staff are safeguarded.
To partake in marketing and recruitment activities for the Section, including open evenings,
school tasters and visits, student profiling for publications etc. These may occur offsite.

Any other duties connected with the post as are reasonably required from time to time

Qualifications/Skills/Knowledge/Qualities

The success of Bridgwater & Taunton College rests on a very strongly felt and shared set of
values which determine its strategic direction. It is absolutely crucial that the successful
candidate shares our values of student-centredness, equality of opportunity and parity of
esteem for staff and students. S/he must enjoy working within the team philosophy of the
College and working collaboratively.

At Bridgwater & Taunton College we are:

• Passionate and excited about learning

• Inclusive and supportive
• Responsive to student, employer and community needs
• Always aspiring to the highest standards
• Professional and enterprising
• Innovative and creative
• Friendly and welcoming

The following criteria are used to shortlist applicants and assess candidates. Please show
evidence of how you meet these criteria in your application.

Essential Criteria How Measured

Hold a relevant degree or professional qualification Attainment certificates

Hold a teaching qualification or be willing to work Attainment certificates / personal

towards one statement / interview
Have an ability to lead the development of teaching,
Personal statement / microteach
learning and assessment across relevant
session / interview
programmes, courses and subjects
 Knowledge of KPI’s and success measures within
Personal statement / interview
Further Education
Have up-to-date sector/industry knowledge and/or
evidence of specialist subject knowledge in key
Personal statement / interview
practical and theoretical areas within media
production and content creation
Have a strong desire to be part of a high performing
Personal statement / interview
team and work collaboratively across the College
Have a strong desire to see all learners succeed and
progress, and have a clear understanding of their Personal statement / interview
needs and how these may be met
Have a proactive and progressive attitude towards
course development and a vision and enthusiasm to
further develop the Level 1 and 2 Creative Arts and Microteach session / interview
Creative Digital programmes.

Willing and able to develop curriculum, teaching and

learning materials in subject specialisms as part of Microteach session / interview
continuous development
Be an excellent communicator with highly developed
Interview
interpersonal skills
Possess strong and effective problem solving and IT
Interview
skills

Desirable Criteria How Measured

Hold a management qualification Application

Demonstrable experience of managing and/or

Application
leading a successful team
Have the ability to demonstrate experience of
Application / interview
managing and/or leading a successful team
Demonstrate effective skills in leading management
Application / interview
of change
Experience in monitoring and/or course leading
Personal statement / interview
learner groups
Have a commitment and enthusiastic approach to
Personal statement / interview
continuous self-development

Application Forms

Fully completed application forms should be submitted online by 12 midnight, Thursday 8

August 2024. Please note that we are unable to accept CVs.

Unfortunately, due to the volume of applicants the College receives, we are unable to contact
candidates who are not shortlisted for interview. Therefore if you have not been contacted
within four weeks of the post’s closing date, you may assume that your application has not
been successful on this occasion.

Interviews
Interviews have been scheduled for Tuesday 20 August. Shortlisted candidates will be
contacted shortly after the closing date.

The interview process will require candidates to be available to attend an assessment process.

The interview process will include;

• Microteach / plan of learning presentation

• Individual interview(s) with portfolio / samples of work / student work

Candidates will be informed of the outcome at the end of the formal interview process.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Working Hours

As a full-time member of staff, your normal working week will be 37 hours per week. Normal
working hours are 8.30am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 4.30pm Friday. The
post-holder will, however, be expected to work flexibly to meet the needs of the students,
employers and the Area.

Teaching Hours

The Course Leader role is contracted to 792 teaching hours per year which equates to
approximately 22 hours per week.

Annual leave

The holiday year runs from 1 September - 31 August each year. The annual leave entitlement
for this role is 35 working days, plus 8 bank holidays. Annual leave is scheduled for non-term
time weeks e.g. October half term, Christmas, February half term, Easter break, May half term,
July and August.

Pre-employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to employment references, medical clearance and a
satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance (see below for further details of
the disclosure procedure).

Salary

The College’s usual policy is to appoint new staff at the starting point of the scale, however
the College will consider matching an existing salary (within the scale for the job) subject to
proof of current earnings.

Christmas Closure

It has been custom and practice for the College to close for a two-week period at Christmas
each year, with the exception of some functions due to business requirements. This practice
will continue, subject to any future changes in the organisation of College terms/curriculum
programmes.
Benefits

As a diverse, competitive and quality employer, we regularly review our staffing policies and
our reward and benefits package. With more than 1600 staff deployed over 3 campuses and
in many role types, we have a variety of contracts, terms and conditions and staff benefits.
The benefits include:

Financial
• Competitive salaries, A defined benefits pension scheme (either the Teachers’
Pensions or the Local Government Pension Scheme) (dependent on role)
• BTC Extra – our own retail and leisure discount scheme
• NUS Totum Discount Card

Family and Personal

• Generous holiday entitlement, plus bank holidays and 2-week Christmas closure. •
Additional annual leave purchase scheme (dependent on role)
• Career break opportunities
• Childcare Centre located at our Bridgwater Campus, offering a 5% staff discount on
childcare fees.

Recognition
• Bi-annual support and teaching staff achievement recognition (STAR) awards
• Long service celebrations and awards

Health and Wellbeing

• Employee Assistance Programme including Wisdom App
• College gym membership for as little as £15 per month (salary deduction option
available), or discounted Nuffield Health gym membership.
• Cycle to work scheme
• Occupational health service
• In-house counselling service
• Eye care, including free eye test and a contribution towards glasses and/or contact
lenses
• Microsoft Office Package

Leisure and Pleasure

Staff are welcome to visit and can enjoy discounts at:

• Cannington Golf Centre
• The Walled Gardens of Cannington (and Tea Rooms)
• Cannington Equestrian Centre

Equality & Diversity

Bridgwater & Taunton College is committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and is
dedicated to pursuing non-discriminatory policies and practices and to eliminate unfair
discrimination on any basis. This means that we are striving to ensure that no job applicant
will receive less favourable treatment than another on grounds of gender, marital status, age,
racial origin, disability, sexual orientation or political or religious beliefs.

Criminal Record Check via the Disclosure Procedure

The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 gives individuals the right not to disclose details of
certain old offences when asked about their criminal record as they may be defined as
‘spent’. There are exemptions to this if the individual is offered a post which involves contact
with children or regular work at an establishment exclusively or mainly for children.

The post you have applied for falls into this category and, therefore, requires a criminal
background check.

If a job offer is made you will be asked to apply for a DBS Disclosure Certificate. The
Disclosure Certificate will contain details of current and “spent” convictions, cautions,
reprimands or warnings held on the Police National Computer. The amendments to the
Exceptions Order 1975 (2013) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are
‘protected’ and are not subject to disclosure to employers , and cannot be taken into account.

The DBS Disclosure will also indicate whether information is held on government department
lists of those individuals who are barred from working with children or vulnerable adults (if
applicable).

The information provided on the Disclosure certificate will be considered by the College to
ensure that children and vulnerable adults remain adequately protected. Bridgwater &
Taunton College wants to reassure candidates that a criminal record is not necessarily a bar
on obtaining a position.

Further information about Disclosure can be found at www.homeoffice.gov.uk/dbs.