Assistant Manager - Functional Skills - Prison Education

Location: HMP Onley
Salary: £35,000 - £40,000
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7:45am - 5:00pm, Friday 7:45am - 12:30pm

About the Role

A rewarding opportunity has arisen for an Assistant Manager to support the leadership and delivery of high‑quality education within HMP Onley. This role plays a key part in ensuring that learners develop essential skills that support rehabilitation, personal growth, and progression.

As Assistant Manager, you will support the Education Manager in the effective management of the curriculum, ensuring programmes meet the needs of learners and employers, including Functional Skills, Personal & Social Development, and work‑based training.

You will lead on quality assurance and continuous improvement, encouraging innovation in teaching practice and supporting tutors to raise standards, improve learner achievement, and meet key performance indicators.

This is a senior role within the education team, with accountability for day‑to‑day departmental operations, learner induction, class allocation, and learning‑environment conduct.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Education Manager in planning, managing, and developing the curriculum to ensure it meets learner and employer needs.
• Lead on quality assurance, ensuring teaching, learning and assessment meet required standards, including Ofsted expectations.
• Oversee daily departmental operations, including learner induction, attendance, behaviour, and class allocation.
• Promote an innovative and problem‑solving culture within the teaching team to raise standards and achieve performance targets.
• Monitor and support teaching and support staff through effective performance management and professional development.
• Build and maintain positive internal and external partnerships to support learning, progression, and curriculum development.
• Ensure compliance with quality processes, documentation requirements, and performance indicators.

What We're Looking For

You will need:

• A relevant degree and/or professional qualification.
• A recognised teaching qualification.
• Significant teaching experience, ideally including Functional Skills delivery.
• Experience of leading curriculum development, implementing change, and managing quality systems.
• The ability to motivate, influence and support teaching staff to improve learner outcomes.
• Strong communication, organisational and leadership skills.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle (essential due to the nature of the role).

About Working in Prison Education

Education within custody settings plays a crucial role in rehabilitation. It helps individuals build confidence, gain skills, and prepare for employment and reintegration into the community.

Prison education teams work collaboratively to create a safe, supportive and inclusive learning environment that addresses the diverse needs of learners and supports their long‑term development.

Many learners face barriers to education, and this role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact by supporting high‑quality teaching that genuinely changes lives.

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