Job profile

Are you an inspirational education leader with the vision, experience, and drive to make a lasting difference in prison education? We are looking for a committed and forward-thinking Head of Education to lead high-quality teaching, learning, and skills provision within a secure setting. This is an exciting opportunity to shape curriculum delivery, support and develop talented teams, and create an inclusive environment where learners can build confidence, achieve meaningful qualifications, and take positive steps towards their future.

We have an excellent opportunity to join Novus, our prison education provider at HMP Oakwood, working as Head of Education.This position is offered on a permanent, full-time basis, working 37 hours per week.

Who are Novus?

Novus are a leading provider of prison education and have been supporting men, women, and children of all ages for over 30 years across the UK to take new directions. We are also part of the LTE group of companies that include The Manchester College, MOL, Total People, UCEN, and LTE Group Operations. We are currently rated “Good” by Ofsted and have partnerships with over 1000 industry and employer partners, ensuring our learners secure their place as the movers and shakers of the future. Our business is growing year on year due to our continued success as a leading provider in prison education.

Site Information

HMP Oakwood is a Category C men’s prison located in Featherstone, Staffordshire, near Wolverhampton. It is one of the largest and most modern prisons in the United Kingdom.  The teams' aim is to create an environment in which staff and prisoners feel safe, and where causes of prison stress are minimised. The prison’s mission is to provide a secure, safe, and rehabilitative environment that encourages positive change and prepares inmates for a successful reintegration into society.

Role Responsibilities

• Strategically managing a complex education service and achieving outstanding results within budget and deadlines
• Lead the day-to-day management, coordination, and continuous development of education provision within the establishment, working closely with the Prison Governor, Deputy Contract Lot Manager and Contract Lot Manager to deliver contractual requirements and agreed delivery plans.
• Provide inspirational leadership to education teams, promoting a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Drive excellence in teaching, learning, assessment, and learner outcomes through effective quality assurance, curriculum planning, performance monitoring, and improvement activity.
• Build strong, strategic partnerships with prison colleagues, external agencies, employers, and community partners to ensure education supports rehabilitation, progression, and positive resettlement outcomes.
• Act as the budget holder on-site and oversee compliance with LTE Group, as well as stakeholder policies and procedures, including Health & Safety legislation and prison security/vetting requirements.
• Please also view the attached role profile containing an overview of general role responsibilities after you click apply. Specific details of the role are shared during the interview process.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

• Hold a Level 2 qualification in Literacy and Numeracy
• Hold a Degree or equivalent level qualification
• Hold a Leadership and Management qualification at Level 4 or above, or equivalent experience (Desirable).
• Experience of leading complex programmes or workstreams with multiple stakeholders, including learner-focused curriculum development, project management, and delivery within challenging, restricted, or secure environments.
• A proven ability to provide strategic leadership, motivate and develop high-performing teams, lead transformational change, make sound decisions, and manage competing priorities in a fast-paced operational setting.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, influencing, and negotiation skills, with experience of working collaboratively with prison colleagues, internal stakeholders, external partners, subcontractors, and agencies.
• A strong record of achieving or exceeding performance, financial, contractual, delivery, and quality targets, with commercial awareness and a flexible, creative, solution-focused approach that supports learner achievement, progression, employability, rehabilitation, and resettlement outcomes.

Benefits

• 40 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• 2 hours for wellbeing / personal development per week
• Significant Pension contributions (Teachers pension)
• Retail Discounts
• Employee Assistance Program
• Cycle to work scheme

Safeguarding

The LTE Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process. Some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check.

Equal Opportunities Statement

Novus is committed to providing an environment where everyone is valued as an individual and where learners and colleagues can work, learn, flourish and develop their skills and knowledge in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. We are committed to working in an inclusive way with all the communities in which we are geographically located and to developing a workforce and learner community that reflects the UK’s rich diversity and vibrancy.

The closing date for this job advert is 07/10/2026. However, sometimes the job advert may close early if we receive a good response!