Head of College – Orchard Hill College, Kingston Region
| Posting date: | 14 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £79,466 to £84,632 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 02 February 2026 |
| Location: | Kingston, South West London |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Orchard Hill College |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
We are looking for an inspirational and dynamic Head of College to lead our Kingston region at Orchard Hill College. As Head of College You will oversee our Kingston centres, working with the Executive Principal and Senior Leadership Team to set strategic direction and lead on High Needs, Adult Education, and Project Search Supported Internship programmes. If you’re passionate about inclusive education and making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Key Responsibilities:
• Provide inspirational leadership to deliver a high-quality educational environment for students with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including PMLD, SEMH, MLD, and ASD.
• Sustain and build on the College’s outstanding Ofsted rating, ensuring excellence across all areas of provision.
• Take strategic leadership of safeguarding, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all young adults.
• Ensure compliance with statutory duties and the SEND Code of Practice, maintaining the highest standards of governance and accountability.
• Represent the College externally, engaging with local authorities, commissioning groups, and stakeholder forums (including Kingston’s Project Search steering group), while leading on risk management and staying abreast of national and international developments in SEND education.
Key Requirements:
• Qualified educator with a Diploma in Education & Training (or equivalent) and QTS/QTLS (or equivalent).
• Proven leadership in teaching excellence, with the ability to model outstanding practice and deliver high-quality coaching and professional development across centres.
• Extensive experience in SEND education, with deep knowledge of teaching, learning, and assessment for students with a wide range of complex needs.
• Successful senior leadership experience, ideally within specialist settings, demonstrating innovation in curriculum design and delivery.
• Strong strategic insight, with up-to-date understanding of statutory and compliance frameworks, and the ability to develop and deliver an ambitious, coherent vision for continuous improvement.
Orchard Hill College is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Key Responsibilities:
• Provide inspirational leadership to deliver a high-quality educational environment for students with complex special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including PMLD, SEMH, MLD, and ASD.
• Sustain and build on the College’s outstanding Ofsted rating, ensuring excellence across all areas of provision.
• Take strategic leadership of safeguarding, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all young adults.
• Ensure compliance with statutory duties and the SEND Code of Practice, maintaining the highest standards of governance and accountability.
• Represent the College externally, engaging with local authorities, commissioning groups, and stakeholder forums (including Kingston’s Project Search steering group), while leading on risk management and staying abreast of national and international developments in SEND education.
Key Requirements:
• Qualified educator with a Diploma in Education & Training (or equivalent) and QTS/QTLS (or equivalent).
• Proven leadership in teaching excellence, with the ability to model outstanding practice and deliver high-quality coaching and professional development across centres.
• Extensive experience in SEND education, with deep knowledge of teaching, learning, and assessment for students with a wide range of complex needs.
• Successful senior leadership experience, ideally within specialist settings, demonstrating innovation in curriculum design and delivery.
• Strong strategic insight, with up-to-date understanding of statutory and compliance frameworks, and the ability to develop and deliver an ambitious, coherent vision for continuous improvement.
Orchard Hill College is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.