HE computing student engaging with teacher

As a result of record student applications at Shrewsbury Colleges Group, around 30 new full and part-time jobs have been created.

Recruitment numbers are at an all-time high – with more than 500 more applications for September than this time last year.

The increase in student recruitment for 16-18 years old means that the College is seeking to fill at least 26 new teaching and support roles. Jobs include full time A Level and vocational teaching posts including Biology, History, Psychology, Engineering and Motor Vehicle.

The college is looking for qualified teachers or those with relevant experience willing to study for the teaching qualification which will be fully-funded and delivered by the college.

There are also a variety of full and part-time teaching assistant and other support roles on offer including Careers and Progression Advisor, Lead Work Experience Coordinator, SEND Transition Officer and Student Helpdesk Administrator as well as some apprenticeships.

Principal and CEO, James Staniforth said: “Despite lockdown and the extremely challenging circumstances and changes everyone has faced over the last 12 months, we have collectively worked very hard as a college to keep students engaged and to hold all the usual open evenings, advice events, course taster sessions, careers events and Apprenticeship Week for all future students of the college – albeit virtually.

“The college works with 3,600, 16-18 year olds, 800 apprentices, 3,500 adult students and 400 higher education students. We deliver A Levels at two campuses in the town centre, English and Welsh Bridge campuses, and vocational and technical professional qualifications at the London Road campus.

“We have seen significant growth in student recruitment in September 2019 and September 2020.  We are now looking at record numbers of applications for September 2021. I am proud to say that this is a testament to the quality of teaching, learning and student support we offer at our College. As a result, we need to recruit new members of the teaching and support teams."

“I am also pleased that in the current climate we are recruiting for so many varied roles across a whole range of disciplines. Our college is a thriving, vibrant and important part of the community as well as local and regional economy. Despite challenging times, we are looking forward to our continued success and positive future.”

Donna Lucas, Group Vice Principal - HR & Professional Development, said the latest round of staff vacancies was the biggest recruitment campaign since the college was created in 2016.  “The surge in student numbers we are seeing for September is the catalyst for the vacancies we are advertising. We have varied teaching roles available across a range of subject areas to help us welcome more students to these growing departments."

“SCG prides itself on its supportive culture for both staff and students and we offer a distinctive learning experience and environment that enables our students to make the most of their time at college.

“We are passionate about supporting staff with health and wellbeing in the workplace and have developed a huge number of initiatives to support staff with our approach being used as examples of best practice nationally.

“SCG is one of only two colleges nationwide to have achieved the National Time to Listen Employer Pledge. This is a public declaration that it is committed to ending mental health stigma and discrimination by signing it.

“We offer a host of employee schemes and benefits and are a family-friendly employer. During lockdown we protected employment whilst our main campus was closed by topping up to full pay their furlough entitlement for about 70 staff, so they weren’t affected financially and still received their full salary and holiday entitlements. It’s a good place to work and we are excited about welcoming many new faces to the College.”

An Ofsted report published this month has recognised the excellence of the work the College has undertaken, both in terms of continuous improvement and in relation to the very specific challenges of the last twelve months.

The judgement from the report is that the college has made ‘Significant Progress’, the highest possible outcome. This finding further endorses the positive judgements made by the independent safeguarding auditor, the ESFA and the Further Education Commissioner.

The closing date for all applications is 19 April, 2021 at 5pm. More information and how to apply can be found at www.jobsatcollege.com

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