About the College   

Sunderland College has been delivering highly successful courses for more than 20 years and is one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the North East with approximately 14,300 students.  

The College has two campuses across the city of Sunderland, offering a wide range of academic and vocational provision for school leavers and adults. The College aims to develop and positively shape lives, communities, and the economy through teaching, learning and development of skills. Our students consistently achieve outstanding results and Sunderland College has been ranked in the top 25% in the country for student achievement rates. In October 2024, we were ranked as Ofsted outstanding, and we are proud of our diverse student and staff community that provide our students with bespoke education pathways to help them achieve their future career goals.   

Please see the following link to our 2024 Ofsted Report, in which we were graded as being Outstanding across all areas - Ofsted-Report-Outstanding

Our Journey & Values

As an employer, we prioritise cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where our staff can thrive and grow. We recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to investing in their professional development and overall wellbeing.

Taking Teaching Further & Additional Incentives

If you’re making the move into further education teaching, you may be eligible for the Taking Teaching Further (TTF) programme a funded route to help industry professionals retrain as FE teachers.

In addition, for roles in high-need subjects or regions you may also benefit from the government’s targeted retention incentive (formerly “levelling-up premium”) payments, worth up to £6,000 for eligible teachers in their first five years and teaching certain shortage subjects.

Please note eligibility for both TTF and the Targeted Retention Incentive varies by role, subject area and provider, they do not apply to every vacancy.

Find out more about both initiatives through the links below.

• Taking Teaching Further - Taking Teaching Further
• Targeted Retention Incentive - Targeted Retention Incentive

About the Candidate

Candidates should possess a Level 3 qualification (or above) and have excellent interpersonal skills to be able to work with adult students in a group and 1:1 setting. Experience of having worked within a pastoral, skill-development or academic role, within an educational setting, would be advantageous. Please refer to the person specification for additional detail.

About the Role

To support the ongoing pastoral care, personal development and academic excellence of adult learners in Sunderland Sixth Form, within the Access to HE team, we are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic Wellbeing & Progression Coach, who is passionate about supporting students to develop the essential skills for progression to higher education and the workplace. 

The post holder will be a key member of a collaborative team that focusses on providing an excellent learner experience. You will be committed to working closely with curriculum staff to support the development and wellbeing of students, helping them improve their learning skills and achieve their personal targets. The successful applicant will support a caseload of students, who study on a Level 2 or Level 3 Access to HE programme. 

You will meet regularly with Access to HE students to encourage, motivate and support them to maximise their potential, achieve their learning and personal development goals, and progress to further/higher education, training or employment.

In addition to monitoring students’ attendance and punctuality, you will support students to develop strategies to maximise the product of their effective study skills, develop positive behaviours and attitudes.

Role Responsibilities 

• To provide support to students in a pro-active and encouraging way to ensure successful progression to Higher Education, Apprenticeships or employment, ensuring high attendance, punctuality, retention and achievement measures. This will involve working with Adult Learners, curriculum colleagues, college support services and HE Institutes to ensure students can flourish in the college environment. 
• Plan and create opportunities for students to practice and develop essential skills as set out within curriculum plans, allowing for positive and aspirational HE progression, ensuring all students are prepared for HE and possess the skills to match their career aspirations. 
• Support, monitor and encourage students to maintain excellent attendance punctuality and achievement, offering appropriate guidance to overcome challenges and barriers while maintaining student well-being. 
• Collaborate with stakeholders to plan and develop a range of workshop / skills related resources to support academic and skills based development related to the relevant level and intended destinations of each cohort of students.
• To support students with the UCAS process, including providing advice, guidance and support on the creation of personal statements.
• Proactively engage in use of ProMonitor to support the Student Journey, ensuring the maintenance of accurate records, including SMART targets, progression plans and student ILPs.

Qualifications

• Academic qualification at Level 3 or above
• Minimum Level qualifications in both Maths and English

Essential Skills & Experience

• Experience of working with young people / adults in group situations  
• Experience of supporting and addressing a range of learners’ needs, including their wellbeing
• Experience of promoting Higher Education progression routes and opportunities
• Effective written and oral communication with staff and students, in developing positive working partnerships
• Ability to plan and prioritise effectively to meet deadlines and targets 
• Apply an understanding and empathetic approach with students who display dissatisfaction or disengagement, and implement strategies/support to overcome
• Ability to lead and motivate others   
• To take appropriate responsibility for PREVENT and the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children and/or vulnerable adults. 
• To uphold British Values, the college values and responsibilities with regard to equality and diversity. 
• Suitable to work with children and young people and adults

Desirable Skills & Experience 

• A coaching or mentoring qualification, or willingness to complete   
• Experience of working within the post-16/adult sector, within an educational setting
• Experience of making effective use of learner progress tracking systems 
• An understanding of the issues and barriers that relate to both wellbeing and ineffective learning

What’s in it for you?

Join EPNE and you’ll be part of a culture that prioritises your development and wellbeing, which is why all employees receive an extensive benefits package.

• Enjoy a generous holiday allowance ranging between 35-48 days per year, plus public holidays - (Excluding Term Time Only contracts)
• Generous family leave and flexible working options (dependent on role)
• LGPS or Teacher Pensions Scheme - depending on role
• Access to myLifestyle benefits platform providing retail discounts and more.  
• We offer dental, eye care & health cash plans.  
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Free parking on most campuses.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

At Education Partnership North East (EPNE), we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We know that diverse perspectives strengthen our teams to enhance the education and support we provide to our learners and communities.

We recognise that talented individuals may not always follow a traditional career path and may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you are excited about the role and believe you can make a positive contribution, we encourage you to apply.

As a Disability Confident Employer and Armed Forces Covenant Member, and with Ofsted Outstanding status across all campuses, we are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and high-performing environment where everyone can thrive.

Due to the nature of this post, you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure Check.  

We believe in equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. 

We are committed to PREVENT and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

Please contact Adam Sams (Director of Sunderland Sixth Form) should you wish to have an informal chat about the role - adam.sams@sunderlandcollege.ac.uk

Closing Date: 07 Aug 2026

Team: Support

Salary: £25,949 per annum pro rata

Sunderland College has been delivering highly successful courses for more than 20 years and is one of the largest providers of post-16 education in the North East with approximately 14,300 students.  

The College has two campuses across the city of Sunderland, offering a wide range of academic and vocational provision for school leavers and adults. The College aims to develop and positively shape lives, communities, and the economy through teaching, learning and development of skills. Our students consistently achieve outstanding results and Sunderland College has been ranked in the top 25% in the country for student achievement rates. In October 2024, we were ranked as Ofsted outstanding, and we are proud of our diverse student and staff community that provide our students with bespoke education pathways to help them achieve their future career goals.   

Please see the following link to our 2024 Ofsted Report, in which we were graded as being Outstanding across all areas - Ofsted-Report-Outstanding

Our Journey & Values

As an employer, we prioritise cultivating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, where our staff can thrive and grow. We recognize that our employees are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to investing in their professional development and overall wellbeing.

Taking Teaching Further & Additional Incentives

If you’re making the move into further education teaching, you may be eligible for the Taking Teaching Further (TTF) programme a funded route to help industry professionals retrain as FE teachers.

In addition, for roles in high-need subjects or regions you may also benefit from the government’s targeted retention incentive (formerly “levelling-up premium”) payments, worth up to £6,000 for eligible teachers in their first five years and teaching certain shortage subjects.

Please note eligibility for both TTF and the Targeted Retention Incentive varies by role, subject area and provider, they do not apply to every vacancy.

Find out more about both initiatives through the links below.

• Taking Teaching Further - Taking Teaching Further
• Targeted Retention Incentive - Targeted Retention Incentive

About the Candidate

Candidates should possess a degree in IT/Computing, preferably have fully qualified lecturer or teacher status and experience of teaching IT/Computing. Please refer to the person specification for additional detail.

About the Role

To support the ongoing curriculum development and academic excellence in Sunderland Sixth Form, we are seeking to appoint a subject-specialist who can teach IT and Computing, and demonstrate innovative and outstanding teaching, learning and assessment practices to ensure positive outcomes for learners. Please refer to the job description for additional detail.

This position is suitable for both experienced and newly-qualified teachers, and so we welcome all applications from across a wide-range of experience levels. 

Please note that this is not a people-management position; you will contribute to leading the planning, preparation and development of IT and Computing within the Sixth Form.

Role Responsibilities 

• Work with the curriculum manager take an active role in the review and development of the curriculum intent, to ensure planning and preparation of high-quality, sequenced learning through career-focused schemes of learning, session planning and resources 
• Take ownership for the timely maintenance of accurate data at programme/course level to ensure excellence and continual improvement. 
• Take an active role in the ongoing development of new programmes of study.
• Take responsibility for ensuring high quality advice and guidance to ensure positive recruitment, retention, achievement, success and progression of individual students, with robust tracking and monitoring.
• Lead on the delivery of exemplary teaching and learning and high standards of assessment.
• Take responsibility for following up issues or concerns, for example attendance or well-being, and lead on the required interventions to address these in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Appropriate degree in IT or Computing
• Minimum Level 2 Maths and English qualifications

Essential Skills & Experience

• Development, delivery & assessment of IT and Computing
• Working collaboratively with students and colleagues to review student progress, supporting achievement of learning and personal development goals
• Planning and delivering sessions that are safe, inclusive, stretching, and relevant to learners
• Developing students’ confidence, autonomy and thinking skills, using effective assessment processes and student-owned SMART targets
• Developing appropriate and fair methods of assessment and providing constructive and timely feedback to support student progress and achievement
• Use creative and innovative approaches to develop students’ mathematics, English, digital and wider employability skills
• Demonstration of a friendly, approachable and supportive demeanour with students and colleagues, as well as when working with all external stakeholders
• Keeping students safe and well, including working with experts in relation to safeguarding, Prevent, and welfare issues, and to uphold British Values

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Leading and/or contributing to internal quality assurance processes relevant to the FE / HE sector
• Creating inclusive learning experiences by applying knowledge of special educational needs, disabilities or vulnerable learners 
• Using digital technologies safely, effectively and to promote innovative learning
• Evidence of keeping up to date with industry/subject specialism knowledge, skills and behaviours, and in undertaking professional development within pedagogical practices

What’s in it for you?

Join EPNE and you’ll be part of a culture that prioritises your development and wellbeing, which is why all employees receive an extensive benefits package.

• Enjoy a generous holiday allowance ranging between 35-48 days per year, plus public holidays - (Excluding Term Time Only contracts)
• Generous family leave and flexible working options (dependent on role)
• LGPS or Teacher Pensions Scheme - depending on role
• Access to myLifestyle benefits platform providing retail discounts and more.  
• We offer dental, eye care & health cash plans.  
• Extensive wellbeing support through a digital Wellbeing Hub that offers a broad range of support for physical, mental, and financial wellbeing.
• Free parking on most campuses.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

At Education Partnership North East (EPNE), we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and lived experiences. We know that diverse perspectives strengthen our teams to enhance the education and support we provide to our learners and communities.

We recognise that talented individuals may not always follow a traditional career path and may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. If you are excited about the role and believe you can make a positive contribution, we encourage you to apply.

As a Disability Confident Employer and Armed Forces Covenant Member, and with Ofsted Outstanding status across all campuses, we are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive, and high-performing environment where everyone can thrive.

Due to the nature of this post, you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure Check.  

We believe in equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. 

We are committed to PREVENT and safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

Please contact Adam Sams (Director of Sunderland Sixth Form) should you wish to have an informal chat about the role - adam.sams@sunderlandcollege.ac.uk

Closing Date: 07 Aug 2026

Team: Teaching

Salary: £31,375 to £40,912 per annum pro rata