Recruitment

Message from the Principal

Thank you for expressing an interest in working at Strode College. We are keen to attract ambitious, talented staff to work with us in building on the College's reputation as a centre of excellence for post-16 education.

We provide a professionally stimulating and supportive working environment for all our staff. If you would like to work in a successful, growing and fast-moving College located in an area of outstanding natural beauty then we should like to hear from you.

Background

Strode College employs approximately 900 staff and is one of the largest employers in the area. The College has 300 staff employed at HM Prisons throughout the south-west. The College has a turnover of £20m.

Strode College works closely with its partner 11-16 comprehensive schools. Close liaison is maintained with the staff, students and parents at these schools and others within the area. The College makes provision for adult education including basic skills and IT throughout its area. It serves the educational and training needs of Street, Glastonbury, Shepton Mallet, Langport, Wells and Castle Cary and, through outreach work, the surrounding rural areas of central and north Somerset. It is responsible for education services at 10 HM Prisons throughout the south-west.

The College supports the LSC funded Increasing Flexibility Project which facilitates the delivery of work related learning to some Key Stage 4 pupils in five local schools (Whitstone School, Ansford School, St Dunstan's School, Crispin School and The Blue School at Wells).

First Rate Teaching and Learning 

The College received excellent inspection reports in 1998, 2003 and 2008. In September 1999 the College became one of only two colleges in the South West to be awarded accredited status by the FEFC. As a result of the outstanding Ofsted/ALI Inspection in 2003 the College was commended in the Chief Inspector of Schools' Annual Report 2002/03.

The College was awarded Learning and Skills Beacon status by the DfES in February 2004 placing us as one of the top performing colleges in England. Other more recent accolades include the Quality Award from Unionlearn and the Matrix accreditation.

The reasons for this are plain to see:

• The College has well qualified, experienced and highly committed staff and governors who create a friendly, welcoming and disciplined environment in which students of all ages and backgrounds can succeed. Strode College is committed to providing the kind of learning experiences which will prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century.
• The College was recognised as an Investor in People in March 1996. Re-recognition was gained in March 1999, March 2000, June 2003, May 2006 and July 2009. Staff at Strode are committed to the achievement of high standards. They are well qualified and benefit from excellent opportunities for professional development.
• We have excellent physical resources including laboratories, workshops, salons, studios and other specialist accommodation in addition to general classrooms, IT facilities, a learning centre, refectory, sports hall, theatre and nursery.
• A £5 million capital investment programme has been completed in recent years to improve student facilities including a new Sports Hall opened in May 2000 and a new Education Centre opened in September 2001. A £6 million capital investment provided new teaching and learning facilities and a new Nursery in September 2005 followed by a further building in 2007. Further capital projects re planned for the future.
• The Learning Centre offers students and staff a comfortable and well-resourced area on two floors which combines modern IT facilities and a traditional Library.
• The College has developed a close partnership with employers, the County and District Councils. There has been rapid expansion of workforce development activities including the delivery of training in company premises.
• The College has established an excellent reputation for the delivery of offender learning and skills winning a Beacon Award for their innovative work. The College provides education in 10 prisons across the South West and is the second largest provider of prison education services in England.

The College and the Community

Most of the College's daytime work on the Street campus is with full-time students mainly in the 16-19 age group but with a significant and growing number of adult students.

The emphasis at Strode College is to provide high standards of education within an inclusive and supportive environment. The College has developed a strong reputation for its service to the community and has excellent examination results and above average retention rates.

If you would like to view student achievements please refer to the "quality and achievement section" of the website.

Successive Inspections have confirmed that student support services in the College are excellent. The College is currently developing several new areas of work and in particular is developing further adult courses in order to aid local progression routes for students. We have also recently expanded our outreach work.

There is a culture of student participation in the College. There is an active Students' Association with its own Committee, which arranges social events and is assisted by the Student Support Manager. Students are represented on the Board of Governors and its committees and course reviews. There is also a Student Forum together with Forums in each Teaching Team. College-wide surveys of student opinion are conducted three times each year.

The College has a growing and successful Business Development Unit providing a full range of services to hundreds of local employers. The College was recognised as a Centre of Vocational Excellence in Business and Management Skills in 2004. Short courses and other bespoke provision are provided for local business and industry.