SDP Curriculum Manager

The Self Development Programme is a cornerstone of the BCT 16-19 Study Programme and a distinctive part of the Big Creative experience. Every learner participates in SDP alongside their vocational studies. Its purpose is bigger than preparing young people to pass a qualification: we want to develop rounded, informed and reflective human beings with the knowledge, skills and behaviours to build positive relationships with themselves, others and the world around them, and to lead purposeful lives with integrity. Our established curriculum explores the issues young people encounter locally and the bigger questions that shape their lives and society: relationships, identity, sex and sexual health, mental health, politics, citizenship, equality, media, religion and ethics, finance, climate and sustainability, alongside emerging social and cultural issues. Personal Development was graded Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023, with inspectors recognising the quality of BCT's social and personal development programme and learners' ability to engage sensitively with controversial and emotive subjects. You will inherit an established and successful programme, but this is not a job for simply delivering the existing PowerPoints. We want a curriculum leader who understands what makes the programme successful, protects its strongest foundations and has the intellectual curiosity, educational judgement, presence and ambition to take it somewhere new., You will lead the design, development and delivery of SDP across BCT's 16-19 Study Programme, directly teaching approximately 12-14 hours each week and leading and developing the SDP tutor. You will keep the curriculum live, relevant, inclusive and appropriately challenging; use learner voice, research, current affairs and external expertise to inform its development; and ensure learning is thoughtfully sequenced and adapted for different learners. You will need the judgement and confidence to facilitate difficult conversations without avoiding controversy or allowing sessions to become unstructured debate. You will create spaces in which young people can question, disagree, reflect and develop their thinking safely and respectfully. You will also oversee SDP resources and delivery for subcontracted Study Programme provision and support the development and delivery of an appropriate PSHE curriculum within Big Creative Independent School.

• Relevant degree / professional qualification
• Level 2 English and maths
• A recognised Teaching qualification is highly desirable
• Confident on a range of PHSE / personal development topics including careers education, politics, gender identity, inclusion, citizenship, community, society, sexual health
Person Spec We are looking for an excellent educator and ambitious curriculum thinker who believes deeply in the potential of personal development education to change young people's lives. You will have substantial successful experience of designing and/or delivering education, personal development, PSHE or related learning for young people, with evidence of engaging learners effectively with complex and sensitive subject matter. You will understand the pressures and opportunities facing young people today and be curious about the changing world they are growing into. You might already be an accomplished curriculum leader, or you might have developed and delivered elements of this kind of education and be looking for the freedom and responsibility to prove what you can do with it. Either way, we are looking for someone who wants to lead, question, create and improve - not simply maintain.

Staff benefits
• Company pension scheme
• Healthcare cashback
• Bike-to-work scheme
• Professional opportunities development available
• Staff social events
• Interest-free emergency or career development loans
• Free on-site lunches during term-time
• Employee assistance programme
Salary and days of work
• 28 hours across 4 days a week for 52 weeks a year
• Pro rata of 36 days of annual leave plus UK bank holidays
• This is a permanent part-time position
• Start Date 1st Nov 2026
• Pro rata of FTE £43,000 salary (actual PTE £34,400 salary)
We welcome industry professionals who wish to enter teaching, via the fully funded Taking Teaching Further scheme's qualification. This includes 6 months of reduced timetable for training with full pay and lesson cover.