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Functional Skills English Tutor

Dovetail Ref: 191779
Prison Education From £35,000 per annum Permanent mid Level 12 October 2026
London
Lauren Main

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0161 870 5222 Manchester office

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Education Details

English Prison Education prison
Levels: Entry LevelLevel 1Level 2Functional Skills
Also teaches: Functional SkillsLiteracy

Job Description

Functional Skills English Tutor- HMP

Permanent

Location: London

Salary: From £35,000 per annum

Are you a passionate English tutor looking for a role where your teaching genuinely makes a difference?

About the Role

We are seeking an inspiring Functional Skills English Tutor to join an education provider in the justice sector, delivering meaningful learning within a prison education setting. This is a unique opportunity to support learners on their rehabilitation journey, helping them build the literacy skills, confidence and qualifications needed to progress into employment, training or further education.

You'll deliver engaging and inclusive Functional Skills English lessons, from Entry Level through to Level 2, to small groups of learners with a wide range of educational backgrounds, learning needs and abilities. Many of your learners will have had difficult experiences of education, so patience, empathy and a genuine belief in each individual's potential will matter as much as your subject knowledge.

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Delivering Functional Skills English qualifications to small groups of learners.
  • Conducting initial assessments and diagnostics to identify learners' starting points and needs.
  • Constructing and maintaining Individual Learning Plans to track progression.
  • Planning and adapting lessons to meet a diverse range of abilities.
  • Preparing learners for formal assessments and celebrating their progress.
  • Promoting literacy and reading for pleasure across the wider learning environment.
  • Working alongside prison staff, learning support practitioners and employability teams to support positive outcomes for learners.

What We're Looking For

Essential:

  • A Level 3 qualification in English
  • Proven experience delivering Functional Skills English, with strong classroom management and lesson planning skills
  • Excellent administrative and communication skills
  • Resilience to work effectively within a secure environment

Desirable (but not essential):

  • A Level 5 teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, DTLLS or equivalent) — candidates without this but willing to work towards it are fully encouraged to apply
  • Experience within prison education, FE or adult learning settings
  • Familiarity with BKSB diagnostics
  • Knowledge of Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework

If you're ready to use your teaching skills to help learners rebuild their futures, we'd love to hear from you.

Important Notice Dovetail and Slate is a specialist education recruitment company. If this role isn't quite right, we welcome your CV and a call to explore other opportunities. We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. All appointments are subject to satisfactory vetting, including a right to work check and, where relevant, an enhanced DBS, PVG (Scotland), or EWC (Wales) check, in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Dovetail and Slate Ltd (11351060) acts as an Employment Agency and an Employment Business under the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003. We are an equal opportunities employer. By applying, you consent to your data being processed for recruitment purposes in line with our Privacy Policy. Because education matters. © Dovetail and Slate Limited.

A consultant will call you within one working day of your application.

A real person, not an automated email. If we are not the right fit for you we will say so quickly rather than leave you waiting.

Your Recruitment Consultant

Lauren Main

Lauren Main

Associate Recruitment Consultant

Requirements

  • Level 3 qualification in English
  • Proven experience delivering Functional Skills English
  • Strong classroom management skills
  • Lesson planning skills
  • Excellent administrative and communication skills
  • Resilience to work in secure environment
  • Enhanced DBS check
  • HMPPS security vetting

Skills & Qualifications

Functional Skills English teachingInitial assessments and diagnosticsIndividual Learning PlansDifferentiationLiteracy teachingWorking with diverse learnersBKSB diagnosticsOfsted framework knowledge

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  • Sector: Prison Education
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  • Subject: English
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