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Functional Skills English Tutor- HMP

Dovetail Ref: 190643FET
Prison Education £35,000 per annum (£30,000 + £5,000 London Weighting) permanent mid Level 22 September 2026
Surrey, England
Lauren Main

Speak to Lauren Main

0161 870 5222 Manchester office

Education Details

English Prison Education prison
Levels: Entry Level 1Entry Level 2Entry Level 3Level 1Level 2Functional Skills
Also teaches: Functional SkillsLiteracy

Job Description

Job Title: Functional Skills English Tutor

Location: HMP (Sutton, Surrey)

Salary: From £30,000 + £5,000 London Weighting

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

The Opportunity

We have an exciting opportunity for an inspiring Functional Skills English Tutor to join our prison education team on-site at HMP High Down. In this deeply rewarding role, you will deliver City & Guilds Functional Skills English qualifications from Entry Level 1 through to Level 2. Working with small class sizes (up to 12 learners), you will play a vital role in boosting literacy, building self-esteem, and helping individuals reshape their futures.

What You Will Be Doing

  • Engaging Delivery: Plan and deliver interactive, inclusive Functional Skills English lessons tailored to small groups of adult learners with varied educational backgrounds and learning needs.

  • Assessment & ILP Management: Conduct initial assessments and use BKSB diagnostic tools to establish starting points, construct Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), and track continuous student progression.

  • Adaptive Pedagogy: Utilise innovative, practical, and digital resources to make literacy accessible, engaging, and relevant for all learners.

  • Exam Preparation: Prepare learners for formal City & Guilds assessments and qualifications, celebrating their literacy milestones and personal development.

  • Promoting Literacy: Actively encourage reading for pleasure and promote literacy and numeracy standards across the prison environment.

  • Multidisciplinary Collaboration: Partner with prison staff, learning support practitioners, and employability teams to ensure positive, holistic learner outcomes.

What We Are Looking For

  • Subject Expertise: Essential Level 3 qualification in English.

  • Teaching Credentials: Level 5 teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, DTLLS, or equivalent) is preferred. No Level 5 qualification? Candidates with relevant delivery experience who are willing to work towards a Level 5 qualification are encouraged to apply.

  • Teaching Experience: Proven track record of delivering Functional Skills English qualifications with strong classroom management and lesson planning skills.

  • Core Competencies: Excellent administrative capability (ILPs, registers, assessment logs), strong communication skills, and the resilience to teach in a secure environment.

  • Desirable Criteria: Prior experience within prison education, FE, or adult learning settings, familiarity with BKSB diagnostics, knowledge of Ofsted's Education Inspection Framework (EIF), or an IQA qualification.

Our Benefits Include:

  • 30 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)

  • Paid volunteering day each year

  • Generous pension scheme & Life Assurance

  • Cycle to Work scheme & Holiday purchase scheme

  • Enhanced Wedding Leave & Enhanced Maternity Scheme

  • Access to hundreds of retail discounts via the Additions portal

What's on Offer

  • 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
  • Paid volunteering day each year
  • Generous pension scheme
  • Life Assurance
  • Cycle to Work scheme
  • Holiday purchase scheme
  • Enhanced Wedding Leave
  • Enhanced Maternity Scheme
  • Access to retail discounts via Additions portal

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

Pension

Generous pension scheme

Requirements

  • Level 3 qualification in English (essential)
  • Level 5 teaching qualification (PGCE, Cert Ed, DTLLS or equivalent) preferred or willingness to work towards
  • Proven track record delivering Functional Skills English qualifications
  • Strong classroom management skills
  • Lesson planning experience
  • Administrative capability (ILPs, registers, assessment logs)
  • Resilience to teach in secure environment
  • Enhanced DBS check required

Benefits

  • 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays
  • Paid volunteering day each year
  • Generous pension scheme
  • Life Assurance
  • Cycle to Work scheme

Skills & Qualifications

Functional Skills English deliveryCity & Guilds qualificationsBKSB diagnostic toolsIndividual Learning Plans (ILPs)Assessment and trackingAdult educationInclusive teachingDigital resourcesLiteracy promotionMulti-agency collaboration

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