The Access Project: Programme Coordinator (Birmingham)
VACANCY:
The Access Project Programme Coordinator in Birmingham Schools
Overview of the Position
Job Title
The Access Project Programme Coordinator (Birmingham)
Organisation
The Access Project
Job Location
Based in two Birmingham schools
Hours
40 hours per week
Starting salary of £21,000
Salary
Rising by £1,000 after 6 months and £1,000 after 12 months
subject to performance
Academic requirements
University degree
Start date
18 August 2014
Deadline for applications
9am on Friday 23 May 2014
Interview date
w/c 16 June or w/c 23 June 2014
About The Access Project
The Access Project is a groundbreaking charity that helps students from disadvantaged
backgrounds win places at top universities. The main way we do this is by matching each of
our students with a volunteer graduate who tutors them for an hour a week.
One of the things that makes us unique is the way we work in close partnership with
schools, ensuring that our tutorials become a teaching aid that teachers use to help their
students do better.
There are two main parts to our programme:
1) One-to-one tutorials to help students get better grades
2) University Guidance and UCAS support activities to help students navigate the UCAS
process
The Access Project is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and
young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
© 2014 The Access Project
Company number: 07473072 | Charity number: 1143011
Registered address: United House, North Road, London N7 9DP
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The Access Project: Programme Coordinator (Birmingham)
About the role
Programme Coordinators manage the day-to-day running of the programme in The Access
Project partner schools. They work closely with students, staff at all levels, tutors, and with
the rest of The Access Project’s team to ensure that the delivery of the programme is
optimised. They enjoy a significant degree of autonomy and have the freedom to stamp their
own seal of excellence on the programme. They may also take responsibility for managing
senior stakeholders at our corporate partners.
Successful candidates will have the opportunity to work on the ‘front line’ of addressing
educational disadvantage, as well as benefiting from opportunities to become involved in the
wider work of The Access Project as it continues to expand
This is a challenging role, which is well-suited to resilient individuals looking to pursue a
career in education and/or the social enterprise/charity sectors.
Duties and responsibilities of our Programme Coordinators:
1) Embedding The Access Project in our partner schools
i)
Working with the senior leadership teams and other teachers to adapt The
Access Project programme to the needs of our partner schools.
ii) Building relationships with staff and students to drive awareness of and
enthusiasm for the programme.
iii) Leading on managing, reviewing and improving the programme. Building on
feedback from the school students, teaching staff and senior leaders, the
volunteer tutors and the rest of The Access Project’s team.
2) Managing and improving the one-to-one tutorials
i)
The Programme Coordinators:
(1) Recruit students to the programme and match them with volunteer tutors.
(2) Proactively support both students and tutors.
(3) Use the schools’ existing reporting on students’ academic and pastoral
progress to monitor the impact of tutorials, and intervene as appropriate.
(4) Use The Access Project’s additional reporting lines to manage the tutorials.
This often includes liaising directly with students, teachers and tutors.
3) Enrichment
i)
The Programme Coordinators establish a programme of enrichment that
compliments both the needs of the school and the aims of The Access Project.
This may include:
(1) Working with the Senior Leadership Teams and teachers to assess the
schools’ enrichment needs in relation to the programme.
(2) Delivering some after-school provision, depending on the Programme
Coordinators’ skill-sets and the schools’ needs.
(3) Arranging external speakers or facilitators to deliver enrichment activities in
school.
© 2014 The Access Project
Company number: 07473072 | Charity number: 1143011
Registered address: United House, North Road, London N7 9DP
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The Access Project: Programme Coordinator (Birmingham)
4)
Overseeing The Access Project’s programme of University Guidance and UCAS
support activities at the school
i)
The Programme Coordinators oversee The Access Project’s contribution to
University Guidance and UCAS support activities in school.
This may include:
(1) Designing the programme of support with Senior Leadership Teams and
other teachers in school.
(2) Organising and running individual events (e.g. university trips).
(3) Designing and delivering in-school workshops (e.g. subject choice
guidance).
(4) Working directly with students on an ongoing basis to improve their
applications (e.g. 1to1 personal statement support).
5) Reporting to the schools and The Access Project
The Programme Coordinators are based in our partner schools but they spend 1 day
each week in The Access Project’s central office undertaking training and feeding into
internal projects to improve the quality of delivery of the programme.
The Programme Coordinators are line managed by The Access Project. Each school
also nominates a Project Supervisor, who focuses on the performance of their particular
in-school programme.
6)
Any other responsibilities reasonably deemed necessary by The Access Project’s
Programme Managers or Director
Person specification
We are seeking applications from individuals who are:
ESSENTIAL

Able to communicate with impact at all levels. The role involves building
relationships with staff, students and tutors on a one-to-one basis, and also
presenting information to/ running workshops with groups of students and teachers:
the Programme Coordinator will need to be professional, articulate and credible in a
range of situations

Experience of managing projects and administration. The role has a complex and
varied workload, involving autonomous working and teamworking, and managing
tasks over different periods of time. The Programme Coordinator will also need to be
able to maintain accurate and up to date records

Able to lead and manage change. The Programme Coordinator will be the key
representative of a new programme in school, and will need enthusiasm and vision to
make this a success

Passionate about educational disadvantage. This is a demanding role which
requires Programme Coordinators to be committed to our mission and values (see
© 2014 The Access Project
Company number: 07473072 | Charity number: 1143011
Registered address: United House, North Road, London N7 9DP
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The Access Project: Programme Coordinator (Birmingham)
below) and motivated by and engaged with the work of The Access Project and our
partner schools

Resilient and adaptable. The Programme Coordinator will need to adapt to a fastmoving environment in school, and react to challenges and requests from students,
staff and tutors

Able to work some Saturdays. The Programme Coordinators run training sessions
for our volunteer tutors and many of these take place on Saturdays. The Programme
Coordinators are not expected to work more than one Saturday per month and are
compensated for their time through an additional holiday allowance.
DESIREABLE

Knowledge / experience of working and/or volunteering in schools or the
education sector.
Please note, as a minimum requirement, applicants will:

Be able to commit to The Access Project for a minimum of 2 years

Have a university degree

Have the right to work in the UK
Notice period
Programme Coordinators can terminate their employment by giving written notice at least
two months before the end of term in the autumn and spring terms, and at least three
months before the end of the summer term. We highlight this as it is a standard notice period
in schools but more unusual in the charity sector.
Disclosure of a Criminal Record
The Rehabilitation of Offenders 1974 (Exceptions) (Amendment) Order 1986 does not apply
to posts where there is access to children. This means that applicants for employment which
involves working with children and young people must disclose any criminal record. If your
application is successful, you are required to make these disclosures and consent to The
Access Project verifying the accuracy of your response with the Disclosure and Barring
Service.
If you require further information, please contact The Access Project on 0207 609 2484.
To Apply
Please
complete
our
application
form
(available
via
our
website:
http://www.theaccessproject.org.uk/whos-involved/get-involved/as-an-individual/work-forus/). When complete, submit to Kathryn Busby ([email protected]).
Please put ‘Programme Coordinator’ as the subject of your email
© 2014 The Access Project
Company number: 07473072 | Charity number: 1143011
Registered address: United House, North Road, London N7 9DP
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The Access Project: Programme Coordinator (Birmingham)
The Access Project’s mission
Our mission is to combat educational inequality by using volunteer tutors to help motivated
students access top universities.
The Access Project’s values
Community
We build a community of schools, volunteers and partner organisations that share a
common vision.
Motivation
We harness and reward motivation.
Development
We promote a culture of excellence, improvement and innovation.
Academic Excellence
We help students achieve their potential by matching them with tutors who have been given
excellent resources and training.
© 2014 The Access Project
Company number: 07473072 | Charity number: 1143011
Registered address: United House, North Road, London N7 9DP
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