The University of Worcester has a long and distinguished history in education. Founded as a Teacher Training College in 1946, our belief in the transformative power of education continues to shape the University today. Through our Inspired for Life ethos, we seek to create an inclusive, supportive and ambitious community in which students and staff can flourish and make a positive contribution to society.

The Institute of Education lies at the heart of this mission. One of the UK’s major providers of education, training and research for the children’s workforce, its provision spans Primary, Secondary and Post-Compulsory Teacher Education, alongside Education and Inclusion and Children and Families, as well as professional learning and development for the wider education workforce. It has a proud reputation for the excellent quality of its provision, with Primary and Secondary Teacher Training rated Outstanding by Ofsted, and an extensive partnership network.

About the role

We are seeking an ambitious, collaborative and inclusive leader to become our next Head of the Institute of Education. This is an opportunity to lead a highly successful Institute at an important point in its development, setting its future direction and identifying new opportunities for growth, innovation and impact. Reporting directly to the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academic and as a member of the University Leadership Group, you will contribute to the strategic development of the wider University while providing academic, strategic and financial leadership to the Institute. You will lead and develop a talented academic and professional community, building on its considerable strengths and positioning it for continued success.

You will bring an outward-looking perspective, developing the Institute’s academic and professional offer, with a particular focus on outstanding quality combined with the development and diversification of our course and continuing professional development offer professional learning and apprenticeships, while responding to the changing student recruitment landscape, the evolving needs of students and education partners, and the new environment created by technological advance. You will strengthen and extend the Institute’s external partnerships, identifying new ways to work with schools, multi-academy trusts and the wider education sector. You will also build its research and scholarly ambition, developing a strong and focused research culture and extending its reach and impact.

About you

You will be an accomplished and credible senior leader, with experience gained within higher education or another relevant education setting, and the professional credibility to lead a large and diverse Institute of Education. You will bring a strong understanding of learning, teaching and high-quality educational provision, alongside experience of leading people and change, developing and reviewing academic or professional portfolios, maintaining high standards of quality and student experience, and building strong external partnerships. You will also bring an understanding of research and scholarship, teacher education and the Ofsted inspection framework, together with the strategic, financial and commercial awareness to identify opportunities for growth and respond effectively to changing sector and market needs. An inclusive and persuasive leader, you will inspire confidence, develop and support colleagues, and bring the ambition and judgement required to lead the Institute’s next phase of development.

The University of Worcester has appointed Veredus, an executive search agency, to assist with this appointment (veredus.co.uk).

The deadline for receipt of applications is 9am on Monday, 14 September 2026.

Final interviews will be held on Friday, 9 October 2026.

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Please note that if not already an employee of the University of Worcester, the appointed candidate will be employed through our subsidiary company Uniworc Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of University of Worcester. Appointees of Uniworc Limited will automatically be enrolled into the Aviva FlexHE defined contribution pension scheme(subject to earnings and other eligibility criteria)