Salary: Salary is negotiable and based on experience
Are you an experienced education professional ready to take responsibility for leading a centre, a team, and a culture that changes young people’s lives? We are recruiting a Centre Lead for our High Wycombe centre — a hands‑on leadership role with responsibility for day‑to‑day centre operations, staff management, safeguarding practice, and learner experience.
As Centre Lead, you will provide clear leadership to a multidisciplinary team of tutors and support staff, ensuring high standards of teaching, behaviour, safeguarding, and learner engagement across the centre. You’ll create a calm, structured, and relational environment where both staff and young people can thrive. You will report directly to the Bucks and Herts Area Manager and work closely with a team of Centre Leads across the region, sharing best practice and supporting consistent, high‑quality provision across our four centres.
This is a visible, on‑site role. While you will work directly with learners and model best practice in behaviour management and engagement, your primary focus will be leading people, coordinating provision, and ensuring the centre operates safely, effectively, and in line with New Meaning Training’s values.
We are looking for someone with experience tutoring, coaching, or teaching young people, who is now ready to step into a broader leadership role — or an experienced centre or team lead who remains passionate about working directly with learners. Training and support will be provided, particularly around safeguarding leadership and operational systems.
If you are confident, organised, values‑driven, and motivated by both people leadership and learner outcomes, this role offers a rare opportunity to make a meaningful impact at scale.
* Management of a team comprising Tutors, Teaching Assistants and Learning Support Assistants.
* Complete DSL4 training and support the Designated Safeguarding lead (Safeguarding Manager) in the management of safeguarding practice.
* Support and guide young people – working closely with learners, parents/carers, Youth Justice Services, schools, careers services, and other referral partners-to ensure they engage positively with the Sport, Fitness & Public Service Programme, achieve qualifications, and progress toward independence. Manage behaviour effectively to create a safe and structured learning environment.
* Promote the importance of attendance, participation, and effort by reinforcing the connection between engagement and success. Encourage learners to take ownership of their behaviour and make positive choices that contribute to their progress.
* Work as part of a team to deliver qualifications in Functional Skills Maths and English, Skills for Education, Training, and Personal Development, and a Tutorials Programme embedding British Values – adapting teaching approaches to manage behaviour and sustain engagement.
* Plan and lead practical activities that not only strengthen learner independence but also encourage positive behaviour management strategies, helping to re‑engage hard‑to‑reach young people in structured, meaningful experiences.
* Develop creative, learner‑centred strategies that motivate and support young people with challenging behaviours, ensuring that all learners feel understood, respected, and encouraged to improve their conduct.
* Complete all paperwork and assessments to the required standards set by Buckinghamshire College Group and the qualification awarding body, NOCN, ensuring that behaviour and engagement records are accurately maintained.
* Maintain accurate records, update progress trackers weekly, and organise your diary effectively including monitoring behavioural patterns and interventions to inform future support strategies.
* Work with supporting agencies to facilitate learner progression and development, collaborating on behaviour management plans where necessary to create consistent support across education and external services.
* Continuously improve through a CPD programme, working with your line manager to develop behaviour management techniques and stay updated on relevant legislation and training provided by New Meaning Training.
* Use your expertise in time management, scheme of work and lesson planning, and understanding learning styles to tailor lessons to individual needs, embedding behaviour management strategies to ensure a positive and focused learning environment.
* Apply strong communication, conflict resolution, and stakeholder engagement skills to guide young people in managing their emotions, resolving conflicts, and developing self‑regulation strategies.
* Analyse challenges, solve problems proactively, and maintain detailed records on learner behaviour, interventions, and progress, ensuring that support is targeted and effective.
* Coordination of safeguarding incidents when Area Manager is not present and in partnership with Safeguarding Manager
* Coordinate centre facilities: Health and Safety Audits, maintenance, cleaning and rooms rostering/schedules
* Line manage Lead tutors, Tutors, teaching assistants and learning support assistants
* Interview new staff and coordinate new staff onboarding
* Coordinate general learning: weekly staff meetings, parent meetings, learner interviews
* Weekly centre staff meetings (to agree rosters and discuss learners)
* Complete assigned commercial tasks, including:
o Support promotion of courses to local referral partners as agreed
o Participation in marketing meetings when requested
o Participation in discussions on centre course mix
o Support (as requested or directed) Area Manager in achieving learner targets
o Community engagement
o Attend key learner panels
About Us
New Meaning Training (NMT) offers education with a difference. We are an alternative education provider dedicated to helping young people aged 15–25 discover their strengths and develop the confidence and skills to earn their own living.
For the 2025–2026 academic year, around 300 young people from across Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Warwickshire and the West Midlands will join one of our programmes. Many learners are referred by secondary schools, pupil referral units and Special Educational Needs (SEN) settings.
Since opening our first centre in High Wycombe in 2015 (originally known as "Toolshed"), we have grown to seven centres across five counties. Each centre delivers a tailored mix of programmes that may include: Construction Multiskills, Motor Mechanics, Creative Art & Design, Sports, Computing and Transition Support for young people with Education Health Care Plans (EHCPs). All programmes incorporate Functional Skills qualifications in Maths and English, alongside tutorials to support personal growth and employability. In Buckinghamshire we now have four centres; our Headquarters in High Wycombe, a Lifeskills centre based at Thomley Activity Centre, an Enrichment Centre in Aylesbury and a brand new centre in Milton Keynes.
NMT programmes are tailored to the individual needs of each learner, taking into account Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) as well as Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. We apply the principles of a Loving Care Approach (trauma‑informed practice) across all our centres, ensuring that every young person receives the support they need to thrive.
Why work for New Meaning Training?
Generous annual leave
* 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
* Up to 10 additional “gifted” days off each year (taken during school holiday periods)
* Annual leave increases with length of service, up to a maximum of 24 days
Pension
* Autoenrolment into The People’s Pension
* 5% employee contribution with 3% employer contribution
Blue Light Card
* Access to hundreds of national discounts (retail, food, travel, days out)
* Admin fee fully reimbursed by NMT
Service recognition
* Additional annual leave as a thank you for long service
* Gift rewards at key milestones (e.g. 5 and 10 years)
* Annual flu vaccination voucher (paid for by NMT)
* Birthday gift voucher to celebrate your day
* Cycle to Work scheme (salary sacrifice)
* Electric Vehicle scheme via Octopus Energy (salary sacrifice)
* Green Travel to Work initiatives with rewards for taking part
* Strong focus on staff wellbeing, development, and collaboration
* Training and CPD supported as part of your role
* The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in young people’s lives
You will have:
* Minimum of Level 3 Award in Education & Training and preferably a Certificate of Higher Education, but training can be provided to the right candidate without these qualifications.
* Experience in education, including Scheme of Work and Lesson Plan development.
* Strong conflict management and resolution skills.
* Excellent communication skills to inspire and motivate young people.
* A team‑oriented and proactive attitude, with the ability to work independently.
* Proven relationship‑building skills with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
* Empathy and understanding for young people, with alignment to New Meaning Training’s values.
* A passion for helping learners achieve their goals through adaptability and initiative in tailoring learning styles and activities.
* Strong organisational skills and flexibility to meet deadlines and learner needs.
* Attention to detail in data collection and record keeping.
* Professionalism when engaging with learners, parents, and external stakeholders.
* An understanding of or willingness to learn about current social issues (e.g., County Lines, the impact of COVID on mental health).
* A creative flair for developing engaging activities that support individual learner goals.
Additional notes
• All applicants must complete our online application form and provide a current CV as part of the recruitment process. Further details on how to submit your CV will be shared during the application process.
• New Meaning Training is committed to safer recruitment practices in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE). Appointment to this role will be subject to appropriate pre‑employment checks, including a DBS check at the relevant level.
• All colleagues are expected to read, understand, and adhere to New Meaning Training’s policies and procedures, including those relating to safeguarding, professional conduct, and data protection.
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