Associate Lecturer

Role: Associate Lecturer – Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities

Location: Bedford College – Cauldwell Street Campus

Salary: Salary is between £21.50 and £24.00 per hour DOE and Qualifications

Hours/Weeks: Up to 10 hours per week

Contract Type: Sessional – Hourly Paid – Fixed Term until 26th June 2026

This is a UK based contract, and you are required to have the Right to Work in the UK. Unfortunately, we're unable to offer sponsorship and any offer of employment will be subject to evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

About the role:

We are currently seeking an Associate Lecturer in Learning Difficulties and/or Disabilities to join our Foundation Learning & Additional Learning Support department at The Bedford College Group.

As an Associate Lecturer, you play an important role in the success of our students through:

• Teaching & Assessment – Deliver and assess high-quality lessons for learners with SEND from Milestone 5 to Entry Level 3, including Gateway Qualifications in Skills for Independent Living.
• Curriculum & Resources – Prepare schemes of work, develop engaging materials, and implement innovative teaching strategies tailored to individual needs.
• Student Progress & Records – Monitor learner progress, maintain accurate records, produce reports, and ensure timely interventions to meet awarding body standards.
• Quality & Compliance – Uphold safeguarding, equality, diversity, and health & safety requirements; contribute to quality processes and course reviews.
• Professional Development – Keep subject knowledge current, attend training, and collaborate effectively with colleagues to enhance provision and learner outcomes.

About you:

• Qualifications – Degree or equivalent vocational training in a relevant subject; Level 3 teaching qualification (City & Guilds or higher); willingness to achieve Level 2 Literacy & Numeracy if not already held.
• Experience – Teaching learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities; working collaboratively to meet team objectives and deadlines.
• Skills & Competencies – Strong organisational and interpersonal skills; ability to deliver high-quality, inclusive learning experiences and maintain accurate records.
• Professional Standards – Commitment to safeguarding, equality, diversity, and health & safety; ability to communicate effectively and uphold the College's reputation.
• Flexibility & Development – Positive attitude, willingness to work across sites, engage in CPD, and undertake relevant staff development.

For a more detailed breakdown of the job role and the requirements, please see the Job Description attached to this vacancy.

Interviews to be held: TBC

Successful candidates must also be able to demonstrate alignment to our organisational VISION values:

• Valuing Teamwork - We are one team who by working together can achieve great things, respecting the opinion and valuing the contribution each of us makes.
• Improving Continuously - We challenge ourselves to always do better by trying new things, sharing knowledge, reflecting on practice and learning from others.
• Student Centred - At our heart is always doing what is best for our students. We consider students in all of our decision making to create positive outcomes and memorable experiences for every student.
• Inclusive - We celebrate differences and diversity, recognising that we can learn from each other.
• Open and Caring - We care about the wellbeing of our staff, our students, our community and wider society, creating an environment built on trust where we listen, engage with and support each other.
• Nurturing Education Excellence - We promote educational excellence by delivering programmes that challenge our students to achieve their ambitions.

What is an Associate?

Associates work on a short term basis as assigned. They teach or provide support services and they work with and are supported by core staff. As an Associate you will be issued with an Associate agreement, under this Agreement period you will be eligible to work on assignments offered to you. Typically an agreement runs from January to December and may be renewed thereafter.

About The Bedford College Group

The Bedford College Group was formed in 2017 following the merger of Bedford College and Tresham College and is now the largest provider of education in the South East Midlands, with over 15,000 students passing through our doors each year.

Today, the Group is made up of a family of colleges across Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire: Bedford College, Central Bedfordshire College and Tresham College in the towns of Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough; Shuttleworth College, a specialist land-based college; The Bedford Sixth Form, (the only dedicated sixth form in Bedford); The Corby Sixth Form, (opened in September 2023); and the National College for Motorsport alongside Silverstone race circuit. To widen accessibility to education and training, the Group also has community-based Learning Centres in Bedford, Corby and Kettering which offer IT training.

Safeguarding our Students

The Bedford College Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to thorough vetting process which includes, an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide. The Bedford College Group's policy on Employment of Ex-Offenders is attached to this vacancy.

Candidates who are barred from working with children are reminded it is a criminal offence to apply for this post.