Head of School - Foundation Degrees; FdA and FdSC

Overview

Salary: £78,000

Employment type: Permanent

Hours per week: 37

Reporting into: Director of Academic Persistence

Department: Academic Persistence

Read the full job description and view our excellent benefits here.

This role operates on a hybrid working arrangement that will require regular travel into our UK locations listed below when required. Travel each week will fluctuate in line with business requirements. Our working model arrangements are a non-contractual benefit so please note that an Arden work location is added to our employment contracts.

Travel will be required into the following locations:

• Coventry head office
• Birmingham campus
• Leeds campus
• Nottingham campus
• Manchester campus
• London area (Stratford, Holborn & Ealing)
• Newcastle campus

About Arden University
:

We are an aspirational and multi-award-winning university, delivering rapid growth with ambitious plans to disrupt the HE sector through our passion for innovation and digital education. Our vision is to become the first-choice university for career-focused lifelong learners worldwide, ensuring that everyone, everywhere can access higher education.

There has never been a more exciting time to join Arden University, as we expand into new disciplines, forge worldwide partnerships, and expand our locations.

About our School
:

Arden University launched its new Foundation Degrees (three programmes in Business, Health and Care Management and Computing) in September 2025. These programmes are designed to provide a vocational and work-based learning experience, tailored to meet the needs of widening participation (WP) and disadvantaged student groups. The Foundation Degrees aim to bridge the gap between education and employment, equipping students with practical skills and real-world experience.

With a strong emphasis on inclusivity and employability, Arden’s approach supports learners from diverse backgrounds, offering flexible pathways into higher education and future careers.

The new School of Foundation Degrees is located in the Centre for Academic Persistence, a newly formed centre in 2024 which plays a pivotal role in guiding students through their journey. The Centre delivers a suite of strategic initiatives including Foundation Year programmes, CertHE support, ‘On Track’ progression and resit support, and leads the university-wide orientation events for all new Blended Learning and Distance Learning student.

Arden is passionate about helping students realise their potential, and this new offering reflects its commitment to inclusive education, student success, and social mobility.

About the Opportunity:

The Head of the School of Foundation Degrees is responsible for the three Foundation Degrees we have in the university. The Head of School will be required to help drive student outcomes across the multiple versions of the Foundation Degree (in FdA Business & Innovation, FdSc Health and Care Management and FdSc Computing & Digital Futures) and deliver impact in key areas that support the strategic development of the Centre.

The Head of School will provide academic leadership within the school and line manage the relevant Head of Departments(s) and potentially other members of the academic team. They will be accountable for recruitment of outstanding academic staff to the various departments.

They will drive outstanding quality features within Student Experience including teaching, feedback, and assessment practices, course content and delivery. They will also look to achieve fantastic student outcomes, measured across rates continuation and completion for learners as well as setting tailored departmental targets for Head of Departments to achieve outstanding student progression.

About You

Key skills / experience:

• Masters’ level and/or Professional qualification relevant to the School.
• Recognised HE teaching qualification and/or Fellowship (e.g.: PG Cert HE, SFHEA, PFHEA QTLS/QTS Secondary).
• A clear vision of academic excellence within the ethos of the school.
• Up-to-date knowledge of current trends and policy within field of academic skills in higher education
• A successful track record of leading academic portfolios at different levels/modes of…