Assistant Principal - Inclusion, Safeguarding & Learner Development (DSL)
2 days ago
London
Welcome to ONELAB ONELAB College exists to redefine education for young people aged 16–25 with SEND. We believe education should not be passive—it should be active, applied, and meaningful. Our model is built on a simple but powerful philosophy: Design > Make > Sell Learners don’t just study. They create, build, test, and bring ideas into the real world. Our ambition is to deliver an education that leads to: • Independence, • Employment or enterprise, • Confidence and capability for life Why This Role Matters At ONELAB, we are building a different kind of education—one that is practical, inclusive, and focused on real-world outcomes for SEND learners. This role is central to that mission. As Assistant Principal, you ensure that every learner: • Is safe, supported, and able to access learning, • Develops confidence, independence, and life skills, • Has a clear pathway into employment, enterprise, or further opportunities You shape the systems, culture, and support that enable learners to thrive—not just in college, but beyond it. 👉 When this role is done well, no learner is overlooked, and every learner has a meaningful next step. What We Need From You We are looking for a leader who combines care with clarity, and empathy with accountability—someone who can ensure every learner is both supported and challenged to succeed. Lead with Integrity and Clarity • Set clear expectations for safeguarding, inclusion, and learner support, • Act with sound judgement in complex and sensitive situations, • Communicate confidently and consistently, ensuring staff understand their responsibilities Create a Safe, Inclusive, High-Expectation Environment • Build a culture where learners feel safe, respected, and able to thrive, • Maintain high expectations for behaviour, engagement, and personal development, • Ensure inclusion is embedded in practice—not treated as an add-on Manage Complexity with Confidence • Handle safeguarding cases and learner needs with professional rigour and calm authority, • Work effectively with families, local authorities, and external agencies, • Make timely decisions that prioritise learner safety and wellbeing Drive Learner Development and Progression • Ensure every learner has a clear and realistic pathway beyond ONELAB, • Motivate learners to build confidence, independence, and life skills, • Connect education to real-world outcomes, particularly in creative and retail pathways Lead People and Build Capability • Develop and support staff to deliver high-quality safeguarding and inclusion practice, • Hold staff accountable for learner wellbeing and support, • Address issues directly and ensure consistent standards across teams Be Organised, Proactive, and Detail-Focused • Maintain strong systems for safeguarding, EHCPs, and learner support, • Anticipate risks and act early, rather than reacting late, • Ensure nothing critical is missed or allowed to drift Make Decisions that Protect Learners • Act decisively when standards, safety, or wellbeing are at risk, • Be prepared to make difficult calls in the best interests of learners, • Maintain professional boundaries while leading with empathy In Practice This role requires someone who: • Notices concerns early—and acts, • Is trusted to handle sensitive situations with confidence, • Brings structure and consistency to learner support, • Ensures that every learner is not just included—but able to progress What Success Feels Like When this role is working well, it is visible and consistent across the college. Learners feel safe, supported, and confident, with a clear sense of what comes next. Staff are clear, capable, and consistent in how they support learners. Families trust that concerns are handled well and that progress is being made. Safeguarding is proactive, systems are organised, and no learner is overlooked. 👉 Every learner is supported to move forward—into independence, employment, or further opportunity. Role Overview The Assistant Principal – Inclusion, Safeguarding & Learner Development is a senior leader responsible for ensuring every learner is safe, supported, and able to progress into meaningful outcomes. As Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), you hold overall accountability for safeguarding across the College. You also lead: • SEND inclusion and EHCP implementation, • Personal development and learner experience, • Behaviour, wellbeing, and pastoral systems, • Learner progression, careers, and real-world pathways 👉 If it relates to learner safety, inclusion, or progression—you own it. Key Responsibilities 1. Safeguarding Leadership (DSL) – Non-Negotiable • Act as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), • Lead safeguarding strategy, culture, and compliance across the College, • Manage complex cases, referrals, and risk assessments, • Work with external agencies (social care, CAMHS, police, etc.), • Ensure all staff are trained and safeguarding is consistently applied 👉 Create a culture where safeguarding is proactive, understood, and embedded 2. Inclusion & SEND Leadership • Lead inclusive practice and SEND provision across the College, • Ensure effective implementation and review of EHCPs, • Oversee high-quality learning support and remove barriers to access, • Ensure compliance with the SEND Code of Practice, • Maintain ambitious expectations for all learners 3. Personal Development & Learner Experience • Lead the personal development offer, ensuring learners build:, • Confidence, • Independence, • Life and social skills, • Embed a trauma-informed, learner-centred approach, • Ensure strong, consistent pastoral systems across the College 4. Learner Development, Careers & Progression Pathways • Lead careers education and progression pathways, with a focus on the creative sector and fashion retail, • Ensure learners are prepared for real-world outcomes aligned to Design > Make > Sell, • Build and maintain partnerships with:, • Creative industries, • Fashion and retail employers, • Enterprise and self-employment pathways, • Develop opportunities including:, • Work experience, • Industry projects, • Supported internships, • Enterprise activity, • Track and improve destination outcomes for all learners 👉 Ensure every learner leaves ONELAB with a clear and supported next step 5. Admissions, Risk & Learner Readiness • Ensure safeguarding and inclusion are embedded in admissions and onboarding, • Assess learner needs, risks, and suitability, • Ensure appropriate support planning from entry, • Identify and manage complex or high-risk cases early 6. Behaviour, Attendance & Wellbeing • Establish clear and consistent approaches to behaviour and attendance, • Monitor trends and intervene early where concerns arise, • Ensure learners are engaged, supported, and able to participate fully, • Maintain a safe, calm, and structured environment 7. Staff Leadership & Capability • Lead and develop safeguarding, inclusion, and support teams, • Build staff capability in:, • Safeguarding, • SEND support, • Trauma-informed practice, • Ensure staff understand and fulfil their responsibilities, • Hold staff accountable for learner wellbeing and support 8. Compliance, Quality & Risk Management • Ensure full compliance with:, • Safeguarding legislation, • Prevent Duty, • SEND Code of Practice, • Maintain accurate, secure, and compliant records, • Lead safeguarding audits, reviews, and inspections, • Ensure the College is inspection-ready at all times 9. Partnership with Principal & COO • Work with the Principal to ensure learners can fully access the curriculum, • Work with the COO to ensure systems support safeguarding and inclusion, • Align learner support with academic delivery and operational systems 👉 You enable learners to access education. The Principal ensures it is delivered. About You Experience • Senior leadership experience in FE, SEND, or specialist education settings, • Experience as, or working closely with, a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), • Strong experience with SEND learners and EHCPs, • Experience managing complex cases and multi-agency working, • Track record of improving learner outcomes and progression Skills & Capabilities • Deep knowledge of safeguarding, SEND, and learner welfare, • Strong understanding of:, • SEND Code of Practice, • Safeguarding legislation, • Prevent Duty, • Ability to manage risk and make sound, timely decisions in complex situations, • Strong organisational and case management capability, ensuring no learner is overlooked, • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, working effectively with families, agencies, and partners, • Proven ability to develop progression pathways for SEND learners, including:, • Careers education, • Employability pathways, • Real-world learning opportunities, • Experience or capability to design and build supported progression routes, such as: Supported Internship programmes, Employer partnerships, Work-based learning opportunities 👉 Able to translate learner support into meaningful, real-world outcomes Core Principle The Assistant Principal is the guardian of learner safety, inclusion, and progression at ONELAB. You ensure that every learner: • is safe, • is supported, • can access learning, • and is prepared for a meaningful future Timelines Application Period Open: 9-15 April 2026 Interview Shortlisted Candidates: 20-22 April 2026 Decision: 27 April 2026 Offer Extended to Successful Candidate: 28 April 2026 Contracting: 1 May 2026 Key Information Full-time, Permanent Mondays to Fridays Onsite in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Competitive Salary Reports to Principal