Why this hire is high stakes

A strong Head of Quality:

• Stabilises delivery

• Improves learner outcomes

• Builds a culture where evidence exists before inspection week

A weak one:

• Creates spreadsheets

• Hosts meetings

• Tells you everything is “in progress” until it’s not

Step 1: Define your version of “quality”

Is it:

• Ofsted readiness?

• IQA rigour and standardisation?

• Curriculum improvement?

• Data-led performance improvement?

• Compliance and funding assurance?

Usually it’s all of the above—so decide the top 3 priorities for the first 6 months.

Step 2: What a strong job spec includes

• Scope: apprenticeships only or wider provision

• Reporting lines and influence (do they have authority?)

• Team: IQAs, QAs, QIPs, QMIS, tutors/assessors

• Key levers: observation model, standardisation, QIP/SAR ownership

• KPIs: timely reviews, OTJ quality, EPA outcomes, retention, progress

Step 3: Where great Heads of Quality come from

• High-performing ITPs (obvious, but rare and in demand)

• Colleges with strong work-based learning units

• Awarding/EPA/compliance-heavy environments (often brilliant on rigour)

The best are usually:

• Not applying

• Quietly open

• Approached through trusted networks

Step 4: Interview questions that separate leaders from librarians

1. “What did your last QIP actually change?” (give examples)

2. “How do you balance support and accountability with delivery teams?”

3. “What does an effective observation process look like?”

4. “How do you drive consistency across multiple standards/teams?”

5. “Which 5 metrics do you watch weekly/monthly—and why?”

6. “How do you prepare for Ofsted without making everyone miserable?”

7. “Talk me through a time you turned around a weak area.”

Ask for artefacts

• A redacted QIP

• A dashboard used in governance

• An example of standardisation output

Step 5: Red flags

• Over-indexes on paperwork, under-indexes on impact

• Can’t describe “before and after” improvements

• Blames delivery completely (quality is leadership + systems)

• Doesn’t understand the commercial reality of apprenticeships

If you need a Head of Quality who can lead improvement, not just report it, NSA can bring you proven senior quality leaders—often off-market.

spencer@nationalskillsagency.co.uk |

020 3953 1984