Vocational Instructor & Practical Skills Lead

Job Title: Vocational Skills Instructor / Unqualified Practical Teacher (Construction, Mechanics, Catering, Hair & Beauty, Bushcraft or Animal Care)

Location: Blackpool & The Fylde Coast, Lancashire (FY postcodes)

Are you an experienced tradesperson, mechanic, chef, stylist, or outdoor specialist who loves sharing what you know?

You do not need a teaching degree or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) to change lives in the classroom. In our specialist Alternative Provision (AP) schools in Blackpool, hands-on ability, genuine presence, and the skill to de-escalate and mentor young people matter far more than academic paperwork.

We are recruiting Vocational Instructors and Practical Skills Leaders to deliver real-world, hands-on learning to Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 students (ages 11-16) who struggle in traditional mainstream classrooms. Working in small workshop hubs, our students re-engage with education through practical accomplishments-building a stud wall, tuning a small engine, baking bread, styling hair, or working outdoors.

We Are Welcoming Instructors Across Any of the Following Disciplines:

Construction & Trades: Carpentry, joinery, bricklaying, tiling, painting & decorating, or multi-trade DIY skills.

Motor Vehicle & Mechanics: Basic servicing, small engine repair, cycle maintenance, or MOT centre trade skills.

Hair & Beauty: Hairdressing basics, barbering, nail technology, skin care, and customer-facing salon skills.

Land-Based, Bushcraft & Animal Care: Small animal handling, stable management, horticulture, woodland conservation, and practical outdoor survival skills.

Why Step Into Alternative Provision Teaching?

Balanced Working Lifestyle: Standard school hours (8:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Monday to Friday). Every weekend, evening, and 13 weeks of school holidays off.

Micro-Class Ratios: Forget managing classes of 30. You will teach small groups of 3 to 6 pupils in dedicated workshop spaces, with support from a dedicated pastoral Teaching Assistant in the room.

Make a Tangible Impact: Introduce vulnerable and neurodivergent teenagers (ADHD, ASC, SEMH) to practical trades that pave the way to apprenticeships and college.

Direct Route to Permanent: A structured 12-week temp-to-perm transition giving you immediate weekly pay stability with a clear pathway to a permanent school contract.

Key Responsibilities

Hands-On Delivery: Run engaging, safe, entry-level practical sessions aligned with functional qualifications (e.g., City & Guilds, BTEC, Entry Level, or internal unit awards).

Workshop Health & Safety: Supervise correct tool handling, equipment maintenance, and personal protective equipment (PPE) adherence.

De-Escalation & Co-Regulation: Maintain firm, respectful boundaries; spot early signs of frustration or dysregulation, and co-regulate students using low-arousal, relational approaches.

Life Skills & Mentorship: Encourage communication, work ethic, punctuality, and self-confidence alongside technical ability.

Pastoral Support: Work hand-in-hand with class TAs and the school's pastoral leadership team to track engagement and celebrate small wins.

Who We Are Looking For

De-Escalation Skills: Patience, emotional resilience, and an understanding of young people facing trauma or social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) challenges.

Qualifications: QTS is not required. Relevant trade NVQs/City & Guilds (Level 2 or 3) are desirable, as is prior experience coaching, mentoring apprentices, or youth work.

Safeguarding: Must hold or be willing to process an Enhanced Child Workforce DBS registered on the DBS Update Service.

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