Gemma Fairhurst

A high-impact Further Education leader with 15+ years of continuous success driving curriculum excellence, quality framework improvement, and financial sustainability. Proven track record managing large-scale college operations, multi-million-pound budgets, and strategic Ofsted inspection preparations. Expert at turning around underperforming departments, mitigating regulatory risk, and building stable, high-performing teaching teams focused on optimal student progression.

Head of English and Maths - Bolton College - Deane Road, Bolton

(2023-08)

Strategic Oversight: Direct institutional operations for the college's largest core academic provision under strict funding limits.

• Grade Growth: Engineered structural interventions delivering a 5% increase in high-grade GCSE outcomes (9-4) across core subjects.
• Ofsted Leadership: Coordinated critical evidence and participated directly in paired learning walks with inspectors during recent reviews.
• Fiscal Accountability: Maintain total financial control over an overall curriculum income budget of £3.6M and a £1.7M payroll.
• Staff Stabilization: Rebuilt, upskilled, and managed a workforce of 40+ teachers, successfully eliminating high-cost agency reliance.
• Commercial Development: Partnered with Greater Manchester networks to co-design viable full-cost adult and community training offers.

Curriculum Leader – Hairdressing and Beauty Therapy - Bolton College - Bolton

(2017-04 - 2023-08)

• Quality Mastery: Maintained outstanding Grade 1 Self-Assessment Report (SAR) standards across 16-19 study and adult pathways.
• Retention Benchmark: Drove 16-18 student stay-on rates to a historic 99%, earning a college trophy for highest performance.
• Apprentice Growth: Lifted apprentice achievement rates to 66.7%, representing a 29.2% improvement on previous benchmarks.
• Perfect Pass Rates: Secured a 100% End Point Assessment success rate, with 90% of students completing with Distinction metrics.
• Team Management: Directly managed 10 permanent staff, 5 technicians, and 7 agency lecturers to deliver commercial and education targets.

Lecturer B – Beauty and Holistic Therapies - Bolton College - Bolton

(2014-09 - 2017-04)

• Course Coordination: Coordinated Level 2 and Level 3 vocational student portfolios and produced departmental Self-Assessment Reports.

Lecturer A – Beauty Therapy - Bolton College - Bolton

(2010-09 - 2014-09)

• Teaching Excellence: Delivered high-quality skills training and assessments across qualifications from Pre-Entry to Level 3 standards.

Salon Manager / Lead Therapist - Complete Beauty - Spendmore Lane, Coppull

(2003-04 - 2010-09)

• Business Operations: Managed staff supervision, strict stock control, financial reconciliation, and local customer retention strategies.
• Foundational Skills: Built the commercial and resource management skills needed for senior leadership.

MA - Leading Learning (Postgraduate Module / Certificate) - University of Bolton

BA (Hons) - Learning, Teaching and Assessment in Professional Practice - University of Bolton

Level 5 Diploma - Teaching in the Lifelong Learning Sector (Cert Ed) - University of Bolton

Level 5 Diploma - Numeracy (Specialist Maths Teaching Qualification) - University of Bolton

Level 5 Diploma - Literacy & ESOL (Specialist English Teaching Qualification) - University of Bolton

Level 4 Certificate - Leading Internal Quality Assurance (Lead IQA) - University of Bolton

Certificate - Assessing Vocational Achievement (D32/D33) - Bolton College

NVQ Level 2 & Level 3 - Beauty Therapy - Runshaw College