Matthew Smallwood

Experienced education leader and Qualified Teacher (QTS) with over 30 years' experience leading high-performing education, apprenticeship and training provision across schools, further education and engineering. Proven expertise in safeguarding, quality assurance, curriculum leadership, learner wellbeing and educational compliance, with extensive experience preparing organisations for Ofsted inspection and external quality audits. A collaborative leader with a strong track record of improving learner outcomes, leading multidisciplinary teams, developing education strategies and building effective partnerships with schools, employers and external stakeholders.

Passionate about supporting young people to achieve their academic, personal and professional potential within high-performance environments.

Training Manager at ALTRAD EMPLOYMENT SERVICES LTD (2019-01 – Present)

Strategic leadership of apprenticeship and training provision, driving quality, compliance and learner success.

• Lead development and implementation of SAR and QIP.
• Manage inductions, reviews, disciplinaries and improvement plans.
• Monitor performance, retention and achievement data.
• Oversee QA processes: file audits, observations, learner voice and compliance checks.
• Lead instructor and management meetings, quality reviews and audit preparation.
• Manage external audits, including Matrix and awarding bodies.
• Organisation Ofsted Nominee.
• Designated Safeguarding Lead and Prevent trainer.
• Mental Health First Aider and Wellbeing Champion.
• Develop learner personal development, welfare programmes and committees.

General Manager at MARCHES CENTRE OF MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY (2018-01 – 2019-12)

• Led apprenticeship and commercial programme delivery.
• Managed staff performance, budgets and resources.
• Oversaw quality assurance and operational effectiveness.

Senior Assistant Headteacher / Acting Deputy Headteacher / Assistant Headteacher / Director of Engineering at WEDNESFIELD HIGH SPECIALIST ENGINEERING ACADEMY (2008-01 – 2018-12)

• Leadership of curriculum, assessment, data, STEM and employer engagement.
• Drove quality improvement and strategic development across engineering and technology.

Assistant Head of Technology at PARKFIELD HIGH SCHOOL (2007-01 – 2008-12)

Teacher of Technology / Maths at HEALTH PARK BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE COLLEGE (2002-01 – 2007-12)

Managing Director at CENTRELESS PRECISION GRINDING LTD (1999-01 – 2003-12)

Business, finance, quality and workforce management.

Foreman / Operator at CENTRELESS GRINDING (MIDLANDS) COMPANY LTD (1988-01 – 1999-12)

Production, quality and staff supervision.

BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering – University of Central England