Testimonials
What our staff say...
Karen - Health & Social Care teacher
What brought you into teaching?
I worked in a school and then a domestic violence hostel. As part of my role, I began running workshops for the parent and carers. I enjoyed it but I found that the children couldn't succeed unless the parent succeeded. Many of the parents I met had low level skills and many had never worked. That began to trigger my thoughts on the value of adult education. I originally began tone course as sessional teaching doing this alongside my work. I soon worked my way to becoming a salaried teacher.
I occasionally come across students who I have taught over the 20 years I've been teaching. It's good to remember where they started and see where they have ended up, not only in employment but in their personal lives.
How have you made a difference with the students' lives?
It's easy to see how you made a difference with regard to gaining employment with learners going on to a range of careers. Including, several learners going into teaching, nursing, social work etc.
It's nice though to see the difference you make to learner's personal as well as professional life.
I had a learner who had just had a breakdown in a relationship and was lacking in self-confidence, she competed her level 2 childcare, she then went onto an access course before becoming a theatre nurse at the QE Hospital. She has gained autonomy and confidence.
Why have you stayed so committed to adult education?
The learners in adult education are self-motivated and have a goal that they are working towards - which makes it very rewarding. No two days are the same.
Learners bring their past experience and knowledge with them and as a tutor your role is to help them recognise where they are starting and the contribution they can already make to their learning. Learners appreciate that we make sessions fun and informative and challenging.
What qualifications do you have?
I was a teaching assistant in a school then I came to BAES and they trained me up to DTTLS and QTLS, I become a qualified teacher. BAES still offers me a range of learning experiences so that can keep up to date with changes within the sector.
James - Learner Support Assistant
I started volunteering with BAES in 2022 as a volunteer teaching assistant. Initially, I volunteered one day a week, assisting both the teacher and learners with English. It is one decision I did not regret. I soon increased my hours to 3 days a week, again with English classes. There are always plenty of opportunities to volunteer in many subjects and locations across Birmingham.
Learners come from all backgrounds, but all have one thing in common - an enthusiasm to learn.
Also, I was very well supported by the BAES staff with training and mentoring.
Today, I am a paid Learner Support Assistant, working closely with the class teacher and individual learners to make sure I can match their drive to make the most of lessons. I have learned quite a lot myself, particularly when learners come from such diverse backgrounds and circumstances. To listen, be quietly patient and supportive, works well with our learners. As the academic year progresses, learner self confidence seems to increase in line with a better understanding of English.
It's a real pleasure to know that I have been a part of that journey, all the way to the smiles when class pass marks are received.
Vacancies
Vacancies with BAES
General enquiries
For all enquiries/questions relating to a specific post you’ve seen advertised, please contact the hiring manager, details found on the advert.
Candidates can contact the recruitment team by calling 0121 675 7070 - option 3
(lines open 08:45 – 17:15, Monday to Friday.)
Benefits of working at BAES
Benefits of working with us
Why work for BAES?
- we are an ambitious and supportive organisation
- we have a diverse and inclusive workforce
- current Ofsted Grade 2 and working towards Outstanding
- highly respected by our funders the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA)
- very learnercentred approach - high expectations for each learner to fulfill their potential and goals with a dedicated team committed to new ways of engaging
- smaller teacher / learner class ratios (compared to FE Colleges)
- strong and innovative leadership that is committed to putting the learner, communities and the staff team at the centre of everything we do
- the service is financially thriving and seeking growth - we are part of Birmingham City Council
- salaried positions meaning increased job security
- fee exemption for staff on BAES courses (professional development or for pleasure)
- generous TPA pension contribution
- excellent opportunities for CPD and professional development
- excellent career progression opportunities
- free staff well-being service
- be part of Birmingham City Council's Staff Rewards programme
Working at BAES
Join us and make a real difference
If you have a passion for helping adults achieve their life goals - we want to hear from you!
Birmingham Adult Education Service is one of the largest providers of adult education opportunities in the United Kingdom. Each year we run over two thousand courses and have around 10,000 learners who benefit from the new skills and confidence they acquire on our wide range of courses. As part of Birmingham City Council, we have an exciting and growing programme of provision to support the employment and wellbeing agenda of our diverse and multicultural city.
At our last Ofsted Inspection (March 2019) we were judged to be GOOD.
We are looking for innovative and dedicated tutors, highly skilled business support and professional services staff to join our team as we continue on our journey to becoming outstanding. If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you!
What we do
We deliver:
- Qualifications from Entry level up to Level 3
- GCSE courses in English, Maths and Science
- English language course (ESOL) (includes understanding cultural differences and community cohesion)
- Courses in over 15 different modern foreign languages from beginners through to advanced level
- Courses for individuals who wish to upskill and obtain qualifications for work
- Vocational courses: IT, business, creative arts, health and social care, well-being, special/additional educational needs
- Vocational courses can include work-related placements and activities
- Family learning courses (in partnerships with schools/children’s centres)
- Courses run during the daytime, evenings and on Saturdays
- Courses run all year round
Equality and Diversity
Birmingham Adult Education Service welcomes people from diverse and under-represented communities.
We are committed to promoting and supporting the physical and mental health of all our staff and removing barriers to improve inclusion. We encourage applicants to disclose disabilities so we can support them fully during our recruitment process and make any necessary reasonable adjustments.
We are making significant strides to understand and continuously improve our employees’ experience and we are committed to implementing progressive diversity talent management.
Terms & Conditions
Terms and Conditions
- BAES provides a range of leisure and accredited courses for learners aged 16+ and our Family Learning provision caters for young people attending with their parent or carer.
- Most courses delivered by BAES are fully or partly funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
Payment of Fees
- By enrolling on a course, you are agreeing to pay the total fee due for the whole course and any accreditation fee, including all outstanding balances, should you withdraw. This applies to all courses, including those funded by a 19+ Advanced Learner loan. The fee must be paid by the start date of the course or the loan agreed no later than 6 weeks after the start date of the course.
- To secure your place on a course, all fees must have been paid, or an instalment plan agreed. Any learner who does not meet the payments for an agreed instalment plan will not be allowed to continue the course or be registered for any exam, and will be sent an invoice for the outstanding charges.
- Your tutor will notify you of any additional costs applied by awarding organisations for exam fees.
- Payments may be made by card only; cash and cheques are not accepted.
Instalments
- If your qualification course is over £200, you can pay by 3 monthly instalments during the first 3 months of your course, provided the course length exceeds the instalment period. For example: if you enrol in August, your payments would need to be made in August, September and October. If the fee is not paid within the agreed timescale, you will be invoiced for the monies outstanding.
- If you wish to discuss methods of payment, please speak to your local Centre Manager.
Course Fees and Concessions
- Learners who join a qualification class late will pay the fee for the whole course. Learners who join a non-qualification class after half term will pay a pro rata fee.
- Where discounted fees are claimed, you will need to provide the necessary documentary evidence to demonstrate eligibility for this fee reduction when you enrol.
- Learners must be resident in England to receive subsidised or discounted fees for any funded course.
- Learners resident in any other combined authority area except West Midlands Combined Authority are not eligible to receive subsidised or discounted fees for any funded course.
- Learners who do not meet the residency requirements for funded courses can join courses and pay the non funded fee.
Cancelled sessions
- Where a session is cancelled, for reasons beyond the control of BAES, such as staff illness or extreme weather conditions, and a replacement session is offered, no refund will be given. If we are unable to offer a replacement session, we will refund at the end of the term as applicable.
- If a class does not reach its minimum number, we may offer you the opportunity to reduce the number of weeks with no corresponding reduction in fee, or we may increase the fee as an alternative to closing the class.
Refunds
- If your chosen course is cancelled before it starts, we will refund your fees in full.
- Where leisure courses are closed after they commence and we cannot offer an alternative, a pro-rata refund will be made to any learner attending at that time who has attended at least 80% of their sessions.
- Where a course with an accreditation is closed and we cannot offer an alternative, we will refund your fees in full.
- Refunds may take 28 days to process.
- If you change your mind within ten working days of enrolling and before the course starts, we will refund you the amount you have paid, minus an administration charge of £30.
- If you withdraw from a course once it has started, you will not be eligible for a refund.
- It may occasionally be necessary, for reasons beyond the control of BAES, to change the course tutor, make slight changes to the timing or content of the programme, or move the course to an alternative venue within a reasonable distance of the advertised venue. No refund will be given under these circumstances.
Attendance
- Unless you hear from us to the contrary, please assume that your course will be running.
- Under the terms of our Attendance and Punctuality Policy, all learners are required to be punctual for their class and to attend regularly. If you are unable to attend a session, please let us know. If we do not hear from you, staff will try to contact you. If you are absent for 3 weeks without contact with us, you will be withdrawn from the course and your place may be offered to someone else.
- Learners on some courses can have childcare costs paid while they are studying. If you stop attending a course where we have agreed to pay childcare fees, you will be responsible for cancelling the childcare arrangements and for paying any fees owing to the childcare provider from the date you stopped attending the course.
General
- All learners are required to complete all necessary documentation and sign the Learner Agreement form at the beginning of their course. This could be either paper based or via an electronic signature capture. Learners who fail to comply will be excluded from the course and will not receive a refund. BAES reserves the right to exclude learners from further courses should they not complete all appropriate paperwork.
- By signing the Learner Agreement, learners are agreeing to follow all the policies and procedures of BAES. These may be updated during the academic year to take account of legislative changes and applying best practice.
- All learners are required to show respect for staff, other learners and to behave responsibly and safely at all times.
- We are unable to accept responsibility for any damage to or loss of learner property (including motor vehicles) or work.
- By enrolling on a course with BAES you agree to wear a BAES issued Identification Badge whilst attending a BAES course onsite.
- All learners are expected to complete our induction process.
Data Protection
- Personal information is processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
- Fees for learners are subsidised by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) who fund further education and skills training in the West Midlands region. Their privacy notice can be found here: https://www.wmca.org.uk/policies
- Learners can refer to the privacy notice that is issued by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Department of Education (DfE). It is to inform learners how their personal information will be used by the DfE, the ESFA and any successor bodies to these organisations. For the purposes of the Data Protection Act, the DfE is the data controller for personal data processed by the ESFA. Your personal information is used by the DfE to exercise its functions and to meet its statutory responsibilities, including under the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 and to create and maintain a unique learner number (ULN) and a personal learning record (PLR).
- All new learners will be allocated a Unique Learner Number (ULN). This ULN is the education equivalent of a national insurance number and is used for life. ULNs are issued to most learners from age 14 and they are used in schools, further and higher education, and particularly when entering exams or accessing the National Careers Service.
- Your information may be shared with third parties for education, training, employment and well-being related purposes, including for research. This will only take place where the law allows it and the sharing is in compliance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
- The European Social Fund (ESF) Managing Authority (or agents acting on its behalf) may contact you in order for them to carry out research and evaluation to inform the effectiveness of training.
- Further information about use of and access to your personal data, and details of organisations with whom we regularly share data are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/esfa-privacy-notice
- You may be contacted after you have completed your programme of learning to establish whether you have entered employment or gone onto further training.
- BAES provides access for learners to online learning materials in some subjects to support learning. These materials are provided by reputable third-party suppliers who comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
