Job description
New Directions College based in Whitley, Reading is seeking a passionate and skilled Sessional Illustration Instructor to inspire and engage our learners from September 2025. Joining our friendly and creative team to share your passionate, creative and knowledgeable illustration skills to lead engaging courses for adult learners.
We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

New Directions College is Reading Borough Council’s Adult Community Learning and Skills service. This year we’re celebrating 67 years of Adult Learning in Reading. We’re a small friendly College delivering to over 2000 learners and Apprentices in Reading each year, directly and through our subcontractors and partners.
The ideal candidate will have a strong personal practice and be confident teaching a range of traditional illustration techniques, such as ink, pencil, watercolour, collage, and mixed media.
An understanding of contemporary illustration practices and the ability to explore a variety of genres and approaches is highly valued. You should be comfortable designing and delivering sessions that support learners of mixed abilities in developing their own visual style and creative confidence.
Strong communication skills are essential, along with the ability to create a relaxed and friendly environment during classes. You will work alongside a team of passionate and highly skilled creative instructors who are dedicated to delivering an outstanding leisure provision.
Our classes cater to a range of learners, from complete beginners to experienced makers, including adults with SEND. While teaching experience is desirable, training can be provided.
Strong communication skills are essential, along with the ability to create a relaxed and friendly environment during classes. You will work alongside a team of passionate and highly skilled arts & crafts instructors who are dedicated to delivering an outstanding leisure provision.
You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.
Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:
Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do
Drive Efficiency - show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential
Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way
Make a Difference to Reading - maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed