Lead SENDCo

A community role with real influence - this is not a traditional SENDCo post.

We are seeking an experienced and values-driven Lead SENDCo to take on a community-led role across four Outwood Academies: Ripon, Easingwold, Bydales and Normanby (Middlesbrough). With Ripon as your base, your time will be strategically split across all four schools, enabling you to shape SEND provision at both the academy and community level.

This role is for someone who wants to make a wider impact, developing people, practice and provision.

This vacancy is being managed by our Recruitment Partner, Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited. If you would like to express an interest in the role, or for a confidential conversation regarding the position please get in touch directly with our Recruitment Partner James Hall –Senior Manager - James.Hall@hays.com

The Purpose of the Role

At its heart, this role is about strengthening inclusive practice across a community of schools while maintaining operational SEND leadership in Outwood Academy Ripon.

Your work will focus on three core priorities:

A Community-Led SEND Role

You will operate as the community SEND leader across Ripon, Easingwold, Bydales and Normanby, ensuring strong collaboration, shared standards and a coherent SEND offer across very different contexts.

These schools are intentionally different – rural, market town, coastal village and neighbourhood – and this role exists to connect them, not standardise them. You will help each academy deliver inclusive excellence that meets its unique community needs while benefitting from shared expertise and support.

Developing SSPs and SEND Practice Across the Schools

A central focus of the role is the development and consistent implementation of SSPs (Student Support Plans) across the four academies.

You will:

• Lead the strategic development of SSP practice

• Ensure high-quality, meaningful and impactful plans that support teachers to deliver Quality-First Teaching

• Evaluate impact and refine provision to ensure students with SEND thrive academically, socially and emotionally

Growing People Through Supportive Leadership

This role places people development at its core. You will provide supportive line management, coaching and CPD for:

• Assistant SENDCos

• SENDCos within the school community

• Inclusion and SEND teams

You will be a visible leader who builds confidence, capability and consistency, modelling best practice and creating space for others to grow into strong SEND leadership roles.

Your Base: Outwood Academy Ripon

Based at Outwood Academy Ripon, you will also fulfil the role of the designated SENDCo for the academy and be a member of the Senior Leadership Team. You will be timetabled for five teaching lessons, ensuring your leadership remains rooted in classroom practice.

At Ripon, you will join a driven and collaborative leadership team united by our vision of Students First. Inclusion is not an add-on here – it is fundamental to how we raise standards and transform lives.

Our Community: North Yorkshire and Redcar & Cleveland

Outwood Academy Ripon, Outwood Academy Easingwold and Outwood Academy Normanby form a connected community of secondary schools across North Yorkshire and Redcar & Cleveland.

This role offers a breadth of experience rarely found in one post:

• Ripon – a historic market town, competing alongside a selective grammar school

• Easingwold – a rural academy serving a close-knit community

• Bydales – a friendly, coastal village school

• Normanby – a neighbourhood school with deep local roots in Middlesbrough

Because these schools are at different points in their journey, the opportunity to make a meaningful impact is significant.

Why Join Outwood?

Outwood Grange Academies Trust is one of the largest and most established MATs in the country. Our scale allows us to invest heavily in:

• SEND leadership development

• Trust-wide CPD and networking

• Specialist support for vulnerable learners

You will also work closely with:

• Community Executive leadership

• Trust Strategic Leads for Inclusion and SEND

• SEND School Improvement Partners

Above all, you will be part of a Trust that is unapologetically focused on Students First, Raising Standards and Transforming Lives.

Is This Role For You?

This role would suit an experienced SENDCo or Lead SENDCo who:

• Wants to work beyond a single school

• Is passionate about developing people as well as provision

• Values collaboration, coaching and influence over compliance alone

• Believes inclusion leadership should be visible, practical and human

To organise a walk around or a confidential conversation, please get in touch with Laura Eddery, Executive Principal, via email l.eddery@outwood.com

To view the job description, please click here.

To view the person specification, please click here.

For more information and to apply online, please click the apply button.

Closing date: 9.00am on 1 October 2026.

Interview date: TBC.

We reserve the right to close advertisements early. Advertisements will therefore close the day the decision has been taken to close the advertisement early.

Outwood Grange Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and checks regarding suitability to work with children.