Assistant Headteacher and SENDCO

Salary: L11 to L16 £63,815 to £72,162

Contract term: Full time, 1.0FTE, permanent

Start date: September 2025

Closing date: Midnight Monday 5 May 2025

Mercia Learning Trust

Mercia Learning Trust is a successful partnership of four primary and three secondary schools located in the south-west of Sheffield. Established in 2012, with one secondary school, our trust has grown to serving over 5000 pupils, with 650 staff.

Why do we exist?

• To empower everyone in our communities, especially the most disadvantaged, to succeed.

How do we behave?

• We are kind - showing care and supporting each other.
• We have integrity - doing the right thing and always putting children first.
• We work with diligence - overcoming obstacles and having no excuses.

What do we do?

• We run schools that focus on academic excellence, cultural capital and the development of character.

How will we succeed?

• A culture of excellence – high standards shaped by clarity, not control.
• Academic focus – empowering all children through an exceptional curriculum.
• Purposeful collaboration – relationships built on trust, reducing sub-optimisation and driving collective success.

Our staff are a crucial part of our trust, just like our pupils. We are devoted to recruiting, training, retaining and taking good care of our highly skilled and dedicated team. 

Newfield School

Newfield School is a mainstream secondary school for children aged 11-16. It is situated in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, with approximately 1050 pupils on roll. Drawing from a wide catchment, the school offers a truly comprehensive experience.  

Newfield School strives to provide all pupils, no matter their background or starting point, an academic curriculum that allows them to excel and thrive when they leave. We are committed to the most vulnerable pupils, and we are recruiting those who believe that high standards and expectations are necessary to lead pupils towards success.  

We passionately believe in the need for a warm/strict approach as the bedrock of any success for pupils. Clarity and consistency are paramount for both pupils and staff as we work together to achieve our shared aspirations. Our pedagogical approach is clearly defined, emphasising direct instruction, the use of visualisers and high-level questioning to enhance learning. While we have established a strong level of consistency that supports pupil progress, we continually strive for excellence. We are seeking dedicated professionals who can help us build on this foundation and drive our ambitions forward.

The role

The SENDCO role at Newfield School is central to our success as a school. We are looking for someone who can support pupils in their academic studies and offer effective approaches to interventions. Leading a dedicated team of professionals, this is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the outcomes of all. We want someone who will champion the SEND cohort and ensure teaching and learning is effective. Working with parents and staff, the role requires someone with a high level of organisation, a passionate teacher and someone who can successfully implement strategies to support the attainment of our pupils. 

The candidate

The ideal applicant will be a strong classroom teacher, who can lead the practice and approaches towards SEND in school. Teaching and learning must be a strength and a passion for the outcomes of pupils is essential. Taking or undertaking the SENDCO qualification is desirable. Being abreast of current research regarding best practice is advantageous.