Assistant Headteacher Inclusion & SEND

Assistant Headteacher Inclusion & SEND (L12-16)

Required for Easter 2023

Full time, permanent post

We are seeking a passionate, innovative and ethical school leader with a natural flair for challenging and empowering others to help build the leadership of SEND at Longbenton High School. We want the provision for our most vulnerable students to be the very best and are looking for an Assistant Headteacher to join our Senior Team and ensure this happens.

This post is about inclusion and how we ensure we meet these challenges (SEND; mental health; vulnerability; neurodiversity) creatively. You will lead on Inclusion and SEND across the school within a re-shaped team (with two new Assistant SENCOs yet to be appointed); you will lead this team to work towards our whole school vision of ensuring opportunity and success for every child.

The intention is for the holder of this post to work closely with the Deputy Headteacher responsible for Culture and Ethos and AHT Personal Development and Behaviour. You may already be a successful serving SENCO but this is not a prerequisite. We are looking for strong leaders who may have expertise in SEND, pastoral fields or curriculum leadership; but we are open minded about finding the right candidate. An interest in and understanding of SEND and the cross over with behaviour and SEMH needs is obviously important. What matters most is that you bring a clear vision of what a truly exceptional school looks like and you have the drive and ambition to make that a reality here. Your track record to date should clearly evidence the impact that you have had as a leader in shaping whole school culture, as well as in continuously raising achievement.

We are looking for candidates who:

• Are excellent teachers and ethical leaders, with values and integrity at the heart of any leadership philosophy and outlook rather than ego or status.
• Have excellent communication and people skills alongside emotional intelligence.
• Understand what excellent teaching and learning looks like (including up-to-date pedagogy), can demonstrate this themselves, and develop this in others.
• Are passionate about the transformative power of education, care about young people, and are willing to challenge complacency in order to ensure the best possible outcomes for all learners.

In return we can offer you the support of a vibrant, driven senior team (two new Deputy Headteachers and an Assistant Headteacher started in 2022), a fantastic modern building, excellent CPD opportunities and great students to work with.

We are relentlessly ambitious at Longbenton High School for all of our students and are part way through a 5-year plan to transform our school; our recent re-grading from RI to Good in June 2022 is just part of this journey.

We are holding two dates for informal tours of the school for prospective candidates on Wednesday November 30th and Monday December 5th at 4.30pm; please get in touch with Anna Peach, Business Manager by email at recruitment@longbenton.org.uk should you wish to attend.

Further information regarding the post, including applicant packs, can be found on our website at www.longbenton.org.uk We are passionate about finding brilliant people; we hope this inspires you to make an application.

Closing date for the receipt of applications: 12 noon, Tuesday 6th December 2022

Interview date: Friday 9th December 2022

Longbenton High School is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.