Assistant Headteacher (SENDCo)

Ofsted Rating: Good – July 2023

“The school ethos of ‘high standards, daring to dream, traditional values, success, and personalised support’ is shared by all.”

“Leaders lead with integrity and determination. They are ambitious for all pupils. They do not use pupils’ chequered experience of education to excuse low standards. Instead, they demand the best from pupils.”

The Ladder School is looking to recruit an enthusiastic, hardworking Assistant Principal to join our team.

The Ladder School is an academy that is part of The Mercian Trust. The Ladder School is a Free School set up by the trust to offer effective alternative provision for the young people of Walsall.

Based on the edge of Walsall town centre there are excellent links to the local and wider community. The Ladder School operates under a commissioning model, where local mainstream schools identify students at risk of permanent exclusion and moves them to The Ladder School, to transform their behaviour and enable them to be successful in their future. These students have struggled in mainstream education environments and benefit significantly from the smaller class sizes and additional support on offer at The Ladder School.

Due to the appointment of the Principal to the Headship at Q3 Great Barr, a temporary vacancy has become available for an academic year. An Assistant Principal post is key to the school’s growth and development. This is a new opportunity to compliment the work of the current leadership team and provide additional capacity. The post will be suited to an individual who has experience as a leader with excellent leadership skills and qualities.

It is vital that the successful candidate can demonstrate outstanding skills in supporting students with challenging behaviour or from difficult circumstances.

Key roles and responsibilities will be:

SENDCo

Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead

Strategic lead for attendance

Digital Transformation Lead

Post-16 operations and recruitment

Current experience in an Alternative Provision setting is essential setting and the individual must be committed to working as part of a close-knit supportive team.

The successful candidate will be:

• An excellent leader with an ability to motivate pupils to make progress.
• Interested in the pastoral aspects of education.
• Outstanding in managing challenging behaviours.
• Positive in outlook and believe in the power of education to change the path of Alternative Provision students’ lives.
• A team player prepared to collaborate with colleagues and share ideas and resources.
• Passionate as an educator and keen to inspire their classes and students.
• Have a thorough understanding of current developments and issues in teaching and wider profession.
• Committed to their own continuing professional development and contribute towards that of others.
• Innovative and committed to develop solutions to raising achievements.
• Knowledgeable of how assessment for learning, target setting, and department improvement planning can raise achievement.
• Committed to equal opportunities and the safeguarding of children.
• Hardworking, committed, reliable and enthusiastic.

The Ladder School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A copy of the ‘Safeguarding Policy’ is available to view or download by logging onto the school website: www.theladderschool.org.

This position is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check (formerly CRB) under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Further details regarding this check are available from the school or by visiting www.crb.gov.uk.

Closing date for applications: Sunday 25th May 2025 11:59pm

As SENDCo you will be committed to providing high-quality education and support to our students with special educational needs and disabilities.

You will be responsible for leading and managing the provision of SEND across school, ensuring that all students have access to a personalised curriculum that meets individual needs and aspirations. As SENDCo, you will work closely with the Senior Leadership Team, teachers, Learning Coaches, Pastoral Support Officers, parents, carers and external agencies to ensure that school complies with the SEND Code of Practice and delivers effective outcomes for all students. You will in all respects be the school’s SENDCo and, if you don’t hold the NASEN qualification, we will fully support you through this course, providing time and coaching.

For more information, please contact Associate Headteacher Ruth Williams at The Ladder School and apply using the application form through iTrent.