Director of Specialism - SEND

New College Durham Academies Trust (NCDAT) is in a period of transformational change and is committed to school improvement.   Having recently appointed its inaugural Chief Executive Officer, we now need to drive rapid and sustained improvement in our Academies.  

Currently, the Trust comprises of two large, state of the art, multi-million-pound secondary schools in North West Durham.  Consett Academy, is a popular (NOR 1562) oversubscribed school.  North Durham Academy, located in Stanley (NOR 980) is steadily increasing its student numbers.  Both Academies currently sit as ‘Requiring Improvement’ and to change that, we need outstanding leading practitioners, who are experts in their chosen field.   

Director of Specialism:  SEND              required from Easter 2022 or earlier

£56k - £62k pa plus up to £8k relocation expenses             

Reporting to the CEO, we have an exciting opportunity for leading the provision for students with Special Educational Needs (SEND) across the Trust.  This newly established role will form an integral part of the Trust’s recently appointed School Improvement Team.  To do this, we need to increase the capacity for outstanding practitioners and this role is critical in helping us do just that.  By improving the Quality of SEND provision, we can realise the potential of our most vulnerable students, irrespective of their ability or starting point.

Your primary focus will be to lead, manage and effectively deploy staff and resources within the SEND provision, monitor and evaluate the development of learning and teaching strategies for students with SEND and ensure that staff are provided with relevant information and training relating to the support of these students.  In addition, you will be responsible for raising standards of attainment and achievement for SEND students in all year groups.  

The successful candidate will be a Specialist Leader of Education (SLE) or an outstanding SEND practitioner with at least two years middle or senior leadership experience.

Your track record will demonstrate positive impact so that it gains the immediate respect of staff and leaders, who will then see you as an ‘expert’ in leading this crucial area across the Trust and with that, a driving force for innovation. 

This is a rare leadership opportunity for someone to make their mark and contribute to securing NCDAT as an educational influencer.  We want to be an Employer of Choice in the region with a reputation of recruiting and retaining the best staff – our students and communities deserve it.  

Prospective candidates who would like to arrange a visit or have a preliminary discussion with Mrs Rodham (CEO) can email our HR Team at hr@ncdat.org.uk whereupon a mutually convenient date and time will be arranged.

Interested?  To download an application pack, including job description, person specification and application form, please visit https://www.ncdat.org.uk  Completed applications should be submitted to Human Resources via email to hr@ncdat.org.uk   CVs will not be accepted.

Closing date for applications:      Midday, Wednesday 2nd February 2022

Interviews will take place:   Week commencing 7th February 2022

New College Durham Academies Trust recognises that it has a statutory and moral duty towards safeguarding the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.  An enhanced DBS is required for this post and references will be taken up prior to interview.