Lead Teacher for Designated Special Provision (DSP)

About the role:  The Halley Academy has a rare and exciting opportunity for an exceptional teacher to join us in the role of Lead Teacher of Designated Special Provision (DSP) to make a real impact in our academy, the Trust and the local community. In this role, you will lead a team responsible for fostering the academic, social, physical and moral development of students in the specialist provision for students whose primary need on their EHC plan is identified as ASD.

In this strategic role you will lead, develop and support effective practice for children with special and additional educational needs, including the development of all teachers across the academy to provide ‘quality first’ teaching. As the successful candidate you will promote the academy ethos, vision, policies and procedures, carefully monitor student progress, as well as ensure all statutory processes are correctly delivered.

In recognition of the importance and scope of this role within the academy, you will have a small teaching commitment with engaging students who are keen to learn.  As the successful candidate, you will be expected to model, advise and impact on outstanding classroom practice particularly in relation to inclusion. To support you in delivering excellent outcomes, you will work closely with the academy leadership team that has a strong inclusive ethos and a well-established Special Educational Needs team. You will have access to outstanding professional development both within the school and across the Trust that will subject specific, sustained and focused on evidence based pedagogy in practice.

As the ideal candidate, you will;

• consistently ensure that all students achieve their full potential;
• lead, motivate and inspire others;
• advise staff about best practice and model this where appropriate;
• be an innovative, creative and strategic thinker;
• demonstrate a proactive and collaborative approach to working with others, within your current school and beyond;
• work under pressure whilst remaining highly organised;
• analyse data effectively to identify and track the progress of individual and groups of SEN students;
• use data to inform highly effective strategies which enable rapid student progress;
• have excellent leadership and management skills;
• be committed to The Halley Academy’s ethos;
• have the resolve to make a real difference to the lives of students and their families.

Do you know a great teacher who would like to hear about opportunities with Leigh Academies Trust? If so, make a referral today for the chance to receive £100 as a 'thank you'. Simply complete the referral form by clicking here. T&C's apply .

Working with The Halley Academy: The Halley Academy has a long and illustrious heritage being the first purpose-built comprehensive in the UK in the 1950s. We became part of Leigh Academies Trust in March 2018, a highly successful multi-academy trust offering a wealth of opportunities to all of its staff and students to collaborate, develop and grow.

The Halley is a dynamic academy and our curriculum delivers an education of excellence for all. We offer the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme at Key Stage 5 and are a candidate school for the IB Middle Years Programme in Key Stage 3. Our STEM provision develops critical thinking skills, creativity and innovation across the curriculum and we are in a privileged position to be registered to deliver the T Level programme at Key Stage 5 from 2023 in a brand new Engineering and Design Centre (due to open in September 2021).  As part of our Digital Strategy, each student has their own Chromebook which is used as a tool for learning and to prepare them to participate in the ever-evolving technological world.

We are a diverse community where everyone is valued, respected and trusted and where we all work together to achieve and celebrate success. Our students are at the centre of the academy community and thrive within a culture of high aspiration, with no cap on ambition, so that they gain the knowledge, qualification and skills to afford successful, fulfilling and happy adult lives.

Staff are reflective and committed practitioners who believe in collaboration and self-improvement.  We have weekly ring-fenced time on Wednesday afternoons for our comprehensive CPD programme, tailored to the aspirations and interests of the individual, and have extensive expertise both within the Academy and across the Trust to support in its delivery.

The wellbeing of our students and staff lies at the heart of our work: we know that when our school community is happy and fulfilled, they achieve their best. Our dedicated staff are the most important factor in transforming lives and delivering the best outcomes for every student. The academy has a space dedicated to staff wellbeing and relaxation and offers a range of exercise and participation opportunities for our staff team.

We are seeking to appoint talented and ambitious individuals with a tenacious mind-set to join The Halley Academy from September 2021.

Being a part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2020, our Trust will comprise 28 geographically organised academies (11 secondaries, 15 primaries and 2 special) educating over 16,000 students, and employing over 2,500 talented staff. We also have one further secondary academy in the development phase, due to open in September 2021. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North West Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training providers and a large teaching school. Click here to view our future plans in our Vision 2025 document.

As part of Leigh Academies Trust you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

Recruitment and hiring during COVID-19: Despite the challenges we face, recruitment and hiring will continue for all Leigh Academies Trust vacancies with as little disruption as possible over the coming weeks and months. This is for all senior, teaching and support staff appointments. Applications will still be reviewed and interviews conducted in a timely manner, although interview activities will vary. If you have any queries or concerns, please get in touch with the LAT Talent Team - talent@latrust.org.uk.

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.