Trust SEND Lead

Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust (FMAT) is an educational charity committed to enriching the lives and transforming the futures of our children. Our vision is that every child, regardless of their background, within the Trust will attend an Academy that offers an outstanding quality of education.

This is an exciting opportunity for an outstanding leader and SENCO with a proven track record to join our central school improvement team at FMAT. This is a significant role within our Academy Improvement Strategy and a key appointment for a crucial area of Academy and MAT work. You will need a detailed knowledge of the SEND code of practice and the ability to demonstrate how you have successfully developed and led significant improvements for children with SEND in your current setting. Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust educates children from the ages of 4 to 18, and as such, you will be expected to support across all phases of our educational provision.

Within the Trust, we will help develop your leadership skills; however, we would expect someone who is already an expert leader and a fully qualified SENCO who teaches high-quality and impactful lessons.

Although most of your work will be focused on KS3 and KS4, you will be working with students and staff at KS2 and KS5, so experience in these areas would be an advantage.

In return, we will offer you:

• Access to support and guidance from other subject leaders across the MAT and subject expertise within the Academy SLT

• Bespoke continual professional development (in the Academy and online via the National College)

• Access to Perkbox

• Discounts at nationwide retailers

• Gym discount

• Cinema discounts

• Employee assistance programme

• Up to four structured counselling sessions per year

• A MAT-wide focus on staff wellbeing

For further information or an informal discussion with the Director of Education, Martyn Jobling, please contact the central team via m.dolphin@fmat.co.uk to set up a personal appointment.

Closing date: 9.00am on 10 December 2025.

Interview date: 12 December 2025.

Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will therefore be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) as well as providing evidence of qualifications.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974