SENCO

What skills and experience we're looking for

Bishop Justus is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, energetic and adaptable SENCO to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled professional who is passionate about Inclusion and committed to ensuring every young person thrives. The successful candidate will be an excellent communicator with strong interpersonal and organisational skills. They will be appropriately qualified in supporting students with Special Educational Needs and will bring experience from a secondary school, college or similar setting. They will work effectively with colleagues, build strong relationships with pupils and communicate clearly and confidently with parents and carers.

The SENCO will take on leadership of SEND provision across the school. This includes developing and evaluating provision, line managing the operational SEND Lead, the Access Arrangements Co-ordinator, and continuing to strengthen our inclusive practice. The role is non-teaching, allowing dedicated time to lead, coordinate and develop high-quality support so that every student is encouraged to fulfil their potential and achieve success. You will join a committed and highly supportive staff team, rich in experience and perspective, who share a strong belief in belonging, high expectations and opportunity for all.

Our ideal candidate will:

• Be an experienced and highly effective SENCO, with a strong track record in a secondary school or similar setting.
• Understand the needs of students across Key Stages 3, 4 and 5, and be confident supporting a wide range of abilities.
• Demonstrate secure knowledge of effective SEND strategies and the SEND Code of Practice.
• Provide clear guidance and inspiration to teaching staff, while leading and coordinating Teaching Assistants to ensure high-quality support for pupils with SEND.
• Lead and further develop our internal alternative provision, ensuring it is well structured, inclusive and responsive to students’ needs.
• Champion and strengthen inclusive practice across the school.
• Bring energy, enthusiasm and a willingness to innovate.
• Communicate with clarity and empathy, showing strong emotional intelligence in all interactions.
• Use ICT confidently and embrace new technologies to enhance practice and efficiency.
• Contribute positively to the wider life of the school, including enrichment and lunchtime provision.
• Be committed to ongoing professional development and reflective practice.
• Demonstrate integrity, optimism and a good sense of humour.
• Hold a good honours degree, Qualified Teacher Status and a relevant SENCO qualification (NASENCO or NPQ).

What the school offers its staff

In return, we offer:

• A happy community committed to the professional development of all colleagues.
• A distinctive local context ensuring we place inclusivity at the heart of all we do.
• A skilled and experienced team of teachers and other professionals.
• A motivated leadership team leading rapid improvement to the students’ life chances.
• A school in which the students are enthusiastic, engaging and thoughtful.

We would be pleased to welcome you for an informal visit prior to application.

We are committed to safeguarding the young people in our care and we expect all our staff to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

As an employee of the Aquinas Church of England Education Trust you are required to have regard to the character of the Trust and its foundation and to undertake not to do anything in any way contrary to the interests of the foundation.

Commitment to safeguarding

Bishop Justus is committed to safeguarding the young people in our care and we expect all our staff to share this commitment.