The Role
This key post is as a Deputy SENCo (Maternity Cover) and is available from week commencing 8 December 2025. The temporary contract will last a maximum of 52 weeks or until the post holder returns should this be earlier. This will be a 0.80 FTE contract worked over 4 days each week. This Deputy SENDCo role has a focus on Year 6 transition and KS3.
This post provides a unique opportunity to develop new skills in a school which has a compelling vision and deep commitment to providing exceptional SEND provision.
The Learning Support team is passionate about helping students achieve their very best whatever obstacles they may have to overcome. We support nearly 400 students who have identified SEND in the main school and sixth form, with just over 50 with EHCPs and this number likely to grow as new EHCPs are finalised. The successful candidate will work with our new, experienced SENDCo, one other Deputy SENDCo (KS4), a KS5 Learning Support Coordinator, a Deputy Headteacher, two administrators, and a group of committed LSAs, as a tight team.
Members of the English and Maths departments are involved in literacy and numeracy support, which augments and compliments the work of the Learning Support Department. Learning Support has become an increasing resource for teachers who want to discuss adaptive teaching strategies for quality first teaching. The team has also developed access arrangements and empowered students to use them effectively. The team has sought to develop their expertise in areas such as attachment disorder and mobility issues as students with particular needs have joined the school. We always seek to integrate students into main-stream lessons with the minimum of well targeted interventions and withdrawal to promote rapid progress. We want a candidate who is well organised, a good communicator, and who shares the philosophy of the School. With such a large, talented, and diverse team we can adapt the post to the skill set of the successful candidate and make use of their areas of expertise.
As part of your application please state what your particular areas of interest in applying for this job are, and what you would like to contribute to the team, e.g.
• Numeracy development
• Attachment issues
• Autism
• Mobility issues
• Social skill development
• Supporting teachers with differentiation
• Applying for top up funding
• Chairing review meetings with parents/carers
• One-to-one interventions with students
• Liaising with external agencies
St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School (SMRT) is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and so safeguarding checks will be undertaken as part of the recruitment and selection process. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the successful applicant will be expected to undertake an enhanced Criminal Disclosure. We welcome applicants regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or religion. It is an offence to apply for this role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. You can find a copy of our Safeguarding Policy on our website.
The School
SMRT is a successful and heavily oversubscribed 11-18 co-educational, Church of England, comprehensive school of over 1750 students, serving families from the whole of greater Bristol and beyond. We are located at the heart of the city and have a diverse student community with considerable parental support. Our diversity is a strength and something we celebrate. The Redcliffe Sixth Form Centre currently houses approximately 700 students from our own school and from many other schools across the City.
Application Process
Candidates must complete our application form and return it as a Word document using the email address in our covering letter by 15 September 2025 (by 10am). You should also complete and return our Teaching Experience sheet (as a Word document). Please ensure that you complete all parts of the application form, including the additional information section. It is particularly important that you include your personal details so that we can contact you. We recommend that you complete your application on a PC or laptop, and not on a mobile device.
When providing details of your referees you must include their e-mail address. References must span the last 5 years of employment history in accordance with KCSIE guidance. Please include a referee from your current post (principal or headteacher) and if you have worked in multiple settings in this 5-year period, you should have included a referee from each setting.