Director of SEND

Director of SEND

Full Time, permanent role, commencing Easter/Summer Term 2022

Salary – United Learning Pay Scale (from £54,000 per annum)

William Hulme’s Grammar School (WHGS) is a well-established 3-18 Academy and is the most over-subscribed school in Greater Manchester with a long and distinguished history.  It has a very inclusive and diverse community with over 40 languages spoken and our school is truly representative of Manchester’s rich multi-cultural heritage.  We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and particularly those committed to diversity and inclusion. 

We provide:  

• An all-through 3 - 18 school experience.
• A learning environment based on very high academic standards.
• A school where all pupils are encouraged to reach their true potential and parents are welcome. 
• The best of the independent school tradition such as the House system and a tremendous range of extra-curricular activities.
• An exciting place to learn with excellent facilities, new technology and a wide range of teaching and learning experiences.
• A vibrant and tolerant multi-cultural community. 
• A deeper learning of the wider world through our enterprise activities.  
• Outstanding careers advice and an opportunity to meet former students who have gone on to be successful in a variety of occupations.

We have an exciting opportunity for a Director of SEND to be responsible for leading the provision for students with Special Educational Needs (SEND). It is a remit which covers all phases of the school, including the Resourced Provision, in order to ensure that these students make excellent progress. You will have proven leadership qualities, excellent classroom practice and strong experience in some (not necessarily all) phases of an all through school. We, in turn, are committed to developing these qualities further through excellent professional development opportunities.

Reporting to the Principal, this is a key leadership position, working directly with the Primary Phase Headteacher and SLT. You will 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.

You will be leading a department of dedicated and committed colleagues who champion pupils with SEND.  The team has a range of skills, knowledge and expertise: the department has two qualified SENCOs, a qualified SPLD Teacher and teams led by Specialist LSAs in the Primary and Secondary Phases.  In recent years, the school has expanded its facilities to include a Resourced Provision and additional rooms for bespoke interventions, teaching and meetings.

You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills including the use of ICT and will have a proven track record of leadership, line management and pastoral care.

William Hulme's Grammar School is Greater Manchester’s Second most over-subscribed school and one of the most successful comprehensive schools in the country. It is an all-through (3-18) Academy of over 1500 pupils with a wide range of abilities, ethnicities and backgrounds and is part of United Learning, a large, and growing, group of schools aiming to offer a life changing education to children and young people across England..

United Learning schools work as a team and achieve more by sharing than any single school could. Our subject specialists, our Group-wide intranet, our own curriculum and our online learning portal all help us share knowledge and resources, helping to simplify work processes and manage workloads for an improved work-life balance.

As a Group, we can reward our staff better: with good career opportunities, better pay, benefits, and ultimately, the satisfaction of helping children to succeed. We invest in our staff wellbeing. Our academies each have at least eight INSET days per year (with three of those solely dedicated to planning), and an ongoing group-wide wellbeing programme. It's an ethos we call ‘the best in everyone’.