Assistant Headteacher - AEN & Inclusion

St Paul's Way Trust School, London, E3 4FT

12 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  4 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  22 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Assistant headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: 81,120.00 - 88,496.00

Assistant Headteacher - AEN & Inclusion job summary

Assistant Headteacher – Inclusion & SEND | September 2026 

By joining St Paul’s Way Secondary School, you will become part of a school with a rich heritage of success. We are the most oversubscribed school in Tower Hamlets and Ofsted rated us ‘Outstanding’ across all categories but one. We have a talented and determined staff body, driven by a mission in providing a transformational education for all our students.  

At SPWS, inclusion is fundamental to who we are and how we serve our community. Guided by our core values of Integrity, Aspiration and Community, we hold a collective and unwavering belief that every child can thrive when barriers are removed through strong structures, skilled support and purposeful adult leadership. 

 The school currently supports a significant number of SEN students (13% of whole school population has an EHCP), making this role a substantial leadership challenge and an exceptional opportunity to shape, refine and strengthen inclusive provision across a large and diverse cohort. 

Our inclusive culture is built through: 

• Clear, consistent routines that create psychological safety for all learners  
• Explicit modelling and high expectations for behaviour, attendance and learning  
• Strong pastoral and SEND systems that identify need early and intervene effectively  
• A rigorous data and assessment model that informs personalised support and provision  
• Centralised approaches that reduce staff workload and ensure consistency for students 

As a result, we can offer: 

• A calm, ordered and purposeful learning environment 
• Students who feel safe, supported and enthusiastic about school 
• Classrooms free from low-level disruption, enabling high-quality teaching 
• A whole-school commitment to inclusion and collaborative working 

We are seeking to appoint an ambitious and Director of Learning (Assistant Headteacher) – Inclusion & SEND to join our Senior Leadership Team. This role has a strategic and operational focus on inclusion, SEND and pastoral care, ensuring that the needs of our most vulnerable learners are met without compromise. 

You will play a key role in: 

• Leading and developing whole school inclusion and SEND practice 
• Supporting and developing staff to deliver adaptive, inclusive classroom practice 
• Ensuring high quality provision for students with SEND, and those requiring additional pastoral support 
• Working closely with families, external agencies and pastoral leaders to remove barriers to learning 
• Embedding systems and routines that enable students with additional needs to flourish alongside their peers 

We are interested in candidates who: 

• Are qualified SENCOs or are willing to undertake the National Award for SEN Coordination  
• Have strong leadership experience and a clear commitment to inclusive education  
• Possess a strong understanding of SEND legislation, graduated responses and effective interventions  
• Are able to inspire, motivate and support staff to meet the needs of all learners  
• Share our belief that high standards and inclusion go hand in hand 

 Why join us?  

• Professional Development: An excellent CPD package for staff, enhancing your professional development with comprehensive training opportunities.  
• Career Growth: Opportunities for growth and real career development in an encouraging environment with plenty of room for advancement.  
• Supportive Environment: Full support from a dedicated and visible team of senior leaders and pastoral managers.  
• Employee Assistance: Employee Assistance Scheme for access to advice, information, and face-to-face counselling.  
• Staff Wellbeing: A meaningful approach to staff wellbeing, including access to cycle to work.  

Interested candidates are encouraged to arrange an informal discussion about the role and/or to visit the school.  

These can be organised via the HR team: Telephone - 020 8312 5480 Email ustrecruitment@ust.london  

Early applications are appreciated as interviews will be arranged as and when suitable applications are received.  

St Paul’s Way Trust School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful candidates will be required to undergo an Enhanced DBS Check.  

Click here to view our Safeguarding policy child-protection-safeguarding  

We reserve the right to commence or complete the recruitment process prior to the closing date.  

We do not accept applications via agencies.  

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About St Paul's Way Trust School

• School type: Academy, ages 4 to 18
• Education phase: All through school
• School size: 1884 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Paul's Way Trust School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-paul-s-way-trust-school-london

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