Assistant Headteacher Inclusion (SENDCo)
The King's School, Pontefract, West Yorkshire, WF8 4JF14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
ASAP
Closing date
11 December 2025 at 10am
Date listed
27 November 2025
Job details
Job role
- Assistant headteacher
- SENDCo (special educational needs and disabilities coordinator)
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £69,593.00 - £78,700.00 FTE Per Annum
Assistant Headteacher Inclusion (SENDCo) job summary
Passionate About SEND? Step Into a Key Leadership Role as Assistant Headteacher at The King’s School, part of Pontefract Academies Trust.
We are looking for a passionate and motivated leader to drive the SEND culture and provision. We have a deep-rooted school and Trust value that ‘students come first’. This refers to every one of our students, including those with the most complex needs.
Therefore, this leadership role is significant and essential to ensuring that we have gone above and beyond for our students with SEND.
The successful candidate will work in conjunction with the Director of Inclusion and Safeguarding. We are interested in hearing from experienced SENDCo’s who are ready for the next step in their career as well as those who may be in current leadership roles and hold the National Award for SENDCo’s (NASENCO).
We are looking for an exceptional leader who understands true leadership and will bring considerable passion and high energy and play a pivotal part in our journey to becoming an outstanding school.
This post is a 1 FTE, permanent contract.
Please see the attached candidate pack for full details about this exciting opportunity.
We are looking for an exceptional leader who:
- Demonstrates a relentless commitment to inclusive education and improving life chances for all students.
- Has the ability to communicate effectively and build strong, positive relationships with students, staff, parents/carers, and external partners.
- Possesses the strategic vision and expertise to lead SEND provision, ensuring high standards of teaching and learning for students of all abilities.
- Can inspire and motivate colleagues through collaboration, coaching, and innovative approaches to curriculum and inclusion.
- Shows integrity, resilience, and a passion for creating an aspirational environment where every student can thrive academically and socially.
Virtual Coffee Chats
We are hosting virtual coffee chats for prospective candidates to meet Claire Hughes, The Director of Safeguarding & Inclusion for Pontefract Academies Trust and ask any questions you may have about the role or our school. To book a timeslot, please click here.
About The Kings School
The King’s School is proud of its exceptional academic achievements and rich heritage, where tradition meets the future with confidence and excitement.
- Recognised as the one of the highest-performing schools in the Wakefield District, ranked in the top 15% nationally for progress
- Renowned for incredibly high standards and excellence across all areas
- Every student is encouraged and championed to reach their full potential and live out our values and ethos
- A school environment where careers flourish and every child is embraced as exceptional, individual, and talented beyond measure
This is an exciting time to join The King’s School as we continue to build on our reputation for excellence.
At the heart of The King’s School is a commitment to nurturing ambition and improving life chances for every student. We believe in creating an environment where students thrive academically and personally, supported by strong values and a culture of care.
As one of the oldest schools in Yorkshire, we are proud of our heritage and tradition, which continues to shape our future focused approach to education.
Want to learn more?
For more insight, please watch our short promotional film, which asks the question, ‘Where will King’s take you?’
What Our Staff Say About Working Here
In the 2025 Edurio Staff Survey, Pontefract Academies Trust achieved fantastic results:
85% of staff said they would recommend the Trust as a great place to work, significantly higher than the national benchmark of 73%.
The King’s School’s own survey results were equally encouraging, reflecting the supportive and positive culture within our team.
Here’s what our staff had to say…
“I genuinely love working at King’s!”
“My line manager always takes my personal needs into account. He is consistently supportive, approachable, and shows genuine care and understanding when it comes to my wellbeing.”
What can we offer you?
Be part of a team that values your growth, wellbeing and work-life balance. We offer a supportive environment with benefits designed to help you thrive:
- Exciting career and leadership pathways supported by outstanding CPD opportunities
- Everyday Development (EDD) Framework: A simple, personal and flexible goal-based approach to continuous learning, career growth and wellbeing.
- For the 2025/26 academic year, we will be providing staff with three Everyday Development (EDD) days. These development days will offer you self-directed time away from the workplace to recharge and reflect on your personal and career goals.
- Energise and Engage Weeks throughout the year, where no meetings take place. These dedicated weeks prioritise personal professional development, support work-life balance, and allow for an early finish on designated days
- Generous employer pension (Teachers Pension)
- Laptop
- Fantastic family friendly policies with a focus on employee work/life balance
- Cycle to work scheme
- Blue Light card
- Discounted gym membership
- Free eyecare via Specsavers
- Childcare vouchers
- Employee wellbeing programme (including physiotherapy, personal or professional concerns on legal, health, finance, wellbeing, and other matters)
- Discounts at numerous retailers including O2
- Free flu vaccinations.
You can find further information about staff benefits, development opportunities and why you should work with us in the attached ‘Working for us’ booklet and by visiting our website.
About Pontefract Academies Trust
Pontefract Academies Trust is a cross-phase Multi-Academy Trust comprising of nine schools: seven primary and two secondary schools. Our mission is to run high-quality, high-achieving schools that give our children and young people the chances in life they deserve.
We take pride in our workplace culture and the strength of our team. By joining Pontefract Academies Trust, you will be part of one of the top 10 performing trusts nationally based on staff feedback (Eduiro 2025 staff survey). We received outstanding feedback, earning three awards based on national data from the 2024/25 academic year:
- National: Trust Value Award – Excellence
- Regional: Staff Choice Award (Larks Hill Junior & Infant School)
- Regional: Trust Benefit School Award (De Lacy Primary School)
These awards reflect the culture we’ve built – one where staff feel valued, listened to, and part of something meaningful.
Looking ahead, we’ve recently announced an exciting development, a proposed merger with Ark Schools, planned for September 2026. This step reflects our ambition to grow, never settle, and to do what’s right for our pupils, staff, and community. This change will bring even stronger support, greater collaboration, and more opportunities. We’re excited for what’s ahead and we hope that you’ll consider joining us as we continue to grow.
Ready to take the next step? Apply today and join a workplace that invests in you, your career, your wellbeing and your future.
School visits
We're always thrilled to connect with potential applicants before interviews. If you're curious to learn more or would like to experience the warmth of our wonderful school through a visit, please feel free to reach out at recruitment@kings.patrust.org.uk or give us a call at 01977 601701.
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 10:00am, Thursday 11th December 2025
- Interview Date: TBC
- Start Date: ASAP
Application Process
- Complete an application form via our website
- Complete the attached Examination results form that is required for this role.
- Attach the document in the ‘Additional Information and Documents’ section of your application within SamPeople Recruit
Important Links
Pontefract Academies Trust Website
Trust Strategic Plan for 2025 to 2028
Contact Information
- Tel: 01977 601701
- Email: recruitment@kings.patrust.org.uk
Further information about the job
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About The King's School
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1038 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The King's School website
The King’s School is proud to be part of Pontefract Academies Trust. As a school, we have a long history and rich heritage, which puts us at the forefront of the local educational landscape and beyond. All students are valued regardless of their background or ability, and are at the heart of everything that we do. We believe it is our duty to convert their potential into reality.
At the heart of every outstanding school is a strong team. One of our top priorities is to attract exceptional staff to The King’s School, and we continue to recruit a number of highly gifted employees to join our team. Our primary focus is to instil a lifelong love of learning while creating confident learners who can live a life full of opportunity and choice.
School location
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