Assistant Headteacher (SENCO)
Miltoncross Academy, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO3 6RB38 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
2 March 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
23 January 2026
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: Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- L11 to L14
What skills and experience we're looking for
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership of SEND
Develop, communicate and lead the academy’s SEND strategy, ensuring compliance with the SEND Code of Practice and all statutory responsibilities.
Develop and implement a clear, ambitious vision for SEND provision that aligns with the academy’s values and improvement priorities.
Ensure that the SEND register, provision maps and pupil profiles are accurate, up to date and used effectively by staff.
Oversee the identification, assessment and review of pupils with SEND, ensuring timely and high‑quality processes.
Quality of Education for Pupils with SEND
Work closely with the Assistant Headteacher for Teaching & Learning to ensure that classroom practice meets the needs of all learners.
Lead high‑quality CPD that develops staff expertise in adaptive teaching, cognitive science principles and inclusive practice.
Quality‑assure teaching, interventions and support to ensure strong progress for all SEND groups.
Monitor and evaluate outcomes for pupils with SEND, reporting to SLT, governors and TKAT.
Leadership of SEND Team & Provision
Line‑manage the Inclusion Manager and other colleagues in the SEND team.
Oversee the deployment, training and performance management of support staff.
Ensure that interventions are evidence‑based, well‑delivered and rigorously evaluated.
Lead the annual review process for EHCPs, ensuring high‑quality documentation and strong partnership with families and the local authority.
Inclusion, Safeguarding & Pastoral Leadership
Work closely with pastoral leaders to ensure that pupils with SEND experience excellent behaviour, attendance and wellbeing support.
Contribute to safeguarding processes, ensuring that SEND needs are fully understood and addressed.
Support the development of inclusive systems, routines and expectations across the academy.
Wider Leadership Responsibilities
Contribute to whole‑school self‑evaluation and strategic planning.
Support the Headteacher and senior team in modelling the academy’s values and maintaining a culture of high expectations.
Undertake duties as part of the
What the school offers its staff
Assistant Headteacher (SENCo)
Miltoncross Academy is seeking an exceptional senior leader to join our team as Assistant Headteacher (SENCO)from September 2026(or earlier if possible). This is a key strategic role for an ambitious, values‑driven leader who believes deeply in the potential of every child and is relentless in securing the very best outcomes for pupils with SEND.
Our core values: Work Hard. Be Kind. No Excuses. are well defined by actions to ensure that they are not simply words on a poster but actions of all. Examples of these actions are: ‘taking responsibility’, ‘caring for others’ and ‘valuing feedback’, these defined actions underpin everything we do to create a culture of high expectations. We are on a rapid improvement journey with a very clear 5 Year strategic plan that holds Inclusion and SEND at its heart. Therefore, we are looking for an excellent leader to be our next Assistant Headteacher (SENCO); it will be somebody who shares our belief that high expectations, strong relationships and a culture of inclusion enable all children to flourish.
The successful candidate will be an experienced leader at either senior or middle leadership level who can shape, lead and quality‑assure our SEND provision so that it is sector‑leading. They will work closely with the Deputy Headteacher for Student Culture and Inclusion, the Assistant Headteacher for Behaviour, The Inclusion Manager and the wider senior and SEND team to ensure that pupils with SEND experience excellent teaching, strong pastoral support and a curriculum that enables them to thrive.
Miltoncross is a PFI academy with strong facilities, stable staffing and a committed community of pupils and families. We are also proud to be part ofTKAT, one of the largest and most collaborative trusts in the South and East of England. Joining Miltoncross means joining the widerTKAT family, and with that comes a range of significant professional benefits, including:
High‑quality, personalised CPD, we commit to 80+ hours of CPD for every member of staff per year which includes access to trust‑wide leadership development, SEND networks and specialist training.
Collaborative working across 45 academies, enabling you to learn from and contribute to a community of expert practitioners.
Clear career progression pathways, with opportunities to develop trust‑wide influence and grow into future senior roles.
Access to national professional qualifications, supported and encouraged by the trust.
A values‑driven organisation, committed to equity, inclusion and opportunity for all pupils.
If you are excited by the opportunity to transform outcomes for pupils with SEND and to play a central role in our improvement journey, we would be delighted to hear from you. If you would like a confidential conversation with the Headteacher or a visit to the school before applying, please contact the Headteacher’s PA at janet.french@miltoncross-tkat.org.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
TKAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full Safer Recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.
Equal Opportunities
TKAT is committed to equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from all suitable candidates, regardless of any protected characteristic for example race, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. All applications are treated on merit. This includes applications from individuals wishing to work full time, part time or on a flexible basis.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Upload additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Miltoncross Academy
- School type
- Academy, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 937 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Miltoncross Academy website
- Email address
- head@miltoncross-tkat.org
Arranging a visit to Miltoncross Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email head@miltoncross-tkat.org.
School location
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