Assistant Headteacher SENDCO

Cirencester Deer Park School, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 1XB

23 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st September 2026

• Closing date

  6 March 2026 at 10:59pm

• Date listed

  11 February 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • SENDCo (special educational needs and disabilities coordinator)
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £66,368.00 - £73,105.00 Annually (FTE) Salary Range L11 - L15

Assistant Headteacher SENDCO job summary

As our SENDCO Assistant Headteacher, you will be at the heart of shaping an inclusive learning environment where every child feels valued and supported. You will lead our SEND provision with vision and compassion, ensuring that pupils with additional needs receive the tailored support they deserve. Your leadership will not only influence classroom practice but also inspire a culture of inclusion, high expectations, and achievement across the school.

The Role

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the postholder will make sure that our SEND provision meets national expectations. This includes the key areas covered in the NPQ for SENCOs—such as school culture, legal requirements, identifying needs, teaching, behaviour, leadership of provision, staff development, and effective implementation—and aligns with the principles and evidence used in SEND inspections.

The SENDCo will work to ensure that all pupils with SEND can participate fully in school life, access high‑quality teaching, and achieve ambitious outcomes.

The postholder will hold a teaching timetable appropriate to their expertise to maintain close understanding of classroom practice and to model excellence.

You will be responsible for:

• Leading the strategic development of SEND provision, ensuring it reflects best practice and meets statutory requirements.

• Overseeing the identification, assessment, and monitoring of pupils with SEND, ensuring personalised learning plans are impactful and regularly reviewed.

• Working closely with teachers to embed inclusive teaching strategies and differentiated learning approaches.

• Building strong partnerships with parents, carers, and external professionals to create a united support network for each child.

• Contributing to whole-school leadership as part of the Senior Leadership Team, influencing policy, curriculum design, and staff development.

• Lead and mentor the SEND team, fostering a culture of collaboration, professional growth, and innovation.

The Ideal Candidate will have

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and the National Award for SEN Coordination (or willingness to achieve it within the required timeframe)
• Proven experience in a leadership role within SEND, ideally with whole-school impact.
• A deep understanding of the SEND Code of Practice and current educational legislation.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to inspire, influence, and build trust with staff, pupils, and families.
• A strategic mindset paired with a hands-on approach to problem-solving.
• A genuine passion for inclusive education and a belief in the potential of every learner.

Cirencester Deer Park School

As part of our SLT, the successful candidate will lead by example — recognising the opportunity in every interaction to make a difference, and inspiring others to bring out the best in every student. Together, we foster a culture of ambition, trust, kindness, determination, and high expectations for all, creating an environment where every young person can dream big, work hard, and achieve their fullest potential.

Our staff are at the heart of what we do. We offer a range of benefits designed to support wellbeing and professional growth, including:

• Membership with Education Mutual, providing health and wellbeing support
• A positive and inclusive working environment where everyone is valued
• A strong team spirit and a genuine sense of buzz and energy across the school
• Opportunities for professional growth, development, and make a meaningful impact every day across the wider Corinium Education Trust

We are proud to be developing as a inclusive school community that celebrates diversity and champions equity for all. We welcome and value staff and students from every background, identity, and life experience. Our commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity underpins everything we do — from how we support our students to how we work together as colleagues. We believe that varied perspectives strengthen our school and enrich the learning experience for everyone.

We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, and are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported, and able to thrive.

Further general information about our school can be found on our school website and we have provided our Assistant Headteacher SENDCO job description and Person Specification. Applications should be completed through My New Term and should be accompanied by a personal statement. Applications should be submitted no later than midnight on Friday 6th March Interviews are provisionally scheduled to take place on Wednesday 11th March

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

We are committed to the safeguarding of our pupils and employment is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and the receipt of satisfactory references.

Our Ofsted Report in January 2023 confirmed: "Leaders have established a strong culture of safeguarding. Appropriate checks are made on adults working in the school. Staff understand the priority that should be given to safeguarding. They receive effective training and report concerns about pupils or adults appropriately."

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 Cirencester Deer Park School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1017 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Cirencester Deer Park School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/cirencester-deer-park-school-cirencester

As a high performing comprehensive school with 1000 pupils in the South Cotswolds, Cirencester Deer Park School is committed to providing outstanding education and developing our staff. Having initially converted to an Academy in April 2011, we are now a leading member of The Corinium Education Trust, the first ‘mixed’ Multi-Academy Trust in Gloucestershire which brings together a large secondary, community primary and church schools; the leaders of which are ambitious for their pupils’ learning and life chances and are committed to continuous school improvement.

School location

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