Assistant Principal, SENCO and Inclusion Lead With DDSL

Ark Oval Primary Academy, Croydon, Surrey, CR0 6BA

101 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  31 August 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  22 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Assistant headteacher
  • SENDCo (special educational needs and disabilities coordinator)
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2
• Working pattern: Full time: 5 days a week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £62,784-£69,369

What skills and experience we're looking for

The Role

Key Responsibilities:

As SENCO and Inclusion lead, you'll be a high-quality teacher with a passion for supporting pupils with special educational needs. The postholder is responsible for ensuring that inclusion drives whole-school standards so that pupils with SEND achieve highly within the same ambitious culture as their peers.

The Assistant Principal for Inclusion is a core member of the Senior Leadership Team and shares collective responsibility for the day-to-day leadership and strategic direction of the academy. The postholder is also a member of both the Teaching and Learning Team and the Safeguarding Team, ensuring inclusion is embedded across school standards, safeguarding practice and staff development.

The SENCO/Inclusion Lead should be prepared to lead on such areas as:

Inclusive Provision & Statutory Processes

• Identification, assessment and review of pupils with SEND in line with the Code of Practice
• Effective implementation and review of EHCPs and graduated response provision
• Completion of statutory documentation and coordination of external professional involvement

Teaching & Classroom Practice

• High-quality adaptive teaching across the academy so pupils with SEND access the full curriculum
• Training, coaching and support for teachers and co-teachers to meet pupil needs effectively
• Deployment and development of support staff to maximise impact on learning

Pupil Support & Wellbeing

• Provision for pupils with SEMH and additional needs, including the academy’s mental health support
• Early identification and intervention through multi-agency working
• Successful transition into, within and beyond the academy

Partnerships & Communication

• Productive relationships with families and external agencies
• Clear communication of pupil needs and strategies to staff teams
• Collaboration with Ark and Local Authority services to secure appropriate support

Whole-School Inclusion

• A culture where pupils with SEND are fully included in curriculum, routines and wider school life
• Strategic use of resources to ensure provision is effective and sustainable

As a member of the senior leadership team, the SENCO will also be centrally involved in the overall leadership and management of the academy and will help to establish a school culture that is both nurturing and rigorous.

Outcomes and activities:

Teaching & Subject Leadership

• To be an excellent classroom practitioner, undertaking a substantial teaching commitment as a core component of the Assistant Principal role, typically around 1–2 days per week, with the proportion reviewed in line with strategic priorities and school need
• To lead a designated curriculum subject area, ensuring ambitious curriculum intent, clear progression and successful access for pupils with SEND
• To operate as a member of the Teaching and Learning Team, contributing to coaching cycles and whole-school instructional improvement
• To work alongside teachers through co-planning, modelling and instructional coaching to embed inclusive classroom practice
• To develop staff expertise in meeting additional needs through professional development, rehearsal and feedback
• To quality assure teaching and provision through lesson visits, work scrutiny and pupil voice, ensuring consistency across classes
• To support subject leaders in adapting curriculum delivery so pupils with SEND achieve within the same ambitious framework as their peers

Leadership and Management

• As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, to contribute to the strategic leadership and day-to-day management of the academy
• To be accountable for the progress, attainment, attendance and inclusion of pupils with SEND across the academy
• To analyse assessment, behaviour and attendance data to identify trends and implement targeted strategic responses
• To evaluate the impact of provision and interventions, ensuring effective use of staff time and resources
• To line manage co-teachers and identified support staff, setting clear expectations and developing leadership capacity within the team
• To oversee transition processes and ensure pupils with SEND are prepared for the next stage of education and increasing independence
• To contribute to whole-school decision making including curriculum, behaviour, safeguarding and staffing priorities

School Ethos and Culture

• To provide a visible and proactive leadership presence across the academy, including the playground, dining hall and transition points, setting the standard for behaviour, expectations and relational practice
• To ensure behaviour systems and routines are inclusive, consistent and understood by all staff
• To support staff in managing complex pupil needs while maintaining high expectations for learning and conduct
• To undertake regular duties, including gate supervision and end-of-day collection, modelling high expectations and building positive relationships with pupils and families
• To lead complex conversations with families regarding provision, support and placement, maintaining trust and clarity
• To work with families and external agencies to secure appropriate support for pupils

Other

• Undertake any other professional duties as set down in the Ark schools pay and conditions of service document, and as directed by the principal
• Person Specification: Assistant Principal, SENCO and Inclusion Lead

Qualification criteria:

• Qualified to degree level and above
• Qualified to teach and work in the UK
• Hold or willing to train for the national SENCO qualification

Experience & Knowledge:

• Experience of prior successful leadership at a middle or senior level
• Experience of having worked successfully in at least one school in an urban, multi-cultural setting, teaching students from backgrounds of socio-economic disadvantage
• Experience of having led, or significantly contributed to, the success of a school through its leadership, ethos, teaching and learning and results
• Experience of having improved and sustained an effective behaviour management policy
• Knowledge of the SEN and Disability Code of Practice
• An understanding of the Annual Review and statutory assessment processes
• A good knowledge of how to set meaningful end of Key Stage SEN outcomes and plan effective provision to enable all students with SEN to make good progress
• A knowledge of a range of specialist SEN interventions and strategies that can be used to support students with SEN

Behaviours:

Leadership

• Effective management style that encourages participation, innovation and confidence
• Ability to lead, coach and motivate staff within a performance management framework, including professional development and effective management of underperformance
• Ability to develop the leadership skills of others
• Strong interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
• Takes personal responsibility for their own actions
• Resilience and motivation to lead the academy through day-to-day challenges while maintaining a clear strategic vision and direction
• Genuine passion and a belief in the potential of every student
• Commitment to the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils

Vision and strategy

• Vision aligned with Ark’s high aspirations and high expectations of self and others
• Understands how to set high aspirations and effective strategies for the school. Including; delivery and prioritisation of school leadership management that faces all aspects of curriculum, learning, administration, finance and communication
• Clear understanding of the strategies to establish consistently high standards of behaviour in an inner-city school and commitment to relentlessly instilling these strategies
• Strong organisational skills and ability to delegate
• Use of data to inform and diagnose weaknesses that need addressing

Leading the Learning

• Understands what outstanding teaching practice looks like, how to diagnose and implement effective strategies to raise learning standards
• Be able to offer teaching to demonstration level and through this and other coaching opportunities be able to improve the teaching of others
• Have experience of leading and evaluating INSET which impacts on standards

Leading External Relationships

• Can skilfully manage and maintain effective working relationships with parents and other stakeholders

Other

• Commitment to equality of opportunity and the safeguarding and welfare of all pupils
• This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check

What the school offers its staff

• Opportunities for career progression.
• Admissions priority for children of school’s staff
• Salaries 2.5% higher than main pay scale.
• Twice as many training days as standard.
• Generous pension scheme.
• Access to Ark rewards – a scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers
• Interest-free loans – up to £5,000 available for season ticket or to buy a bicycle.
• Gym discounts – offering up to 40%.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme – providing free, confidential counselling, legal advice and a range of different support

Find out more about the benefits of working for Ark athttps://arkonline.org/careers/why-work-with-us/.

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

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Ark Oval Primary Academy

• School type: Academies, None, ages 4 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 601 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 4 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Ark Oval Primary Academy website
• Email address: hrovalprimary@arkovalprimary.org
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/ark-oval-primary-academy

Ark Oval Primary Academy is a multicultural, three form entry Primary School situated close to East Croydon Station. Through our motto Striving for Excellence, we aim to ensure that children, parents and staff all maximise their full potential. Every day we are committed to embracing our core values and we encourage everyone to be the best that they can possibly be and we support each other every step of the way.

Every day we endeavour to provide everyone at Ark Oval with a rewarding and meaningful experience. We are committed to the highest academic aspirations for all pupils, regardless of background or ability and we have established a caring, family orientated culture. We don’t accept excuses and we don’t make any either. We are willing to do whatever it takes to offer our pupils an exceptional learning environment.

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