Centre Lead - Internal Alternative Provision (INSPIRE)

Shire Oak Academy, Walsall, West Midlands, WS9 9PA

17 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st September 2026 or sooner if possible

• Closing date

  29 June 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  15 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £33,699.00 - £38,220.00 Annually (FTE) Grade 7 (SCP 22 – 27) [Actual Salary: £28,985 - £33,167] ,37 Hours Per Week, Term Time

Centre Lead - Internal Alternative Provision (INSPIRE) job summary

Job Title:  Centre Lead - Internal Alternative Provision (INSPIRE)

Location: Walsall

Shire Oak Academy is an exciting and vibrant learning community where students enjoy great success in and outside of the classroom. We aim to provide an outstanding, positive learning environment and value the high quality of relationships that enable this to be true of all aspects of school life. Our Academy motto, ‘Turning Potential into Excellence’ is important to us as we prepare our students for successful adult lives in an increasingly competitive world. We support and encourage our students to try their best to achieve success in all areas and help prepare them for their future choices, not only in their academic learning, but also within other areas such as music, sport, art and drama.

We are:

Aspirational - Inspire all of our students to dream big dreams which extend their horizons beyond their expectations.

Success - Learning from failure, challenging expectations and driving for success.

Participation - To be fully involved in school life. Take an active part in lessons and take full advantage of the extracurricular opportunities provided.

Integrity - Promoting the qualities of selflessness, courage, honesty, respect, commitment and doing the right thing.

Responsibility - To enable each student to develop confidence, self-esteem and responsibility in all areas of school life.

Excellence - Striving for excellence and high achievement in everything we do.

To provide a safe, secure, caring and supportive environment in which all students may take advantage of the opportunities we provide to develop knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to prepare them for taking up an adult place in 21st Century society as responsible, responsive and enterprising citizens who become effective lifelong learners and make a positive contribution to society.

Want to make a difference to young people?

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes for our students. We are looking for a Centre Lead - Internal Alternative Provision (INSPIRE) to join our team. Reporting to Shire Oak Academy's Headteacher, you will undertake: 

Key responsibilities: 

Leadership & Strategic Development

• Lead and manage the strategic development and daily operation of INSPIRE for KS3 and KS4 learners.

Provision Management & Pupil Support

• Oversee referral, admission and transition processes into and out of INSPIRE, ensuring decisions are needs-led, equitable and evidence-informed.

Staff Leadership & Development

• Line manage and support staff working within INSPIRE, including HLTAs, Teaching Assistants, Therapeutic Practitioners and other associated staff.

Partnership & Multi-Agency Working

• Work collaboratively with the SENCO, pastoral leaders, safeguarding team and senior leadership team to ensure joined-up support for pupils.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure the provision operates in line with academy policies, safeguarding requirements and statutory guidance.

Whole-School Contribution

• Contribute as a middle leader to the wider strategic development of the academy.

Pay range: Scale: Grade 7 (SCP 22 - 27)| Actual: £28,985 - £33,167 | FTE: £33,699 - £38,220

Qualifications and Skills: 

• GCSE English and Maths (Grade 4/C or above)

  Evidence of ongoing professional development linked to SEND, SEMH, behaviour, safeguarding or inclusion

• Strong leadership and team management skills

  Excellent interpersonal, communication and relationship-building skills
• 
  Ability to provide calm, consistent and solution-focused leadership
• 
  Ability to lead and motivate a multidisciplinary team
• 
  Strong organisational, administrative and operational management skills
• 
  Ability to analyse information and make evidence-informed decisions
• 
  Ability to manage challenging situations effectively while maintaining positive relationships
• 
  Ability to contribute strategically to inclusion, behaviour and safeguarding priorities

For full details of the post please see attached Job Description and Person Specification

Why The Mercian Trust?

As one Trust we share a common purpose.  We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education.  When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community.

Put simply, our common purpose is to increase opportunities and improve outcomes for our students.  We are particularly committed to students who are under-served and under-resourced.  We prioritise those who have special educational needs and disabilities, or who are more likely to face discrimination for whatever reason.

It is this common purpose that fuels everything we do. We deliver impactful, sustainable and ethical continuous school improvement in our schools to ensure the children and young people in the communities we serve learn in the very best and most inclusive schools. 

We are deeply rooted in the communities we serve (which are the education investment areas of the West Midlands). We adopt a pioneering spirit and look to lead the sector with innovative solutions to the problems our students and families face.

Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more:  The Mercian Trust - Home

Benefits: 

Financial, Health and Lifestyle

• discounts on everyday purchases (Eden Red)

• a comprehensive free of charge health plan (UK Health Care)

• a cycle to work scheme via Halfords

• access to the Blue Light Card

For further benefits including education sector leading CPD: The Mercian Trust - What we can offer you

The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.

 The Mercian Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community. 

Please take time to read our polices attached to this advert.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment

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 Shire Oak Academy

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1297 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Shire Oak Academy website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/shire-oak-academy

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