Deputy SENCO (September 2026)
St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School, Rochester, Kent, ME1 2FA35 days remaining to apply
Job start date
1 September 2026
Closing date
27 April 2026 at 9am
Date listed
23 March 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
- SENDCo (special educational needs and disabilities coordinator)
- View all Suitable for early career teachersjobs
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Fixed term - 1 year
Pay scale
- MPS/UPS
Additional allowances
TLR2C (currently £707 - £3,478)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Deputy SENCO
Salary: MPS/UPS with TLR2C (£707 - £3,478)
Due to an expanding roll and increasing number of students who have additional needs, the Governing Board is seeking to appoint a Deputy SENCO from September 2026.
The successful candidate will be a qualified teacher, with experience of working with, or a passion for Special Educational Needs (SEN).
We are a growing department and have an outstanding team of support staff, a dedicated SEND Administrator and a very experienced SENCO. We have a customised department space, which includes intervention rooms, a sensory room, St Teresa Room provision for adapted learning and also specialised bathroom facilities.
Robust interventions are run daily to support our students to become independent learners, so they can achieve qualifications for future careers. We have a team of outside specialists we use to identify further additional support needed, and also for Education, Health and Care Plan applications.
The successful candidate will have a bespoke CPD programme, which will be tailored to meeting their needs, which includes qualifying as a SENCO.
St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School is a non-selective coeducational secondary school for students age 11-18. It is a single site school with plenty of free parking and very close to local rail networks (a 10-minute walk). Our mission statement is that ‘St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School inspires students, spiritually and educationally forming them through Faith so that they can achieve their aspirations and contribute to their community’. As a Catholic school, we are passionate about the formation of the whole student, making sure that we develop students into good people as well as ensure they get good results.
The school is in Rochester, Medway, a 30-minute distance from London by road or high-speed rail link. Medway benefits from a multimillion-pound regeneration programme bringing new housing developments and facilities for its inhabitants; it also has the lowest council tax rates in Kent.
We are happy to offer visits and informal discussions of the role: please contact send@stjohnfisher.school for further information.
Closing date for applications: Tuesday 21st April 2026
Interviews: Monday 27th April 2026
Shortlisted candidates only will be contacted for interview which will take place shortly after the deadline. St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School is an Equal Opportunities Employer, committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all students. Any offer of appointment will be subject to satisfactory references, and an enhanced DBS check will be required for all successful applicants.
What the school offers its staff
At SJF, we are committed to excellence in a sustainable way. This means we value our staff, devise policies with workload in mind and believe that everyone working in education should have the opportunity to enjoy the highest possible standard of wellbeing and mental health. We recognise that working in a deprived area is never going to be easy, but we are committed to ensuring it’s not any harder than it needs to be. Our approach to staff wellbeing and workload is underpinned by research and best practice.
Ensuring efficient working practices regarding data, marking and feedback, behaviour management and curriculum planning (as outlined in the DFE school workload reduction toolkit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-workload-reduction-toolkit#wellbeing)
a. Clear behaviour policy and support including centralised interventions and rapid response on call
b. Marking policy devised by teachers on a full timetable whereby staff read books every 4-6 lessons and then teach a feedback lesson, rather than time consuming deep marking on all work
c. Strategic placement of inset days including one at the end of the year to finish early for summer
d. Progress reports limited to twice a year for each year group
e. Wellbeing events held at the end of each half-term, not a work meeting
f. Break duties consolidated to two per week, taking place near the teacher’s room where possible
g. Lunchtime supervisors employed so teachers do not have to supervise at this time
h. Teaching timetables below the national upper limit of 90%.
i. Ensuring communication is streamlined and effective
1. One weekly briefing email to keep you informed of school-wide developments
2. No expectation to answer work related email at evenings and weekends
3. All deadlines are staggered, agreed with middle leadership annually, and published well in advance
Ensuring staff are supported throughout the day
1. Free parking at the front of the school site, less than a minute’s walk from Reception
2. Free breakfast for staff teaching exam classes during exam seasons
3. Staff room onsite for rest and relaxation
4. Workrooms in each departmental area with tea, coffee, water, fridges, and microwaves
5. Food during all day events
6. Fully staffed admin team, reprographics service and pastoral care leaders to support your work with students
7. Staff treats provided in the last week of term at Christmas, Easter and Summer
Investing in staff development
1. At least fortnightly line management meetings with the first question focusing on wellbeing
2. Investment in development of staff through a programme of personalised CPD and learning walks
3. Opportunities to work across local Catholic schools to share good practice and strategy
4. Non-punitive appraisal process that focuses on supporting staff to do everything they can to meet their targets, rather than penalising them if they are not reached despite this
Bringing joy into the workplace and giving back
a. Investment in the staff room and staff reflection space
b. Staff clubs/socials (social secretary)
c. Staff Christmas and summer parties
d. Christmas and Birthday card for each staff member from the Headteacher
e. Gifts for staff on weddings and new births
f. Staff wellbeing coordinator
Further information about the job
The SEND Department has undergone significant transformation since moving to City Way in 2023. With more space and excellent facilities; we are now better equipped to offer a wide range of interventions tailored to support the diverse needs of our students, helping them thrive academically and personally. Our dedicated environment includes a calm and quiet space designed for students who struggle with self-regulation, both during lessons and unstructured times. Here, students find a supportive atmosphere where they can engage in learning while still being challenged, with the school's high standards reflected throughout the department.
Our team consists of a SENCO, SEN Administrator and experienced Higher-Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) and Learning Support Assistants (LSAs), each bringing unique specialisms to the table. To gain a deeper understanding of any barriers to learning, we employ independent specialists, including an educational psychologist, a speech and language therapist, and a counsellor. We also collaborate closely with Medway Local Authority services, such as NELFT, the school nurse, and hearing impairment services, ensuring comprehensive support for our students.
As part of the wider Inclusion Team, the SEND Department works in close partnership with the Pastoral Care and Behaviour Teams, creating a unified approach to student welfare. We also manage Exam Access Arrangements, ensuring that students who need extra support can perform to their full potential. Additionally, we support school staff by delivering Continuing Professional Development (CPD) on the specific needs of our student body, helping to implement effective strategies in the classroom.
The SEND Department is also an active member of a SENCO’s group, building robust relationships with other secondary schools and collaborating with other SEN coordinators to provide advice and mutual support. Our aim is to foster a learning environment where all students can succeed, regardless of their challenges.
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 job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1105 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School website
- Email address
- m.curran1@stjohnfisher.school
- Phone number
- 01634543123
St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School is a non-selective coeducational secondary school for students age 11-18. A single site school with free parking, we moved to world-class brand-new buildings in the spring of 2023. Our mission statement is that ‘St. John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School inspires students, spiritually and educationally forming them through Faith so that they can achieve their aspirations and contribute to their community’. As a Catholic school, we are passionate about the formation of the whole student, making sure that we develop students into good people as well as ensure they get good results.
Arranging a visit to St John Fisher Catholic Comprehensive School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email m.curran1@stjohnfisher.school.
School location
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