Director of Inclusion and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls, Thamesmead, SE28 8RF9 days remaining to apply
Start date details
January 2026
Closing date
4 December 2025 at 10:59pm
Date listed
24 November 2025
Job details
Job role
- Other leadership roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- Leadership Scale L10 to L16 plus Inner London Weighting
Additional allowances
Leadership Scale L10 to L16 plus Inner London Weighting
Director of Inclusion and Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead job summary
PolyMAT is a small but ambitious Multi-Academy Trust with a unique family feel. Our vision is “Success for Everyone”, and we deliver this across our three schools:
- Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys - a long-established and successful boys’ school
- Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls - opened in 2019 and rapidly growing
- Bannockburn Primary School - a thriving primary school that joined the Trust in 2023
We also have a flourishing co-educational Sixth Form provision. Our Trust is built on a culture of high standards, underpinned by our core values of Care and Unity.
Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls is looking for a passionate, innovative and experienced leader to join our senior leadership team. You will play a key role in the strategic direction and development of Inclusion across the school, supporting staff and students in achieving our vision of Success for Everyone. We are at an exciting time in our development as a school and we are looking for a committed individual to drive standards further within Inclusion.
Key Responsibilities
- To act as the Deputy Designated Lead, taking responsibility for safeguarding across the school in place of the DSL, when necessary
- To work alongside the school’s safeguarding team, when necessary, to provide safeguarding support and leadership to students and staff
- To oversee the school’s internal Alternative Provision, ensuring that a bespoke and impactful programme of teaching, intervention and enrichment is in place in order to ensure that students who follow a non-traditional pathway are fully supported in their personal and academic growth
- To further develop the school’s internal Alternative Provision to ensure that the offer is engaging, purposeful and meeting the needs of the students who require a more flexible and bespoke pathway
- To line lead the key staff involved in the Alternative Provision, including the Alternative Provision Lead
- To contribute, through teaching, to the provision of a bespoke curriculum at KS3/4 within the Alternative Provision (5-8 hours a week)
- To line lead the SENCO, ensuring that support and intervention for students with SEN needs is impactful and purposeful
- To provide quality assurance of SEN provision within classrooms, providing support for pedagogical and curriculum development, where needed
- To be the Designated Mental Health Lead for the school, overseeing the mental health
- To line lead the school counsellors; Mental Health Practitioner; NVR lead and school nurse health provision and strategy
- Contribute to whole-school leadership as part of the Senior Leadership Team, supporting the school’s vision and strategic priorities.
What we are looking for:
- Strong knowledge of statutory frameworks for SEND and safeguarding.
- Proven ability to lead and inspire teams, driving improvement and innovation.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with pupils, staff and families.
- Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
As part of our team, you'll benefit from:
- Opportunities for career progression
- Access to apprenticeship training
- Excellent professional development
- A contributory pension scheme
- Opportunities to collaborate with outstanding and dynamic teaching professionals
- Access to various discounts for a small monthly fee
- An employee assistance programme
- Season ticket loans
- Excellent catering facilities
- Cycle2Work Scheme
- Secure on-site parking
- Free daily coffee for staff
PolyMAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offer of employment is subject upon the Academy Trust receiving an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate (DBS), which the Academy considers to be satisfactory. If you are successful in your application, you will be required to complete a DBS Application Form. Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post you are applying for is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and it is therefore an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
In accordance with KCSIE 2025 shortlisted candidates will be subject to an online profile and social media check.
PolyMAT is committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and providing opportunities for people with disabilities. We are an inclusive Trust who strives to provide an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued. We aspire to ensure that every member of our community, regardless of circumstances or background, have the opportunity to be the best version of themselves through our vision of ‘Success for Everyone’.
For any potential applicants, we would like to encourage you to inform us of any additional support or adjustments you may need throughout the recruitment process. We have an open approach to support for candidates with disabilities and recognise that reasonable adjustments may be required based on each individuals needs.
Sharing your needs with us ahead of interview, allows us to fully support and ensure you are not disadvantaged during the process. We welcome candidates contacting us at any point should you feel uncomfortable declaring a disability, to reassure you that we are here to support. So, please contact hr@polymat.co.uk if this is the case.
The closing date for applications is Thursday 4 December. Interviews are scheduled to take place shortly after.
Suitable candidates will be interviewed promptly upon receipt of application. The closing date will be brought forward in the event that the post is filled.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
All offer of employment is subject upon the Academy Trust receiving an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Certificate (DBS), which the Academy considers to be satisfactory. Successful applicants, will be required to complete a DBS Application Form. Any information disclosed will be handled in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Disclosure and Barring Service. The post you are applying for is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and it is therefore an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls
- School type
- Free School, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary
- School size
- 1183 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls website
PolyMAT is a small and ambitious MAT with a unique family feel . Our vision is ‘Success for Everyone’ and the successful candidate will help deliver this for our schools. We currently have three schools in our Trust: Woolwich Polytechnic School for Boys, a long-successful boys’ school, Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls that opened in 2019, and Bannockburn Primary School, a large successful primary that joined the Trust on 1st November 2023. We also have our flourishing Sixth Form provision which is co-educational.
Following the success of our first ever Ofsted inspection at Woolwich Polytechnic School for Girls, we are looking for dedicated teachers that will join us on our journey in delivering an outstanding education for all our students. By joining us, you will play a vital role in supporting our girls to grow as women whose voices are heard and respected. Through this, we hope that they will become influential mothers, sisters, carers, friends and, ultimately, successful and happy members of society.
As a school community and Trust, we place significant value on our professional working relationships with others. Therefore, we are looking for individuals who will be committed to forming strong relationships with other colleagues and stakeholders so that we can be united in achieving our shared vision and goals.
Our Trust and our schools pride themselves on a culture of high standards delivered through our values of Care and Unity. We provide a rewarding environment where students and staff feel valued and supported.
Working for PolyMAT may also present the unique opportunity for staff to teach across both schools and for candidates to join our recruitment pool for further openings.
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