Director of SEND

Mercia Learning Trust, Sheffield, S7 1RB

18 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  1 September 2026

• Closing date

  15 May 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  27 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: L16 - L20 (£75,049 to £82,654)

Director of SEND job summary

Salary: L16 to L20 (£75,049 to £82,654)

Contract term: Full time, 1.0FTE, permanent

Start date: September 2026

Closing date: 8am Friday 15 May 2026

Mercia Learning Trust

Mercia Learning Trust is a successful partnership of four primary and three secondary schools located in the south-west of Sheffield. Established in 2012, with one secondary school, our trust has grown to serving over 5000 pupils, with 650 staff.

Why do we exist?

• To empower everyone in our communities, especially the most disadvantaged, to succeed.
  

How do we behave?

• We are kind - showing care and supporting each other.
  
• We have integrity - doing the right thing and always putting children first.
  
• We work with diligence - overcoming obstacles and having no excuses.
  

What do we do?

• We run schools that focus on academic excellence, cultural capital and the development of character.
  

How will we succeed?

• A culture of excellence – high standards shaped by clarity, not control.
  
• Academic focus – empowering all children through an exceptional curriculum.
  
• Purposeful collaboration – relationships built on trust, reducing sub-optimisation and driving collective success.
  

Our staff are a crucial part of our trust, just like our pupils. We are devoted to recruiting, training, retaining and taking good care of our highly skilled and dedicated team.

The role

We are seeking an exceptional and strategic leader to take on the role of Director of SEND across our trust.

This is a pivotal leadership position, responsible for ensuring that all pupils with special educational needs and disabilities receive a high-quality, inclusive education that enables them to thrive academically and personally. The Director of SEND will provide strategic oversight, challenge and support across all schools, ensuring consistency, compliance and excellence in SEND provision.

You will work closely with school leaders, SENDCos and trust leaders to develop and embed a coherent, evidence-informed approach to SEND, securing strong outcomes for pupils and ensuring that statutory responsibilities are met to a high standard.

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

Mercia Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. If you are shortlisted, your suitability to work with children will be explored, and this will include disclosing convictions. The information you disclose may be discussed with you during the interview.

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 Mercia Learning Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Mercia Learning Trust website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/mercia-learning-trust

Mercia Learning Trust is a 2-19 high performing multi-academy trust of schools in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

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