Director of SEND

Star Academies, Blackburn, BB1 2HT

14 days remaining to apply

• Job start date

  20 October 2025

• Closing date

  11 September 2025 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  28 August 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • SENDCo (special educational needs and disabilities coordinator)
  • Other leadership roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: 37 hours per week All Year Round
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £87,651.00 to £94,332.00 per annum

What skills and experience we're looking for

Who we’re looking for

We are seeking an inspiring and strategic leader to shape and drive our Trust-wide vision for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). You will play a pivotal role in raising standards of learning and achievement by coordinating high-quality provision, monitoring outcomes, and championing inclusive practices across our schools.

If you are passionate about equity in education and have the expertise to lead transformational change, we would love to hear from you.

You will have:

• Credibility as an experienced and successful school senior leader with a demonstrable track record of success, particularly with improving teaching. Secondary leadership experience is desirable.
• A deep understanding of the four broad areas of need, with experience in leading high-quality SEND provision and supporting SENCOs to develop and implement a Trust-wide SEND strategy that raises standards and ensures consistency in provision and outcomes.
• Collaborative Leadership skills to deliver joined-up, inclusive education aligned to our vision and values.
• Performance and impact focused with strong analytical skills to monitor progress, impact, and drive continuous improvement in SEND and Pupil Premium outcomes.
• Commitment to building capacity through developing others such as through coaching, CPD, and creating a culture of excellence in SEND leadership.
• Experience in commissioning services, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with statutory responsibilities.
• The ability to foster strong relationships with schools, local authorities, and external partners to enhance provision and outcomes.

What the school offers its staff

Star Central, which is based at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies, Star Institute and our schools.

The Star Central team includes experts from a range of professional backgrounds, who work together to provide an outstanding support service to the Star community. We support our schools to provide educational and operational excellence and to cultivate a strong Star community, with the aim of nurturing today’s young people and inspiring tomorrow’s leaders.

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

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

JDPS - Director of SEND.pdf - 310 KB (opens in new tab)

About Star Academies

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Email address: info@staracademies.org
• Phone number: 0330 313 9800
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/star-academies

Head office location

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