Director of Vulnerable Learners

The Spencer Academies Trust, Nottingham, NG9 6RZ

14 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  October 2026

• Closing date

  19 May 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  20 April 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership roles
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £67,898.00 - £75,049.00 Annually (Actual) L12-16 - Maternity Cover

Director of Vulnerable Learners job summary

Why join us as Director of Vulnerable Learners (Maternity Cover)?

This is a rare and significant opportunity to provide strategic leadership for some of our most vulnerable children and young people, at a time when inclusive practice, behaviour and alternative provision matter more than ever.

At Spencer Academies Trust, inclusion is not a bolt-on; it is central to how we design our systems, support our schools and improve outcomes across our family of academies. We are ambitious for children with SEND, EAL and Pupil Premium, and uncompromising in our belief that vulnerability should never limit life chances.

As Director of Vulnerable Learners, you will play a pivotal role in shaping and sustaining high-quality inclusive practice across both primary and secondary phases. Working closely with academy Principals, SENCOs, behaviour leads and senior leaders, you will provide strategic direction, robust challenge and practical support to ensure that vulnerable learners experience strong teaching, effective support and consistent practice. This role offers a truly trust-wide remit. You will lead and quality assure approaches to SEND, EAL, Pupil Premium, behaviour and alternative provision, ensuring that systems reflect best national practice while remaining responsive to local context. You will act as a key point of professional reassurance for leaders, supporting complex decision-making, complaints resolution and partnership work with local authorities and external agencies.

You will also be a core part of the Inclusion Team, contributing to broader trust priorities through data-informed improvement work, professional networks, policy development and targeted reviews. The role provides a clear line of sight between strategic leadership, academy-level practice and improved outcomes for children.

We are looking for an experienced, values-driven leader who combines strong technical knowledge with credibility, empathy and influence. Someone who understands the realities of school leadership, can hold high expectations with compassion, and is motivated by impact rather than profile.

This maternity cover offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference at scale within a supportive and ambitious trust. If you are passionate about inclusive practice, committed to improving outcomes for vulnerable learners, and excited by the opportunity to lead across a diverse group of academies, we would love to hear from you. Please ensure that you have secured approval from your Principal / Line Manager if applying as a secondment.

Early application is strongly encouraged as we reserve the right to interview and close the advert ahead of the closing date.

Spencer Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all our children and young people. Therefore, we expect everyone to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to satisfactory pre- employment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced criminal records with Barred List Check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and the completion of Level 2 Safeguarding training. It is an offence to apply for the role if an applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children (where the role involves this type of regulated activity).

The Trust and its member academies are committed to promoting equality and diversity in both employment and education provision. We aim to ensure that students, parents, governors, employees, contractors, partners, clients and other stakeholders within the Trust community are treated fairly, and with dignity and respect regardless of Protected Characteristics.

Spencer Academies Trust is a Disability Confident Committed Employer.

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 The Spencer Academies Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: The Spencer Academies Trust website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/the-spencer-academies-trust

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