Exceptional Head of SEND
Quest (A Church Of England Schools Trust), Wigan, WN2 4SQ18 days remaining to apply
Start date details
September 2026
Closing date
31 May 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
13 May 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
- £54,394.00 - £60,145.00 Annually (Actual) Leadership 3 - 7
Exceptional Head of SEND job summary
Exceptional Head of SEND Needed!
If you have what it takes to make a difference, then the children of QUEST need YOU!
This isn’t just any leadership role. This is your opportunity to shape something extraordinary; to transform SEND and inclusion across a growing family of schools, improve life chances for children, and accelerate your career at a phenomenal rate.
This Trust-wide role is designed to empower the successful candidate to do whatever it takes to make SEND provision world class, from Early Years right through to post 16.
At QUEST, our mission is clear:
Supporting young people from Early Years to Employment; preparing young minds for a lifelong quest to knowledge, character and service.
Everything we do is rooted in our values:
Professional & Compassionate
Responsible & Respectful
Loyal & Kind
We are proud of our distinctive and evolving approach to SEND, centred on early identification, inclusive practice, strong partnerships with families, and a relentless focus on impact. As Head of SEND, you will refine, champion and scale this approach across the Trust.
About the Role
As Head of SEND, you will provide inspirational leadership and strategic oversight of SEND and inclusion across our schools, ensuring every pupil with additional needs receives the support requiredto thrive.
You will lead both strategically and operationally to secure high-quality inclusive provision and strong outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged pupils.
Crucially, you will lead and develop a team of expert SENDCos, building their expertise and ensuring consistency and excellence across all schools. You will also work directly alongside teachers, helping them develop practical, evidence-informed approaches to break down barriers to learning and ensuring every child succeeds.
You will:
Lead the Trust SEND strategy in line with the SEND Code of Practice
Quality assure EHCPs, support plans, provision mapping and impact
Monitor achievement, attendance and behaviour, with a focus on vulnerable pupils
Oversee alternative provision, inclusion pathways and reintegration
Build SENDCo leadership capacity through coaching, training and quality assurance
Work directly with teachers to improve inclusive classroom practice and remove barriers to learning
Analyse SEND and pupil premium data to identify gaps and drive improvement
Ensure readiness for Ofsted, Local Authority and SEND inspections
Work closely with Attendance, Behaviour and Safeguarding leaders to remove barriers
So, if you are:
Driven by a strong moral purpose to enable achievement for every child…
Passionate about making SEND and inclusion world class across multiple schools…
An expert in SEND practice, legislation and the Code of Practice…
A strategic leader who can translate vision into measurable impact…
Skilled in coaching, mentoring and developing expert practitioners…
Committed to working alongside teachers to improve day-to-day classroom practice…
Confident influencing leaders and building strong professional communities…
A forensic user of data who drives improvement through insight…
Warm, approachable, and committed to teamwork…
Resilient, calm, and solution-focused under pressure…
Determined to grow and develop at pace…
Then you will love working with QUEST, and we would love to welcome you.
This is a rare opportunity to shape inclusive education at scale, leading a team of expert SENDCos and working directly with schools to make a tangible difference to children’s lives every day.
We are looking for someone who brings:
Qualified Teacher Status and NASENCo / NPQ for SEND
Proven experience leading SEND and improving outcomes
Deep understanding of SEND legislation and current developments
Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
A commitment to continuous professional development
Emotional intelligence, resilience, and collaboration
A relentless drive for excellence, inclusion and equality
We can offer you:
A values-driven Trust where your leadership has real impact
The opportunity to shape and define a distinctive SEND approach across multiple schools
The chance to lead and develop a strong network of expert SENDCos
A supportive, ambitious leadership team committed to inclusion
Excellent professional development and career progression
A comprehensive wellbeing offer, including an additional wellbeing day
Pension scheme, cycle to work scheme and Employee Assistance Programme
Discounted childcare through Play Pals Childcare Limited
Talented, committed colleagues and enthusiastic pupils
The chance to contribute to a Trust with a powerful moral purpose
Even if you are just slightly curious, we would love to hear from you — this really is as exciting as it sounds.
For an informal discussion, please contact Nicola Richards, Deputy CEO.
Visits are warmly encouraged, come and see our schools in action.
QUEST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All staff are expected to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.
Further information about the job
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Quest (A Church Of England Schools Trust)
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
QUEST Academy Trust is a successful and vibrant organisation that provides a caring and thoughtful quality of education across our family of schools within the Northwest region. Established in 2014, we have 4 Good primary schools, nursery settings with before and after school club provisions and the University Collegiate School, Bolton comprising of secondary and sixth form education.
About Our Schools
QUEST Academy Trust educates over 1700 children and young people across its five schools and nursery provisions within the Northwest. Each of our schools are recognised individually – each have their own legacy and history focused upon the educational needs of its children and community.
Schools within the Trust
St Peter’s CE Primary School, Hindley
Hindley Green Community Primary School
St John’s CE Primary School, Hindley Green
St John’s CE Primary School, Abram
University Collegiate School (UCS), Bolton
Play Pals Childcare Limited
Having originally established in 2014, the Trust Board are now looking to expand the number of schools within the Trust. We are currently comprised of one medium sized secondary school in Bolton and four Primaries in Wigan. We also have four Nursery provisions associated with the Trust. The Trust comprises 1700 pupils and 270 staff.
Our vision is to create a strong Trust where the power of relationships, an unwavering commitment to our Christian values, and a focus on lifelong learning that will propel children to achieve well and go on to great things. Our mission, ‘Supporting Children from Early Years to Employment,' shows our steadfast dedication to preparing young minds for a lifelong quest of knowledge, character, and service.
We believe that at the heart of our community lies a commitment to our ‘WHY?’ – the 1700 children that we serve. As a Multi Academy Trust rooted in Christian values, we are guided by the values of respect, compassion, and kindness. These principles underpin everything we do, creating an atmosphere where children and staff flourish in a professional, responsible, and loyal way.
We believe that schools should have their own unique identity so they can serve their local community. We have a strong belief in the power of collaboration with other schools and Trust is key to strengthening the quality of education for the students we serve.
Head office location
Similar jobs nearby
Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed
Find more school jobs in Wigan