Head of SEND
Plume School, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6AB26 days remaining to apply
Job start date
4 January 2027
Closing date
19 October 2026 at 12pm (midday)
Date listed
23 September 2026
Job details
Job role
- Head of department or curriculum
- SENCO (special educational needs coordinator)
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
Working pattern
- Full time: Monday 08:25 - 16:30 and Tuesday - Friday 08:25 - 15:10
Contract type
- Permanent
Pay scale
- Scale of L4 – L8, which from appointment for a full-time post currently involves a salary of up to £63,688
What skills and experience we're looking for
Applicants should be hardworking, enthusiastic and committed to delivering high-quality education for students in Years 7 to 13.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the postholder will contribute to whole-school leadership, academy improvement and the effective day-to-day operation of the school.
What the school offers its staff
Further information about the job
The Head of SEND, as a Senior Leader, will support the Whole Academy Inclusion Lead in the strategic leadership of SEND and provide professional and operational leadership for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the academy, promoting an inclusive culture and ensuring that students with SEND achieve ambitious academic, personal and social outcomes. The Head of SEND will work with teachers, support staff, families and external agencies to secure high-quality adaptive teaching, effective provision and positive outcomes for all students with SEND.
The Head of SEND will provide professional leadership for SEND, monitor the impact of provision, promote high standards of teaching and learning, and support the effective deployment of resources to improve student achievement, attendance, wellbeing and preparation for the next stage of education, employment or adulthood.
This role would be suited to either an experienced Primary or Secondary SENDCo.
Personal Qualities
Applicants should be hardworking, enthusiastic and committed to delivering high-quality education for students in Years 7 to 13.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the postholder will contribute to whole-school leadership, academy improvement and the effective day-to-day operation of the school.
Responsibilities of the Post Holder
The Head of SEND will provide professional and operational leadership for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) across the academy, ensuring that students with SEND receive high-quality provision and achieve ambitious academic, personal and social outcomes. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the postholder will contribute to whole-school leadership, academy improvement and the effective day-to-day operation of the school.
Strategic Leadership of SEND
- Act as the academy's designated SENDCo and fulfil all statutory responsibilities in accordance with the SEND Code of Practice.
- Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of the academy's SEND strategy, policy and provision.
- Contribute to SEND priorities within the academy’s Inclusion Strategy and Framework and ensure their effective implementation and evaluation.
- Have day-to-day responsibility for coordinating provision for students with SEND and maintaining the academy's SEND Register.
- Promote a culture of inclusion, high expectations and equality of opportunity for all students.
- Ensure compliance with the SEND Code of Practice, the Equality Act 2010 and relevant statutory guidance.
- Advise senior leaders and trustees on SEND matters, legislation and best practice.
- Ensure the academy's SEND Information Report and statutory documentation remain compliant and up to date.
Quality of Education and Outcomes
- Ensure specialist assessment information and external professional recommendations are translated into clear, practical classroom strategies and appropriate provision for staff to implement.
- Lead and quality assure the identification, assessment and support of students with SEND through the graduated approach, including staff referrals, screening, assessment and liaison with relevant pastoral, attendance and external professionals.
- Ensure identified needs translate into appropriate APDR, provision and reasonable adjustments.
- Coordinate provision for students receiving SEND Support and those with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs), including requests for statutory assessment and annual reviews.
- Oversee SEND provision and interventions across the academy, ensuring they are matched to identified need and have clear entry and exit criteria, baseline measures, intended outcomes and review points.
- Maintain and quality assure the SEND provision map and monitor the impact of interventions, staffing and LSA deployment, adapting provision where it is not securing sufficient progress or independence.
- Provide SEND leadership and operational support within Achievement Pathway, Achievement Pathway+, Reflection Room and The Lighthouse, ensuring students receive appropriate provision and reasonable adjustments, and reviewing patterns of engagement, dysregulation or repeated use of these provisions to identify unmet or changing needs and inform appropriate next steps.
- Work with teachers and leaders to ensure high-quality adaptive teaching and effective curriculum access for all students with SEND.
- Ensure all teachers understand and fulfil their responsibility for the progress and outcomes of students with SEND.
- Monitor and evaluate the impact of SEND provision through analysis of achievement, attendance, behaviour, personal development and destination outcomes.
- Promote preparation for adulthood by supporting students' independence, resilience and successful transition to further education, employment and training.
Leadership and Management
- Line manage SEND teachers, Learning Support Assistants and other SEND support staff.
- Lead, support and develop staff to strengthen inclusive practice across the academy.
- Coordinate referrals, assessments and multi-agency support, liaising effectively with families, external professionals and local authority services.
- Manage SEND resources, staffing and funding effectively to maximise student outcomes.
- Produce regular analysis and evaluation of SEND provision, outcomes and emerging priorities, contributing evidence to academy self-evaluation, the Inclusion Strategy and reporting to senior leaders and trustees.
Examination Access Arrangements
- Lead and oversee examination access arrangements in accordance with current JCQ regulations.
- Ensure appropriate identification, assessment, evidence gathering and applications for access arrangements.
Remuneration and Working Time
Annual salary will be in accordance with the academy Teachers Pay
Scale of L4 – L8, which from appointment for a full-time post currently involves a salary of up to £63,688, Salaries are reviewed by national negotiation with effect from 1st September each year.
Application Process
If you are interested in the position and wish to discuss the post prior to application, please email HR@plume.essex.sch.uk, to arrange a telephone conversation. We are very proud of our academy and what we can offer new members of our collaborative team. The Director of HR will be pleased to discuss the post and provide more information about the post and the academy in general.
To apply please complete the Plume Academy application form: https://recruit.sampeople.co.uk/Jobboard/Vacancy/Details?campaignRef=SCH-PT-0170. This must be completed and submitted to HR@plume.essex.sch.uk by the closing date stated (unaccompanied CV’s or third party application forms will not be accepted).
Closing Date: 12 noon Monday 19 October 2026 with interviews to take place on Thursday 22 or Friday 23 October 2026.
Plume Academy remains fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Commitment to safeguarding
The Board of Trustees is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointment are therefore subject to satisfactory DBS and Immigration Checks, together with the receipt of References and Health Clearances.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Plume School
- Organisation type
- Academy, ages 11 to 18
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- Size
- 1789 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- Website
- Plume School website
- Email address
- HR@plume.essex.sch.uk
The Plume School converted to become an academy school in January 2012.
The last full inspection took place in November 2023 and the school was judged to be good across all areas. Ofsted acknowledged the high quality of teaching and excellent relationships in the Academy. Please see the academy website for more information.
The academy is a larger-than-average secondary school with a sixth form.
The vast majority of pupils are White British.
The proportions of pupils who speak English as an additional language or who are from ethnic minorities are both well below the national average.
The proportion of students eligible for the pupil premium is broadly average, as is the proportion of pupils who have SEN and/or disabilities, although for those with an education, health and care plan the proportion is slightly above the national average.
The school meets the government’s current floor standards for pupils’ achievement in English and mathematics at the end of key stage 4.
Plume Academy is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are therefore subject to satisfactory DBS and Immigration Checks, together with the receipt of references.
Visits to the Academy are welcome.
Arranging a visit to Plume School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email HR@plume.essex.sch.uk.
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