SEND Improvement Lead

Star Academies, Blackburn, BB1 2HT

18 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  30 November 2026 at 11:59pm

• Date listed

  12 November 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Other leadership role
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time: 37 hours per week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £77,676 to £94,349 per annum

What skills and experience we're looking for

Who we’re looking for

We are seeking an exceptional SEND Improvement Lead to help drive our ambition for every pupil with SEND to thrive.

Inclusion is a key priority in our Corporate Strategy up to 2032, and we have a detailed Inclusion Strategy that we have started to implement with our 36 schools in line with the national agenda on Inclusion and the SEND Reforms.

We are looking for someone to work alongside the Director of SEND, Principals, senior leaders and SENDCos, to provide strategic and practical school improvement support to bring this to life within our schools.

You will:

• bring significant and impactful experience from working in secondary schools;
• lead SEND improvement across a portfolio of schools;
• support and challenge leaders to strengthen SEND provision;
• coach and develop SENDCos and senior leaders;
• quality assure provision, identification, EHCP implementation and SEND systems;
• use performance and assessment information to identify priorities and drive improvement;
• lead professional development and our SENDCo network;
• support schools with inspection readiness and statutory compliance; and
• ensure SEND is effectively aligned with teaching, curriculum, behaviour, attendance and safeguarding.

About you:

You will be an experienced SEND leader with a strong track record of improving provision and outcomes, particularly from within secondary schools. You will combine strategic expertise with the ability to work practically alongside schools, building capacity while maintaining high expectations.

You will be knowledgeable, credible and solutions-focused, with excellent communication, coaching and analytical skills and, above all, a determination to advocate for children and young people with SEND.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence SEND practice beyond a single school and make a tangible difference to pupils across Star Academies. If you are an ambitious SEND leader who shares our commitment to excellent, inclusive education, we would love to hear from you.

What the school offers its staff

About Star Central

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

We are looking for an exceptional and highly motivated SEND Improvement Lead with significant experience and impact in secondary schools to join our central team and help us deliver our ambition for every child and young person with special educational needs and disabilities to thrive.

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.

Additional documents

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

JDPS - SEND Improvement Lead.pdf - 378 KB (opens in new tab)

About Star Academies

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Star Academies website
• 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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