EXPIRED

This job expired on 27 November 2023

  • Start date details

    Summer Term 2024

  • Closing date

    27 November 2023 at 9am

  • Date listed

    31 October 2023

Job details

Job role

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Contract type

Permanent

Full-time equivalent salary

£47,628.00 - £53,881.00 Annually (FTE) Advantage Schools Leadership Pay Scales 1-6

SENDCo job summary

We are seeking to appoint a SENDCo from the Summer term or before for our oversubscribed school, Bedford Free School. This is a truly career-defining opportunity to make impactful contributions through your guidance and expertise of an incredible school with a national reputation for excellence. You will work as part of a close-knit team, and closely with the trust education and school staff, to ensure Bedford Free School continues to be an excellent place for pupils to learn and staff to work. 

Joining Bedford Free School as a SENDCo is a fantastic opportunity to be part of our story - providing transformational experiences for thousands of pupils, developing our staff to eb the very best they can be, and influencing the wider system by demonstrating first-hand what is achievable. 

Skills and experience for the role: 

Qualified Teacher Status with 5 years or more teaching experience

The National award for SEND co-ordination or be working towards

High expectations of children’s achievements and a proven record of excellent classroom practice

Commitment to developing and sustaining excellent relationships with children, staff, parents, governors and other members of the community

Experience of making applications for EHCP and Top Up Funding and carrying out reviews

Has high expectations of pupils' progress and behaviour

Has a good understanding of progression and expectations in secondary education

Thorough knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice

The ability to lead staff in developing their knowledge and expertise in working with children with SEND and supporting staff to write SEND support plans

The ability to work effectively with the Principal  and SLT to achieve excellence

Good communication skills and an ability to work within a team

Good management and organisational skills and experience of leading/managing other staff


WHY BEDFORD FREE SCHOOL?

At BFS our values drive everything that we do:  RESPECT, HONESTY, HIGH EXPECTATIONS 

We are a genuinely comprehensive school that provides a knowledge-based education for pupils of all backgrounds, with the highest expectations of pupil conduct. We teach an unashamedly academic curriculum consisting of the best that has been thought and said and, as you would expect, truly inclusive, quality first provision is at the heart of this. 

We take workload seriously. We have no unwieldy and impossible marking policies, no written reports or endless meetings. We respect teachers as experts in their subject and prioritise giving time for departments to discuss what they are teaching, why and how.

Pupil behaviour is excellent, supported by clear systems and routines, including centrally delivered, same-day whole-school sanctions where necessary.

All of this means that you will be able to dedicate your time and energy into further developing the quality first provision for ALL pupils. 

PARENTAL CHOICE 

With waiting lists in each year group and GCSE results placing us amongst the top schools for pupil progress in the country, we are a hugely popular school. Demand for places is very high as parents want the combination of a BFS education and our distinctive small school feel for their children. 

We’re looking for people who want to be the best. You will have had a track record of excellence in the classroom and be an inspiring character who is willing to lead by example and also contribute positively to wider school life. Most of all, you will be clear that education is a great leveler  for ALL pupils and work hard to help us achieve our goal of preparing every pupil to have the choice to go to university. 

THE PASTORAL AND SEND TEAMS

You will work with  the inclusion team  so that we can deliver on our promise to local families – that high expectations, superb behaviour and great teaching are the hallmarks of this school. You will build on our strong systems, processes, and standards to improve them further, bringing a capable and committed staff team with you. You will be fully supported by the excellent team at Bedford Free School and our wider network of executive and school leaders across the trust.

Pupils achieve well at BFS but we are seeking a candidate who shares our belief that all of our pupils can achieve even better.

SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT 

Career development is a priority. We are outward facing, with partnerships across the country: our staff contribute to the delivery of National Professional Qualifications, the Early Career Framework and, as a lead school, the Behaviour Hub programme.  You will be joining us at an exciting time - our multi-academy trust is expanding which, in addition to creating exciting opportunities for our staff in the future, has further expanded our capacity to deliver the high-quality induction and ongoing professional development which will support you in your role.  

WHAT TO DO NEXT

We strongly encourage prospective candidates to come and visit the school, to speak to staff and pupils, please contact Esther should you wish to arrange a visit to the school. 

For a  confidential discussion about the position, contact Esther Logan, PA to the Principal on 01234 332290 or email  elogan@bedfordfreeschool.co.uk

SAFEGUARDING

We are a small school, where teachers and pupils know each other and look out for each other. Safeguarding children enrolled at the School is of paramount importance, and we are fully committed to the protection and safe care of our pupils. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate checks as well as providing proof of your right to work in the UK.

Commitment to safeguarding

Safeguarding children enrolled at the School is of paramount importance, and we are fully committed to the protection and safe care of our pupils. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate checks as well as providing proof of your right to work in the UK.
This job post has expired.

About Bedford Free School

School type
Free School, ages 11 to 16
Education phase
View all Secondaryjobs
School size
508 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 16
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report (opens in new tab)
School website
Bedford Free School website (opens in new tab)
See more jobs
teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/bedford-free-school (opens in new tab)

Set up in 2012 by local teachers and parents, Bedford Free School exists to offer families a choice in Bedford.

Bedford Free School is a unique school with a fantastic educational offer. We really do believe that our pupils can go on to achieve extraordinary things. In our young history, we have proved they can and we are now one of the highest performing secondary schools not only in the area, but in the country.

BFS is a small school of only around 500 pupils, so staff get to know each pupil as an individual and we have a family feel. This allows us to encourage, demand and collectively strive for academic and personal success.

We believe that all pupils deserve a ‘grammar-school’ style education, with access to an academic curriculum, strong discipline, high expectations and access to highly selective universities, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

School location

Similar jobs nearby

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Bedford and Bedfordshire