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SENDCo

Weald of Kent Grammar School, Tonbridge, Kent, TN9 2JP

13 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2026/Easter (negotiable)

• Closing date

  8 October 2025 at 9am

• Date listed

  25 September 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • SENDCo (special educational needs and disabilities coordinator)
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time: 0.8
• Contract type: Permanent
• Pay scale: MPS/UPS

What skills and experience we're looking for

Qualifications

Qualified Teacher Status

Degree or equivalent

Experience

Outstanding classroom teacher and tutor

Sustained performance securing very good student outcomes

Skills & Knowledge

Able to communicate effectively, orally and in writing

Able to consistently demonstrate effective planning for practical lessons to help support the delivery of outstanding lessons

Confident in own ability to be effective and to take on challenges

Ability to relate well to students, colleagues, parents and Trustees

Effective behaviour management

Able to support students in maintaining high standards

Efficient and effective administrative, organisational and personal management skills

Personal Attributes

Ability to inspire, challenge and motivate

Have a positive approach with a desire to succeed

Energy, enthusiasm and perseverance

Reliability and integrity

Good interpersonal skills

Professional appearance and manner

Positive commitment to individual personal development

Capacity to work hard, under pressure, to meet deadlines and manage time effectively

A good record of attendance

Adaptable and amenable with respect to working practices

Ability to work independently and in a team, take a collaborative approach

Ability to build supportive working relationships with colleagues

Commitment to supporting the full life of the school

Suitable to work with children

To undertake other activities identified from time to time commensurate with the level of the post as determined by your Line Manager or SLT link

To be committed to your own development through the effective use of the School’s CPD processes

To understand your own responsibilities, be committed to and comply with School policies and procedures relating to child protection, health & safety, welfare, security, diversity & equality, confidentiality and data protection, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person

To work collaboratively with the wider organisation and act in the interests of the School at all times

To support the delivery of the School’s strategy as it relates to this post

Equal Opportunities

A commitment to inclusive education

What the school offers its staff

Professional Development

§ Research led CPD programmes, tailored to individual’s aspirations, which are based both in school and across the wider Trust.

§ A full induction programme for all new staff.

§ ECT’s will have a lower teaching load, timetabled mentoring sessions and a full programme of training and induction activities.

§ Unlimited access to the National College CPD platform.

§ An additional INSET day at the beginning of the academic year dedicated to teacher planning and preparation.

§ Our “No lesson judgements” policy ensures lesson observations are developmental and supportive.

§ One INSET day a year dedicated to moderation and curriculum preparation.

Staff Welfare

§ Data capture that is measured and timely - we report progress home three times a year.

§ Minimal written reports.

§ No requirement for teachers to submit lesson plans, even for lesson observations.

§ Teaching staff are only required to do a maximum of one twenty-minute duty each week.

§ Supportive yet challenging governance, which understands that teachers are our most valuable resource.

§ We are a school that appreciates the importance of family. We do our best to support staff when there are issues and requests for additional leave regarding family events and an Additional Leave policy that supports staff when they may need time off school.

§ A teaching load of 43/50 one-hour periods of teaching per fortnight maximum.

Support

§ The school calendar is planned in advance across the whole year so people know what is happening and when.

§ In-house cover supervision team.

§ A comprehensive pastoral team to help with supporting our students with behaviour and wellbeing.

§ A highly effective and proactive support staff that play an important role in supporting teaching and learning.

§ A Marketing, Events and Visits team that are responsible for organising key school events and trips.

Benefits

§ School budgets are set making the assumption that everybody will get their incremental pay rise.

§ Cycle to work scheme.

§ Healthcare cash plan.

§ Occupational health support.

§ Priority admission for staff children (see admissions policy on school website).

§ Employee Discount Scheme (Multiple Retailers – Kent Reward Scheme).

§ Opportunity to perform paid lunch-time duties (with free lunch).

§ Free annual flu vaccination.

§ Employee Assistance Programme.

§ Free tea and coffee provided in the staff room.

§ Use of onsite canteen offering hot meals and salad bar.

§ Opportunities to participate in enrichment activities e.g. theatre visits.

§ Opportunities for flexible working.

§ Free on-site parking.

§ Membership of theTeachers' Pension Scheme(TPS) orLocal Government Pension Scheme(LGPS).

Environment

§ Pleasant working environment with very well-behaved students.

§ Eleven acres of school grounds set in Green Belt land at Tonbridge Campus.

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.

We are looking to appoint an outstanding SENDCo and teacher at our Sevenoaks campus who is aware of the key barriers to learning and how to support with adaptive practice. The successful candidate will have an impressive track record in ensuring that teaching, learning and assessment are wholly inclusive in a grammar school school setting.

The SENDCo is committed to delivering the school’s vision and high ambitions for the school’s future through close collaboration with the Lead SENDCo and the broader SEN Team. Throughworking closely with all staff they are responsible for the development, monitoring and evaluation of theschool’s Special Educational Needs Policy. The SENDCo ensures that the day-to-day operation of that policyresults in raising students’ achievement and closing the gap. In addition, the SENDCo is responsible forsupporting policy and ensuring practice across the organisation meets the needs of all learners. The SENDCocommunicates to others clearly and regularly about the strategic direction in this area and supports teachersin establishing effective approaches to Quality First Teaching. In particular, they ensure that the systems andprofiles they introduce are understood and embedded in the everyday work of the school. The SENDCo seeksto challenge underperformance and remove barriers to inclusion and achievement. The SENDCo is anoutstanding teacher who consistently models Professional Standards. They actively seek out best practice andinspire others to continue to improve. The SENDCo actively supports the activities of the school communityand the wider community it serves.

The Learning Support Team are focused and hard-working individuals, who work together to ensureour students feel valued and can make good progress. It is made up of the Lead SENDCo, threelearning Mentors and one other SENDCO. The team work closely with the StudentSupport team and together lead on all inclusion matters in the school, supporting the teaching, learning andassessment of our students ensuring that ‘Quality First Teaching’ is delivered for all. The well-being of ourstudents is a key priority for the school, and the Learning Support Team are at the forefront of our provisionfor student support. The team is highly regarded by all stakeholders and is known for the excellence of itsdelivery and outcomes for all of our students.

The SENDCO’s role and responsibilities will be reviewed annually to meet the needs of the school community. In addition, it is understood that they must actively engage with the nationally approved training required to carry out this role including Child Protection and Safeguarding. The areas of responsibility will include a range of strategic and operational activities.

Strategic Responsibilities

• Support the Lead SENDCO in assisting the Headteacher, Senior Assistant Headteacher and designated SEND Trustee with the strategic development of SEND provision.
• Ensure all staff understand the needs of identified students at the Sevenoaks campus and ensure the objectives to develop SEND are embedded in all levels of planning.
• Monitor the impact of objectives and targets for these students and evaluate the effectiveness of learning and teaching through observation, discussion with students and lesson visits.
• Consider and plan for strategic opportunities to develop quality first teaching within the school.
• Work with Learning Support, SLT, external agencies and other schools to coordinate their contribution and support.
• Work with the school’s team of HoYs, DSLs and relevant external agencies.
• Oversee the administration of Access Arrangements for students at the Sevenoaks campus up to GCSE level.
• Support the Lead SENDCO with the strategic direction for the SEND Team.
• Set short, medium- and long-term plans to deliver the above and meet school priorities and targets.
• Maintain the overview of the identified students’ progress towards targets and identify appropriate intervention strategies.

Teaching, Tutoring and Learning

• Identify and disseminate effective teaching and learning approaches and engage with current research to support this work.
• Suggest ways to close learning and achievement gaps through assessment of needs, monitoring teaching, setting targets, devising Learning Plans and developing systems to track and record progress, in line with the Graduated Approach of Assess, Plan, Do and Review.
• Streamline processes to ensure swift and accurate identification of need and relevant support.
• Interpret specialist assessment reports and data, disseminating relevant content as appropriate.
• Lead the day-to-day coordination of provision/intervention.
• Ensure equal opportunity and access is central to teaching and tutoring.
• Identify strategies and equipment that could support students.

Leading and Managing Staff

• Foster positive working relationships across the school community.
• Provide professional guidance to staff to secure effective teaching and learning for all students.
• Lead groups of staff in continuous professional development to support students with SEND.
• Actively promote rigorous and developmental performance growth processes.
• Inform SLT of future development needs that will help to realise the school’s vision.
• Direct Line Management Responsibilities for the strategic direction, work and policies of the Learning Mentor at Sevenoaks.

Operational Responsibilities

• Deploy staff and support colleagues in carrying out their duties.
• Advise on priorities for expenditure and monitor the effectiveness of spending and usage of resources to ensure value for money.
• Manage and develop key personnel with support from the Lead SENDCO.
• Co-ordinate Provision Plans, Annual Reviews, High Needs Funding and other statutory reporting.
• Develop links with parents and carers of students in the school by ensuring parents are well-informed about the curriculum, and academic, attendance and personal targets for their children.

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

Please complete the online application.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

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

SENDCo.pdf - 1.15 MB (opens in new tab)

About Weald of Kent Grammar School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1902 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Weald of Kent Grammar School website
• Email address: knurden@wealdgs.org
• Phone number: 01732373500
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/weald-of-kent-grammar-school

Weald of Kent is a selective Girls’ Grammar School for 11-18 year olds with a roll of approximately 2000 students including our co-educational Sixth Form. The school is one of the highest performing schools in the country. We aspire to excel at everything we do. Owing to our continued success we were thrilled to have been given permission by the Secretary of State to expand and mirror what we deliver at our Tonbridge campus in a campus at Sevenoaks, which opened in September 2017. In addition to the exciting new facilities, we have also invested in our Tonbridge campus which now has a state-of-the-art Sports Hall and university style Sixth Form Study Centre. A new science block and new English classrooms have been built this year. Both campuses are situated in beautiful rural settings with far reaching views across the Garden of England with excellent transport links.

Arranging a visit to Weald of Kent Grammar School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email knurden@wealdgs.org.

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