Senior Trust SENCO

Waterton Academy Trust, Wakefield, WF2 6LD

7 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  January 2027

• Closing date

  19 October 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  12 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • SENCO (special educational needs coordinator)
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: L6-L10

Senior Trust SENCO job summary

This is an exciting opportunity to join our established SEND and Inclusion team at an important stage in the Trust’s development. We are looking for an experienced, knowledgeable and highly skilled SEND practitioner who shares our ambition to ensure that every child, regardless of need or starting point, receives high-quality provision and is able to thrive.

The Senior Trust SENCO will be a key leadership role within our Trust SEND and Inclusion structure. Working directly to the Head of SEND and Inclusion, you will provide professional leadership and line management to our team of Trust SENCOs, while also retaining designated SENCO responsibilities within identified schools. You will work flexibly across our academies, providing additional capacity, advice, challenge and support where this is required.

The role sits alongside our Lead Practitioner for Inclusive Teaching and Deputy Trust Behaviour and Inclusion Lead. Together, these posts provide specialist leadership across complementary areas of SEND, inclusive teaching, behaviour and inclusion. All three roles work under the strategic leadership of the Head of SEND and Inclusion and contribute to the continued development of consistent, high-quality practice across Waterton.

This is therefore much more than a traditional school-based SENCO role. You will coach and develop other SENCOs, support leaders to evaluate and strengthen SEND provision, contribute to Trust-wide improvement work and help translate strategy into strong day-to-day practice within schools. At the same time, you will maintain direct experience of SENCO practice, ensuring that your leadership remains closely connected to the realities faced by pupils, families and school teams.

We are looking for someone who combines excellent SEND knowledge with credibility as a leader and practitioner. You will need to be confident supporting and challenging colleagues, able to analyse provision and identify priorities quickly, and skilled at building positive professional relationships with headteachers, SENCOs, teachers, support staff, families and external partners.

Our Trust principle is “Success is a shared experience”, and this is particularly important within SEND and Inclusion. We believe that improving outcomes for pupils with SEND is a collective responsibility and that the strongest practice develops through collaboration, shared expertise, high expectations and a relentless focus on what makes the greatest difference for children.

If you are an experienced SENCO who is ready to take the next step into a wider leadership role, while remaining closely connected to practice in schools, we would be delighted to hear from you.

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

Waterton Academy Trust is wholly committed to ensuring children and young people are fully supported and safe. We are dedicated to the safeguarding of all children and young people whilst promoting their welfare and expect all staff and volunteers to share this responsibility.
Waterton Academy Trust follows safer recruitment processes which all applicants will be subject to. An enhanced DBS check is required for the successful candidates and two satisfactory references. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of any unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.

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.

About Waterton Academy Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• Website: Waterton Academy Trust website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/waterton-academy-trust

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