Vice Principal for Inclusion

Thrapston Primary School, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN14 4JU

7 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  September 2026 or later by negotiation

• Closing date

  20 May 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  11 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Deputy headteacher
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £60,144.00 - £67,897.00 Annually (Actual)

Vice Principal for Inclusion job summary

About Thrapston Primary School

Thrapston Primary School is a fully inclusive mainstream primary school, where children are at the heart of everything we do. We work together as a community to provide a happy, secure and stimulating environment in which every child is motivated to learn, valued as an individual and supported to reach their full potential.

Inclusion is a defining strength of our school. We are proud of our strong SEND provision, our Specialist SEND Unit supporting up to 34 pupils with EHCPs, and our well‑established wellbeing and pastoral systems, including our HUB (Helpful, Understanding Base). Our work is underpinned by our REACH values - Respect, Empathy, Ambition, Collaboration and Honesty.

About the Role

We are seeking an exceptional Vice Principal for Inclusion to join our Senior Leadership Team and lead inclusion strategically across the whole school.

This is a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for:

• SEND (mainstream and specialist provision)
• Pupil Premium and disadvantaged learners
• Leadership of the Specialist SEND Unit Provision
• Inclusive teaching, learning, wellbeing and equity

The successful candidate will play a key role in shaping the future direction of inclusion at Thrapston, ensuring that all pupils - academically, socially and emotionally - can thrive.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership of Inclusion

• Provide clear, values‑driven leadership for SEND, Pupil Premium and specialist provision as part of the Senior Leadership Team
• Drive whole‑school inclusive practice, ensuring high expectations and high‑quality provision for all learners
• Contribute to school improvement planning with a strong focus on vulnerable and disadvantaged pupils

SEND & Specialist SEND Unit Leadership

• Lead statutory SEND processes, ensuring full compliance with the SEND Code of Practice
• Oversee EHCP processes, annual reviews and partnership working with parents and professionals
• Provide strategic and operational leadership of the Specialist SEND Unit, ensuring:
• Individualised curriculum pathways (EYFS, pre‑formal, semi‑formal and mainstream inclusion)
• High‑quality assessment (B Squared, Small Steps, EHCP targets)
• Personalised provision that supports children to flourish academically, socially and emotionally

Pupil Premium & Disadvantaged

• Lead the creation of the Pupil Premium Strategy and the strategic use of Pupil Premium funding to reduce barriers to learning and close gaps
• Track impact through robust monitoring, evaluation and reporting
• Ensure effective deployment of interventions and pastoral support

Leadership of People & Practice

• Line manage Inclusion, SEND, Specialist Unit Provisions and wellbeing staff
• Lead and deliver high‑quality professional development in inclusive practice, SEND and SEMH
• Support teachers in delivering high‑quality, adaptive teaching and graduated provision
• Promote a culture of reflective practice, collaboration and continuous improvement

Wellbeing, Pastoral & Safeguarding

• Work closely with the DSL and wellbeing team to support pupils with SEMH and complex needs
• Champion Thrapston’s strong pastoral offer, including:
• The HUB
• ELSA, counselling and play therapy
• Early Help Assessments and multi‑agency working

Partnership & Communication

• Build strong, trusting relationships with parents and carers
• Work collaboratively with external agencies including Educational Psychology, CAMHS, SALT, OT, Physiotherapy and social care
• Report regularly to Governors on SEND, Pupil Premium and inclusion outcomes

The Ideal Candidate Will:

• Hold Qualified Teacher Status
• Hold the National SENCO Award / NPQ in Leading SEND
• Have successful leadership experience within a primary school
• Demonstrate deep expertise in SEND, inclusion and SEMH
• Have a strong understanding of statutory responsibilities, EHCPs and local authority processes
• Be an excellent classroom practitioner who models inclusive, high‑quality teaching
• Be an empathetic, resilient and strategic leader with a clear moral purpose
• Have the ability to inspire, support and challenge staff

We Offer:

• A genuinely inclusive school where inclusion is central, not peripheral
• A highly skilled, committed and compassionate staff team
• A strong, well‑established Specialist SEND Unit
• A leadership team that values collaboration, ambition and professional trust
• High‑quality professional development and leadership support
• Wonderful children and families who place trust in the school

Safeguarding

Thrapston Primary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and safer recruitment procedures.

About Brooke Weston Trust

Our Trust was formed more than 30 years ago with a simple and clear mission - to transform educational performance in all of our communities. Working in some of the most challenging contexts, we improve our students’ achievements by making long term commitments to the community and championing new approaches to improve the life chances for young people.

Our members of staff are essential to realising this vision, and a happy, motivated and supported team will deliver the best possible experiences for our young people.

We place great emphasis on creating a supportive and collaborative working environment in all our schools, where all staff can share best practice through our colleague networks. Brooke Weston staff get access to first class professional development through our Ambition Hub, which is also home to the Northamptonshire Teaching School.

Safer Recruitment

Care and respect for others are the values that lie at the heart of our Trust. The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. It expects all staff to share this commitment. All posts require proof of identity and as the role is working with children and young people this will also be subject to an enhanced disclosures barring service check.

A copy of the Trust Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found here - Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

The Trusts position on the recruitment of Ex-Offenders can be found under section 7 of the Trust SCR, Safer Recruitment and Staff Files Policy - Safer Recruitment and Staff Files Policy

We are an Allergen Aware Trust

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

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 Thrapston Primary School

• School type: Academies, ages 3 to 11
• Education phase: Primary school
• School size: 484 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 3 to 11
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Thrapston Primary School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/thrapston-primary-school-kettering

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