Job Description
Summary:
Executive Principal - Special Education role with strategic leadership and SEND expertise.
About the School:
A school dedicated to supporting children with complex needs, offering a wide range of specialist services and inclusive learning opportunities. The school fosters a supportive environment with a strong focus on collaboration and holistic development.
The Opportunity:
The Executive Principal – Special Education will provide strategic leadership and direction across specialist provisions, ensuring high-quality education and care for children with special educational needs. This role is central to shaping the future of inclusive education and driving continuous improvement across the trust.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide strategic leadership and direction to specialist schools, ensuring alignment with trust-wide goals and standards.
- Strengthen leadership capacity by supporting Principals, managing succession planning, and facilitating professional development.
- Ensure accurate self-evaluation, impactful school improvement planning, and ongoing curriculum development.
- Contribute to trust-wide strategy, policy development, and project delivery, including growth initiatives and SEND innovation.
- Maintain strong relationships with local authorities, Ofsted, the Department for Education, and other key partners.
- Support mainstream schools in strengthening inclusive practice and improving outcomes for pupils with SEND.
- Represent the trust in strategic discussions and negotiations at local, regional, and national levels.
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding, regulatory, and funding requirements for specialist settings.
Qualifications & Skills:
Required
- Proven experience in senior leadership roles, including successful headteacher experience or equivalent.
- In-depth knowledge of SEND practice, curriculum pathways, assessment, transitions, and commissioning.
- Strong understanding of specialist provision, high-quality teaching, and effective leadership.
- Experience in strategic planning, policy development, and managing change.
- Strong people leadership skills with experience in mentoring and developing senior colleagues.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and represent the trust confidently.
Preferred
- Experience in multi-academy trust leadership or working closely with executive teams.
- Informed understanding of national pressures and opportunities in specialist provision.
- Experience in driving innovation and improving outcomes for children with SEND.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding, compliance, and the regulatory framework in specialist settings.
Compensation & Benefits:
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Opportunities for professional development and leadership growth.
- Supportive and inclusive working environment.
- Access to a wide range of specialist facilities and resources.
- Flexible working arrangements and career progression opportunities.