Assistant Principal: SENDCO

WORKING WITH US

Join our success:

• Judged 'Outstanding' in all categories by Ofsted (Feb 2023), more information here:
• Progress 8 scores of +1.10 & +0.91 in our first two sets of GCSE results (2023 and 2024)
• Attainment 8 scores of 60.6, 59.9, 58.2.
• High achieving sixth form with multiple Russell Group Alumni (including University of Cambridge, Durham University and London School of Economics)

Hugely oversubscribed in both Year 7 and Year 12, the 'Comprehensive of Choice' in a borough with several grammar schools.

We believe that a happy and settled staff body helps drive the very best performance from our students. We are committed to a high-quality professional development programme and can draw on expertise from across the Harris Federation. As a HASU member of staff at any level you will receive the training and support that you need to carry out your role effectively and develop at a pace that suits you.

We are committed to ensuring that our staff have the right level of balance between work and home life. Our policies and procedures are aimed at allowing our teaching staff to spend as much time as possible planning and delivering lessons. We work in an award-winning building with excellent facilities.

We run a broad and diverse curriculum to a fully comprehensive intake of students.

Our focus on the core value of Integrity means that our behaviour is excellent, with staff supported by a strong and highly visible Academy Leadership Group. Detentions are run centrally, allowing teaching staff to do what they do best: plan and teach amazing lessons.

Attendance and engagement with learning is high, and centrally planned tutor time resources ensure that our tutors can engage with students whilst delivering high-quality experiences.

We are located in Sutton, with good public transport and road links. Central London (Clapham, Victoria) is 25 minutes away. Belmont station is just an 8-minute walk and Sutton station a 12-minute walk. We are on the Surrey border so journeys do not take long in fact journeys from Kent only take just over 30 minutes by car. We have safe and secure onsite parking with electric charging points.

Other benefits of working for us

• Regular dialogue about workload and how to manage it effectively
• Protected time for examiners
• Internal promotion and progression opportunities
• Staff CPD breakfasts
• Harris subject networks
• Clear communication and manageable deadlines
• High-quality staff induction programme
• Regular recognition and celebration of staff excellence
• Free on-site parking
• Exemplary student behaviour
• All SLT teach
• Fully centralised behaviour system including rapid and effective support with any student behavioural issues

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

Do you have experience supporting students with SEN? Harris Academy Sutton is seeking to appoint an exceptional, experienced qualified teacher as SENCO.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The purpose of your role will be:

• To ensure that Academy practice is compliant with the SEND Code of Practice (2014) and other relevant statutory requirements
• To work with the Academy Leadership team ensuring an ethos of Inclusion within the Academy and a culture of high aspirations for students with SEND
• To work with the Academy Leadership team ensuring the implementation of the Academy SEND Policy
• To ensure that the provision of SEND support is in accordance with the aims of the Academy and curricular policies
• To be responsible for maintaining an accurate and up-to-date Academy SEND Profile
• To be responsible for the accurate identification of SEND need across the Academy, ensuring a rigorous and thorough assessment process
• To be a role model with regard to Quality First Teaching and differentiation within your own teaching practice
• To be responsible for the embedding of Quality First Teaching across the Academy
• To be responsible for the Academy SEND Offer, ensuring high quality targeted interventions enabling students with SEND to make better progress
• In consultation with the Academy Leadership Team, to provide a programme of professional development with regard to SEND, that ensures all staff have the knowledge, skills and understanding to plan teaching and learning effectively and enable students with SEND to make expected progress
• To be responsible for tracking the progress of students with SEND, using a wide range of Academy data relating to progress, attainment, referrals, exclusions, detentions and attendance to identify barriers to learning
• To deploy staff and resources according to the needs of SEND students
• To write a termly report to the Governing body on progress and developments

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• QTS (or equivalent) and a good undergraduate degree
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development relevant to the SENCO role or willingness to undertake this training.
• Knowledge and understanding of national priorities, current curriculum development and an ability to design and implement an innovate curriculum based on students' needs
• A thorough understanding of quality assurance techniques
• An appreciation of student motivation
• An understanding of how professional development contributes to the raising of quality
• SEN experience in a secondary school
• Evidence of successful teaching experience
• Evidence of pastoral experience
• Experience of working with key stakeholders such as parents, governors, employers etc

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

Teacher Development

At Harris, we have curated professional development pathways that will guide you towards achieving your career ambitions. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. With a strong network of passionate educators, expert development initiatives and a multitude of opportunities for career progression, your journey with Harris could be the most rewarding one yet.

We offer a wide range of high quality teacher professional development programmes via the Harris Institute of Teaching and Leadership. Find out more here.

Flexible Working

We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual's circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.

Benefits

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

Thank you for your interest in this position. If you would like to discuss this opportunity, or to request a visit, please email the academy via the Why work page on harriscareers.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be help you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.