SEND Leader - 14+ Academies, Leeds

Leeds City College are seeking a SEND Leader to join our outstanding 14+ Academies. This is an exciting opportunity for a dynamic, knowledgeable and passionate individual to lead and develop on SEND and High Need. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in ensuring that learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities receive high-quality, inclusive support that enables them to thrive both academically and personally. You will lead on statutory SEND processes, work closely with staff, parents/carers and external agencies, and drive forward inclusive practice across the academies, including with face-to-face work with learners.

The 14+ Academies are a vastly oversubscribed, safe and inclusive environment that celebrates individuality and supports all learners to achieve their full potential. Relationship building is at the heart of our ethos, and this role is key to ensuring that our most vulnerable learners are supported, challenged and empowered to succeed.

What You Will Do

• Provide strong leadership of SEND provision across the 14+ Academies, ensuring that inclusive practice is embedded and consistently meets high standards.
• Lead on the development and implementation of strategies to support learners with SEND, ensuring that provision is effective, responsive and aligned with statutory requirements.
• Ensure that all learners with SEND make at least good progress from their starting points, with robust systems in place to track, monitor and evaluate outcomes, and clear accountability for learner achievement.
• Be proactive, solution-focused and persistent in identifying and implementing interventions that support learners to meet and exceed their individual targets.
• Lead and coordinate statutory SEND processes, including Education, Health and Care Plans, Annual Reviews and Exam Access Arrangements, ensuring compliance and high-quality practice.
• Work collaboratively with staff, parents/carers, local authorities and external agencies to ensure that learners receive appropriate, well-coordinated support.
• Support and develop staff through training, guidance and professional dialogue to ensure high-quality inclusive teaching and learning.
• Contribute to the development of a positive, inclusive and learner-centred environment where all young people feel valued, supported and able to succeed.
• Effectively lead and manage staff, ensuring high expectations, accountability and continuous improvement.

About You

• A relevant qualification, with significant experience working with young people aged 14–16, particularly those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and high needs.
• Strong knowledge and understanding of current SEND legislation, including the SEND Code of Practice, and confidence in leading statutory processes such as Education, Health and Care Plans and Annual Reviews.
• The ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders, including parents/carers, local authorities and external agencies, to support learners effectively.
• Experience of using data and tracking systems to monitor learner progress, evaluate the impact of provision and implement targeted interventions.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and maintain accurate records.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to provide clear guidance, offer appropriate challenge and build positive professional relationships.
• A clear commitment to inclusion, with high expectations for all learners and a passion for enabling young people to achieve their full potential.

Benefits

• Annual leave: Curriculum and Management: 44 days plus bank holidays; Curriculum support and business support: 39 days plus bank holidays.
• Pension schemes with generous employer contributions: Teachers' Pension Scheme, Local Government Pension Scheme, People's Pension Scheme.
• CPD opportunities: Annual staff conference plus 2 additional staff development days.
• Employee wellbeing initiatives: Family Friendly Policies, discounted onsite spa (Printworks) and gym (Park Lane).
• Discounted travel available through Metro card, Northern Rail, First Bus, Arriva Bus and Cycle to work schemes.

Leeds City College is one of the largest further education institutions in the country and is one of the biggest providers of apprenticeships regionally. We provide a vibrant and diverse learning environment, delivering excellent and innovative education which is supportive, inspiring and life changing. Leeds City College's values put students first and are at the heart of everything the college does. We are committed to lifelong learning and investing in our staff. You'll have access to a broad variety of training and professional development designed to help you continually develop and grow. We offer a wide range of job vacancies, and our large size means there are always exciting opportunities to progress.

At Luminate Education Group we are committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all our students including children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow the Safer Recruitment requirements and best practice as set out within Keeping Children Safe in Education statutory guidance. All successful applicants will be required to complete mandatory pre-employment checks which include an enhanced DBS check, online checks and must have two satisfactory references.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in recruitment is key to our Group's values. We are dedicated to fostering a workplace that embraces equality, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, where every candidate is treated with fairness, respect, and equity. Our recruitment processes are designed to ensure equal opportunities, remove bias, and promote a diverse talent pool.