Exceptional Head of SEND in Wigan

We’re on a mission to create a truly inclusive environment where every child with special educational needs and disabilities doesn’t just cope — they thrive. We need a bold, compassionate, and visionary Head of SEND to help us lead the charge. If you have what it takes to make a difference, then the children of QUEST need YOU!

This isn’t just any leadership role. This is your opportunity to shape something extraordinary; to transform SEND and inclusion across a growing family of schools, improve life chances for children, and accelerate your career at a phenomenal rate. This Trust-wide role is designed to empower the successful candidate to do whatever it takes to make SEND provision world class, from Early Years right through to post 16.

Are You the One? You might be our person if you:

• Think creatively when others reach for the policy file
• Put children at the heart of every decision
• Can advocate fiercely — while building brilliant relationships
• See systems that don’t work… and redesign them
• Love solving complex puzzles (because SEND is never one-size-fits-all)
• Believe inclusion is not an add-on — it’s everything

We are proud of our distinctive and evolving approach to SEND, centred on early identification, inclusive practice, strong partnerships with families, and a relentless focus on impact. As Head of SEND, you will refine, champion and scale this approach across the Trust.

About the Role: As Head of SEND, you will provide inspirational leadership and strategic oversight of SEND and inclusion across our schools, ensuring every pupil with additional needs receives the support required to thrive. You will lead both strategically and operationally to secure high-quality inclusive provision and strong outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged pupils. Crucially, you will lead and develop a team of expert SENDCos, building their expertise and ensuring consistency and excellence across all schools. You will also work directly alongside teachers, helping them develop practical, evidence-informed approaches to break down barriers to learning and ensuring every child succeeds.

You will:

• Lead the Trust SEND strategy in line with the SEND Code of Practice
• Quality assure EHCPs, support plans, provision mapping and impact
• Monitor achievement, attendance and behaviour, with a focus on vulnerable pupils
• Oversee alternative provision, inclusion pathways and re‑integration
• Build SENDCo leadership capacity through coaching, training and quality assurance
• Work directly with teachers to improve inclusive classroom practice and remove barriers to learning
• Analyse SEND and pupil premium data to identify gaps and drive improvement
• Ensure readiness for Ofsted, Local Authority and SEND inspections
• Work closely with Attendance, Behaviour and Safeguarding leaders to remove barriers

Who You’ll Work With: Passionate educators, leaders, and support teams; Families who need you to listen, care, and act; Partners who share your ambition to do better.

The Fine Print: We’re looking for someone with:

• Strong experience in SEND leadership
• A deep understanding of legislation and practice
• The credibility to influence change
• The resilience to navigate complexity
• A relentless belief in young people

So, if you are:

• Driven by a strong moral purpose to enable achievement for every child
• Passionate about making SEND and inclusion world class across multiple schools
• An expert in SEND practice, legislation and the Code of Practice
• A strategic leader who can translate vision into measurable impact
• Skilled in coaching, mentoring and developing expert practitioners
• Committed to working alongside teachers to improve day‑to‑day classroom practice
• Confident influencing leaders and building strong professional communities
• A forensic user of data who drives improvement through insight
• Warm, approachable, and committed to teamwork
• Resilient, calm, and solution‑focused under pressure
• Determined to grow and develop at pace

Then you will love working with QUEST, and we would love to welcome you. This is a rare opportunity to shape inclusive education at scale, leading a team of expert SENDCos and working directly with schools to make a tangible difference to children’s lives every day.

Qualifications: We are looking for someone who brings:

• Qualified Teacher Status and NASENCo / NPQ for SEND
• Proven experience leading SEND and improving outcomes
• Deep understanding of SEND legislation and current developments
• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• A commitment to continuous professional development
• Emotional intelligence, resilience, and collaboration
• A relentless drive for excellence, inclusion and equality

Benefits: We can offer you:

• A values-driven Trust where your leadership has real impact
• The opportunity to shape and define a distinctive SEND approach across multiple schools
• The chance to lead and develop a strong network of expert SENDCos
• A supportive, ambitious leadership team committed to inclusion
• Excellent professional development and career progression
• A comprehensive wellbeing offer, including an additional wellbeing day
• Pension scheme, cycle to work scheme and Employee Assistance Programme
• Discounted childcare through Play Pals Childcare Limited
• Talented, committed colleagues and enthusiastic pupils
• The chance to contribute to a Trust with a powerful moral purpose

Even if you are just slightly curious, we would love to hear from you — this really is as exciting as it sounds. For an informal discussion, please contact Nicola Richards, Deputy CEO. Visits are warmly encouraged, come and see our schools in action. QUEST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All staff are expected to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.