Deputy Head of Campus & Assistant SENDCo

Phoenix Learning & Care Group; Yate; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Holidays

Pension

Learning & Development

Discounts

Wellbeing support

Cycle2Work

DBS

Medicash after 12 months

Life assurance

Job summary

Phoenix Learning & Care Group in Yate is seeking a Deputy Head of Campus and Assistant SENCo at Oakwood Specialist College. This role blends leadership with inclusive education, supporting neurodiverse learners aged 16 to 25 and coordinating EHCP reviews.

The post offers a fixed salary of £42,785.60 to £44,928.00 per year, based on 40 hours weekly, with 42.4 weeks of term-time work and 9.6 weeks of annual leave, plus a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Degree-qualified teacher with experience in settings where learners may have complex needs.
• Experience training, developing and managing others to be the best they can be.
• Great communication and networking skills to build trusted relationships.
• Inspirational and committed to improving lives through inclusive education and support.
• Driving licence and ability to drive vehicles.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire the team, promoting a positive working culture and using a values-based approach.
• Collaborate with leadership, teaching and non-teaching colleagues to deliver a first-class service and lead EHCP reviews.
• Build relationships with learners, families, staff, the local community and external stakeholders.
• Recognise when learner progress is at risk and lead Team Around Me meetings when needed.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Networking

Coaching

Education

Degree-qualified teacher

Job description

About The Role

Job Title: Deputy Head of Campus and Assistant SENCo

Job Location: Oakwood Specialist College, Yate, BS37 5JB

Salary: Between £42,785.60 and£44,928.00 per annum - based on 40 hours per week working. You’ll work 42.4 weeks of the year and get paid 9.6 weeks of annual leave on top of this.

Contract Type: Permanent,

Every young person deserves access to an education that recognises their strengths, celebrates their individuality, and prepares them for a fulfilling future. That's where you come in.

As our Deputy Head of Campus and Assistant SENCo, you'll have the unique opportunity to make a genuine difference to the lives of neurodiverse young adults aged 16 to 25. This is far more than a leadership role. It's a chance to create positive change every day, empowering learners to develop confidence, independence, and the skills they need to thrive in adulthood.

Our curriculum is designed around the individual, not just qualifications. Built on the Post-16 Study Programme model, it combines personalised learning, work experience, maths and English, alongside a wide range of enrichment opportunities that support personal growth and prepare learners for life beyond education.

Working within a neurodiversity-affirming and therapeutic environment, you'll help champion an approach that recognises and values each learner's unique way of thinking, communicating, and engaging with the world. Many of our learners may experience social, emotional, or communication differences, and you'll play an important role in supporting them to develop life skills, emotional regulation, self-advocacy, communication, and meaningful relationships. As a proud Total Communication environment, we ensure every learner has the tools and support they need to express themselves and achieve their potential.

Alongside your campus leadership responsibilities, your role as Assistant SENCo will be instrumental in ensuring learners receive the personalised support they need to succeed. Working closely with the SENCo, teaching teams, therapists, families, and external professionals, you'll help coordinate effective support strategies, contribute to EHCP reviews, monitor learner progress, and champion inclusive practice across the campus. Your expertise will help remove barriers to learning, ensuring every young person can access an education that is ambitious, supportive, and tailored to their aspirations.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a passionate and dedicated team where collaboration, compassion, and learner-centred practice sit at the heart of everything we do. You'll be supported with ongoing professional development, specialist training, and the resources you need to make a lasting impact.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine leadership, inclusion, and advocacy while helping young people build brighter futures, we'd love to hear from you.

A Deputy Head of Campus and Assistant SENCo role involves:

• Leadership – You’ll spend much of your time leading and inspiring the team, using your values-based approach to getting the best out of both learners and team members within the college. You’ll champion diversity, promote a positive working culture and ensure the college runs smoothly using your strong administrative and organisational skills. You’ll really have the opportunity to use your coaching and mentoring skills here, ensuring our teaching staff have the skills they need.
• Education —. You’ll work with the leadership team, and teaching and non-teaching colleagues to ensure they have the skills and resources they require to deliver a first-class service. You’ll also lead on EHCP reviews to make sure they are representative of the learner’s aspirations and desired outcomes.
• Relationship building —As a leader, you’ll be an outward-facing pillar of our community and an ambassador for the wider Oakwood College brand. You’ll build great relationships with our learners, their families, team members, the local community, and external stakeholders.
• Humility – You’ll need to be able to recognise when a learners progress is at risk, and where we could improve. You’ll need to be committed to seeking to understand each young person and their needs. You’ll need to be comfortable leading “Team Around Me” meetings when needed.

To be a successful Deputy Head of Campus and Assistant SENCo, you’ll need:

• To be a degree-qualified teacher with experience in a setting where learners may have complex needs.
• Experience training, developing and managing others to be the best they can be.
• Great communication and networking skills, to be a true relationship builder that people can trust.
• To be inspirational and committed to improving the lives of others, through inclusive education and support.
• A driving licence. There will be occasions where you may need to drive our vehicles.

In return for your commitment and expertise, you’ll get:

• Holidays – You’ll work 42.4 weeks of the year during term time, but you’ll be paid annual leave to cover the remaining 9.6 weeks.
• Pension scheme – Our pension scheme is based on you contributing 5% and us contributing 3%
• Learning & Development Opportunities – We provide comprehensive learning opportunities for team members to develop themselves.
• Discounts – You’ll have access to wonderful discounts through the Blue Light Discount Card and our own employee benefits platform.
• Wellbeing Support – Team member wellbeing is always our priority. You’ll have access to mental health and wellbeing support.
• Cycle2Work -The cycle to work scheme enables you to buy a bicycle at a discounted rate.
• DBS – As this role requires you to have an enhanced DBS carried out, we will cover this cost.
• After 12 months service - You’ll be eligible for our Medicash scheme which covers a wide range of medical, health and wellbeing expenses (Including immediate access to a GP!). You’ll get life assurance paid at 2 x your annual salary, and even more high street discounts.

As part of our commitment to safer recruitment, successful applicants will undergo pre-employment checks, including an enhanced DBS, online and social media checks, and reference validation. Due to the nature of our work, we are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974), so we may ask you to disclose any spent or unspent criminal convictions during recruitment. This disclosure does not automatically disqualify you, and we encourage transparency at the application stage.

At Phoenix Learning and Care, we are committed to diversity and creating an inclusive environment where all team members feel safe to be themselves without risk of discrimination. We believe that a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation, and we strive to ensure everyone can contribute authentically and openly.