Director of Inclusion

The Star; Blackburn; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Star Central, based at our head office in Blackburn, seeks an exceptional Principal/Headteacher or senior leader to drive the Trust's inclusion strategy and centrally based services. You will lead inclusion across attendance, behaviour, SEND, safeguarding, admissions, and mental health, working with schools to improve outcomes for vulnerable pupils.

The role requires strategic and operational leadership, a strong track record of improvement in inclusive practice, and the ability to coach and

Qualifications

• Degree and QTS required.
• Experience as a Principal/Headteacher or senior leader with demonstrable improvement in inclusive practice.
• Ability to articulate strategy and convert it into impactful practice.
• Willingness to work directly with schools, providing instructional coaching and modelling.
• Ability to lead and inspire service leaders to secure sustained improvement and high standards.
• Extensive knowledge of strategies to improve outcomes for vulnerable pupils.
• Strong analytical skills to identify priorities and solutions for better pupil outcomes.
• Commitment to the vision and values of Star Central.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Trust's inclusion strategy and centrally based inclusion services across 36 schools.
• Provide strategic leadership to ensure early progress in attendance, behaviour, SEND, safeguarding, admissions and mental health.
• Collaborate with Star Central colleagues and senior school leaders to implement inclusion initiatives.
• Develop and integrate central inclusion services with schools to create inclusive, pupil-centred practice.

Skills

Inclusion strategy leadership

Senior leadership

Strategic planning

Instructional coaching

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Education

Degree

QTS (Qualified Teacher Status)

Job description

Star Central, which is based at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies, Star Talent Academy and our schools. The Star Central team includes experts from a range of professional backgrounds, who work together to provide an outstanding support service to the Star community. We support our schools to provide educational and operational excellence and to cultivate a strong Star community, with the aim of nurturing today's young people and inspiring tomorrow's leaders.

We are looking for an exceptional Principal/Headteacher or senior leader with the ability and authority to lead the Trust's inclusion strategy and its centrally based inclusion services to support the progress of pupils in the Trust's schools. Inclusion is a key priority in our Corporate Strategy up to 2032, and we have a detailed Inclusion Strategy that we have started to implement with our 36 schools in line with the national agenda on Inclusion and the SEND Reforms. We are looking for someone to provide the strategic leadership to bring this to life with our Star Central colleagues and our Senior Leaders in schools. Star's inclusion services include those focused on attendance, behaviour, SEND, Safeguarding, Admissions, Exclusions and Mental Health. You will have a strong track record of effective leadership and delivery in one or more of these areas at a senior level. The position requires an individual who can work both strategically and operationally, developing and integrating the Trust's central inclusion services and facilitating the establishment of inclusive schools across the Trust. You will have a track record of successful school leadership with a clear understanding of how to support schools so that vulnerable pupils achieve the highest possible standards and wellbeing. You will also have the ability and expertise to lead a range of inclusion services to optimum levels of performance. You will have:

• A degree and QTS.
• Credibility as an experienced and successful Principal/Headteacher or senior leader with an outstanding track record of demonstrable improvement and performance in inclusive practice.
• Experience articulating and creating a strategy and converting it into impactful and meaningful practice.
• A willingness to work directly with schools, providing effective instructional coaching and modelling of practice.
• The ability to lead, manage, develop and inspire service leaders to secure sustained improvement, high standards and an integrated, child-centred approach.
• A comprehensive knowledge of all strategies which contribute to improved outcomes for vulnerable pupils.
• Well-developed analytical skills, with an extensive understanding of how to identify priorities and solutions which will improve service standards and pupil outcomes.
• Full commitment to our vision and values.