Director of Inclusion

Star Academies; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary & pension

Generous holiday entitlements

Healthcare cash plans

Job summary

Star Academies, based at Star Central in Blackburn, Lancashire, seeks an exceptional Principal/Headteacher or senior leader to lead the Trust’s inclusion strategy and its central inclusion services across our network of 36 schools.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership, ensuring inclusive practice, improved pupil outcomes, and alignment with the Star vision and values.

Qualifications

• A Degree and QTS.
• Experience as Principal/Headteacher or senior leader with demonstrable improvement in inclusive practice.
• Ability to articulate strategy and convert it into impactful practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead Star Central’s inclusion strategy and centrally based inclusion services.
• Provide strategic leadership to support pupils across the Trust’s 36 schools.
• Coordinate and integrate central inclusion services (attendance, behaviour, SEND, Safeguarding, Admissions, Exclusions, Mental Health).
• Develop and inspire service leaders to secure sustained improvement and high standards.

Skills

Degree & QTS

Strategic leadership

Inclusion strategy

Instructional coaching

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Vision & values alignment

Team development

Education

Degree (QTS)

Job description

Are you an outstanding, experienced and self-motivated Principal or senior leader ready to lead Star’s inclusion strategy and services?

Do you want to join a team that provides outstanding leadership, strategic direction and support to some of the best schools in the country? Do you want to play your part in delivering outstanding learning and teaching to young people in disadvantaged communities? If so, joining the Star team might just be the best career move you ever make.

About Star Central

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.

Who we’re looking for

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.

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Find out more

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please contact Star Central by calling 0330 313 9800.

Key Dates

Closing Date: Monday, 30 November 2026 at midnight.

Interview Date: Friday, 11 December 2026.

Proposed Start Date: Thursday, 01 April 2027 or sooner.

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. r comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks.

We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.