SEND Improvement Lead

Star Academies; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salaries

Pension schemes

Generous holiday entitlements

Healthcare cash plans

Job summary

Star Academies is seeking an exceptional SEND Improvement Lead to drive inclusion and SEND provision across our secondary schools. Based in Lancashire, you will work with the Director of SEND, Principals and SENDCos to raise attainment and ensure compliance with national SEND reforms.

You will build capacity in schools, lead professional development, and provide strategic and practical support to improve outcomes for pupils with SEND across the trust.

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading SEND in secondary schools.
• Strong strategic and practical school-improvement skills.
• Ability to coach SENDCos and senior leaders.
• Proven use of assessment data to drive priorities.
• Knowledge of SEND reforms and inclusion strategy.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead SEND improvement across a portfolio of schools.
• Support and challenge leaders to strengthen SEND provision.
• Coach and develop SENDCos and senior leaders.
• Quality assure provision, EHCP implementation, and SEND systems.
• Use performance and assessment information to identify priorities and drive improvement.
• Lead professional development and SENDCo network.
• Support schools with inspection readiness and statutory compliance.
• Ensure SEND aligns with teaching, curriculum, behaviour, attendance and safeguarding.

Skills

SEND leadership

Strategic capability

Coaching & development

Data-driven improvement

Inspection readiness

Stakeholder engagement

Job description

About Star Central

Star Central, which is based at our head office in Blackburn, Lancashire, provides leadership, strategic direction and support to Star Academies 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 and highly motivated SEND Improvement Lead with significant experience and impact in secondary schools to join our central team and help us deliver our ambition for every child and young person with special educational needs and disabilities to thrive.

Who we’re looking for

We are seeking an exceptional SEND Improvement Lead to help drive our ambition for every pupil with SEND to thrive.

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 work alongside the Director of SEND, Principals, senior leaders and SENDCos, to provide strategic and practical school improvement support to bring this to life within our schools.

You will:

• bring significant and impactful experience from working in secondary schools;
• lead SEND improvement across a portfolio of schools;
• support and challenge leaders to strengthen SEND provision;
• coach and develop SENDCos and senior leaders;
• quality assure provision, identification, EHCP implementation and SEND systems;
• use performance and assessment information to identify priorities and drive improvement;
• lead professional development and our SENDCo network;
• support schools with inspection readiness and statutory compliance; and
• ensure SEND is effectively aligned with teaching, curriculum, behaviour, attendance and safeguarding.

About you:

You will be an experienced SEND leader with a strong track record of improving provision and outcomes, particularly from within secondary schools. You will combine strategic expertise with the ability to work practically alongside schools, building capacity while maintaining high expectations.

You will be knowledgeable, credible and solutions-focused, with excellent communication, coaching and analytical skills and, above all, a determination to advocate for children and young people with SEND.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence SEND practice beyond a single school and make a tangible difference to pupils across Star Academies. If you are an ambitious SEND leader who shares our commitment to excellent, inclusive education, we would love to hear from you.

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

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please contact the trust’s Director of Inclusion, Sally Jones on 0330 313 9800.

Key Dates

Closing Date: Monday, 30 November 2026 at midnight.

Interview Date: Friday, 11 December 2026.

Proposed Start Date: As soon as possible.

Our Commitment

Star Academies is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our 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.