Secondary SENCO & Director of Inclusion (ASAP Start)

Location: Hackney, East/Inner London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent or Long-Term Contract

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP Start

An ambitious, forward-thinking secondary school and Sixth Form in the London Borough of Hackney is seeking an articulate, strategic, and deeply compassionate SENCO & Director of Inclusion to lead their Student Support faculty immediately. Situated in one of London’s most vibrant, culturally diverse inner boroughs, this pivotal leadership post offers an extraordinary opportunity for an experienced SENCO—or an outstanding secondary practitioner holding the NASENCO qualification—to shape inclusive policy, remove barriers to learning, and champion equitable academic and personal outcomes across Key Stages 3 through 5.

About the Role

Stepping into the role for an immediate start, you will serve as the strategic architect and operational lead for special educational needs and neurodiverse provision across the entire secondary phase. Working directly alongside the Senior Leadership Team, Heads of Faculty, pastoral leads, and external specialists, you will oversee provision mapping, statutory EHCP processes, adaptive teaching strategy, and targeted intervention programs. You will foster a culture of high expectations, ensuring that pupils with complex learning, physical, communication, or socio-emotional needs receive the tailored scaffolding required to excel in GCSEs, A-Levels, and post-16 transitions.

• Environment: A modern Inner London secondary campus featuring dedicated Learning Support suites, sensory regulation zones, small-group intervention rooms, and integrated digital tracking systems

• Culture: A collaborative, trauma-informed academic environment focused on educational equity, pupil advocacy, restorative practices, and strong partnerships with families and local support networks

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic SEND Leadership: Formulate, execute, and evaluate the school’s SEND strategy in strict accordance with the SEND Code of Practice (0–25), KCSIE, and Inner London local authority guidance.

• EHCP & Targeted Provision: Manage statutory EHCP applications, lead annual reviews, design targeted provision maps, and measure the academic and social impact of specialist interventions across KS3, KS4, and post-16.

• Multi-Agency & Advisory Collaboration: Act as the primary liaison for external specialists, including Educational Psychologists, CAMHS, Speech & Language Therapists (SALT), Occupational Therapists, and Hackney Education SEND services.

• Faculty Coaching & Adaptive Pedagogy: Deliver high-impact CPD across subject departments, coaching secondary teachers on adaptive teaching techniques, differentiated scaffolding, and neuroinclusive classroom strategies.

• Parental Engagement & Student Advocacy: Build trust-based, transparent relationships with parents and carers, ensuring students are active participants in setting and evaluating their own learning targets.

Requirements

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or an equivalent recognized teaching credential, supported by substantial secondary teaching experience.

• National Award for SEN Coordination (NASENCO) or the Postgraduate Certificate in SEN Co-ordination (or NPQSENCO qualification).

• Comprehensive operational knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice, statutory secondary EHCP processes, access arrangements for national examinations (GCSE/A-Level), and adaptive learning strategies.

• Proven track record of evaluating student progress data, leading learning support assistants (LSAs), and managing multi-agency interventions within a high-density urban secondary setting.

• Outstanding leadership presence, strong emotional intelligence, exceptional organization, and an unwavering commitment to pupil advocacy and inclusion.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Inner London Leadership / Upper Pay Scale + SEN Allowance / TLR (commensurate with leadership experience and qualifications).

• Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS), generous non-contact leadership time, funded continuous professional development (CPD), structured executive mentoring, and access to staff health and wellbeing benefits.

How to Apply

If you are a visionary SENCO ready to make an immediate impact and lead transformative inclusion provision at an ambitious secondary school in Hackney, we encourage you to apply right away. Please submit your application form and CV for immediate consideration.