Joseph Leckie Academy is a vibrant, exciting and innovative mixed 11-18 Academy with an overall positive progress score every year since 2017 and within the top 3 non-selective schools in Walsall every year since 2017.  With our excellent results, being graded as ‘Good’ across all areas by Ofsted (October 2021) and our continual desire and drive to continue moving forward, this is an exciting time for you to join our team.

We offer a highly supportive environment and are committed to ensuring outstanding teaching, behaviour, progress and achievement. Ofsted commented that “Staff are proud to work in our Academy.” They also noted that: “Pupils are proud of their school. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) thrive. They receive strong support. Pupils with SEND speak highly of this strong support. They say, ‘support staff know us well.”

The SEND Faculty is well resourced, including in terms of staff and physical resources. We are pleased with the positive comments on SEND in our recent Ofsted report and know there is more we can do to build on what is already in place.

We are an expanding Academy with numbers growing, now well over 1500 and continue to be over- subscribed at Key stage 3 and in our large Sixth form. The number of students with an EHCP has also increased over recent years due to our positive reputation and now stands at over 40 students.

This post represents a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious candidate to join our dynamic extended senior leadership team at the forefront of change and to make a real difference to our drive to continue to raise standards of education in the Academy. If you believe that you have the skills and abilities to take on this role, we would love to hear from you.

The role of this appointment will be as per the attached information on the outline Job Description, although the precise leadership responsibilities will be confirmed upon appointment based on experience.

We can offer you: -

• Friendly and supportive staff across the Academy
• A highly experienced Extended Senior Leadership Ream for support and advice
• Excellent support and professional development opportunities including opportunities to undertake our own in-house CPD programmes as well as external providers such as National Professional Qualifications at different levels as you progress towards headship or beyond.
• A well established and supportive Induction programme for all staff at all levels.
• Opportunities for outreach work and the chance to trial new ideas and approaches.
• The opportunity to work with a highly supportive, well-established, dedicated and visible Leadership Team
• Excellent resources, programs and technology to support learning
• A high focus on staff well-being with staff social events, staff sports, well-being counsellor, Academy Nurse, well-being co-ordinator for staff, staff breakfasts, employee assistance programme and much more…
• A large and expanding Academy at the forefront of change and growth, with high standards and an ambitious desire to better the lives of our students and impact further on our wider community.

The successful candidate will:

• be an outstanding practitioner in their own subject area with a proven record of raising progress and attainment
• possess a nationally recognised SEND qualification (NASENCO or NPQ)
• have strong knowledge and experience of SEND and evidence of how you have led relevant areas and evidence of the impact you have made
• have good awareness of how to meet the needs of Looked After Children
• be able to lead, inspire and further develop our teaching assistants to provide outstanding support
• be a successful, highly organised leader with at least four years’ leadership experience, preferably as a Head of Subject/Year or other relevant TLR posts, particularly in SEND and/or pastoral areas
• have a clear understanding of transforming the curriculum and enrichment opportunities for SEND students and contributing to their personal and academic development
• possess knowledge and understanding of relevant courses for SEN students, for example ASDAN/COPE or others

For further details please see the job criteria and ensure that you meet the job specification

Application process:

Please see the attached job description and person specification and address this in your letter and address the questions below:

1. Explain how your experience, skills and qualities to date have prepared you for this role. 

2. The future of Joseph Leckie Academy SEND Faculty and how you see your role within this?

Joseph Leckie Academy is an equal opportunities employer and fully committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of students and candidates will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.

We welcome visits to the Academy, please contact Mrs S Richards to arrange for a visit.

Closing date for applications: Friday 5^th July 2024 at 8.00am.

Please send completed applications to Mrs S Richards. hr@josephleckieacademy.co.uk

Joseph Leckie Academy is committed to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of students and candidates will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check.