Job Description
Assistant Principal (College) - High Need, SEND and ALS
Uxbridge
£73,796 - £85,519
Full time and Permanent
September start
We are a highly successful and ambitious FE College Group. We are one of the largest further education colleges in England and are proud to be one of London’s best performing colleges.
As part of an exciting period of growth and development, we are significantly expanding our High Needs and SEND provision across the Group. This includes the continued development of specialist pathways, enhanced support services and innovative provision designed to meet the increasing demand for high-quality inclusive education.
This newly created leadership role offers a unique opportunity to lead that transformation and shape the future direction of SEND and High Needs provision across one of the largest college groups in the country.
Reporting to the Group Executive Principal, as Assistant Principal - High Needs, SEND & ALS, you will provide executive leadership, strategic direction and full accountability for the design, growth, quality and sustainability of all SEND, High Needs and Additional Learning Support provision across the group. You will define and lead a unified Group-wide SEND and ALS strategy, integrating curriculum, support services, funding and partnerships to deliver outstanding learner progression and destinations, sector-leading inclusive practice, full statutory compliance and inspection readiness. This is a role at system leadership level, in which you would shape the Group’s response to rapidly increasing High Need demand, influencing Local Authority commissioning and positioning us as a regional leader in SEND and inclusive education.
We are seeking a candidate who can demonstrate:
- Qualified to degree level with a full teaching qualification recognised by the FE sector
- Significant senior leadership experience in SEND, ALS and inclusive education within FE, with whole-organisational accountability
- Sound judgement and experience of making high-stakes decisions in complex environments
- Proven experience of leading large-scale, multi-site provision, including leading organisational change, strategic transformation or service redesign at scale as well as operational delivery
- Experience of success in increasing High Needs Funding and of Local Authority negotiation
- Experience of holding responsibility for safeguarding, health and safety and risk management within complex provision
- Successful experience of being a High Needs Ofsted Lead
Qualifications
- Qualified to degree level
- Full (minimum Level 5) teaching qualification recognised by the FE sector (PGCE in Further Education or Secondary/DET or equivalent)
- Relevant leadership qualification
- Evidence of continues professional development in senior leadership, system leadership, or organisational transformation
Experience and Knowledge:
- Significant senior leadership experience in SEND, ALS and inclusive education within FE, with whole-organisational accountability, with ability to demonstrate sound judgement and experience of making high-stakes decisions in complex environments
- Proven experience of leading large-scale, multi-site provision, including leading organisational change, strategic transformation or service redesign at scale, as well as operational delivery
- Demonstrable success in increasing High Needs Funding and of Local Authority negotiation
- Experience of leading curriculum and support services at a strategic level
- Track record of driving quality improvement and inspection success
- Ability to build strong partnerships with a range of internal and external stakeholders
- Experience of managing complex budgets and financial accountability
- Experience of holding responsibility for safeguarding, health & safety and risk management within complex provision
- Experience of being a High Needs Ofsted Lead with successful outcomes
- Experience of presenting to senior stakeholders, including Executive teams or Boards
- Expert knowledge of:
- SEND Code of Practice
- High Needs and ALS funding systems
- FE curriculum and inclusive pedagogy
- Strong understanding of Ofsted Education Inspection Framework and quality assurance systems
Skills and abilities:
- Strong strategic thinking and system design capability
- Ability to interpret complex data and drive performance, accountability and strategic intervention
- High-level negotiation and influencing skills
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- Ability to manage and mitigate organisational and reputational risk
- Visionary and strategic leader
- High levels of integrity and accountability
- Resilient and able to lead in complex, high-pressure environments
- Strong commitment to inclusion and learner success
We are dedicated to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff to share this commitment. You will have a safeguarding responsibility if appointed.
The successful candidate will be subject to enhanced clearance through the Disclosure and Barring Service and employment will be subject to references.
This post is not exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
To apply for this opportunity your detailed CV to Clarus Education now to be considered. We will be contacting those shortlisted within 48 hours of an application.
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