Start Date: 1 September 2026
Closing Date: 27 April 2026 (9:00am)
Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust (CET) is dedicated to providing the best possible education for children across its 39 schools. While operating as one Trust, each school retains its individuality and autonomy, empowering leaders and staff to innovate and deliver exceptional practices. The Trust fosters a collaborative community that leverages the unique strengths, skills, and talents of each school to drive collective success. Bishop Bewick CET is committed to supporting its schools in thriving and continuing to learn and grow together.
Role Description
We are seeking an experienced and talented leader to take on the role of Trust Lead for SEND. This is a full-time, on-site post based at the Trust’s central offices in Newcastle, providing strategic leadership for Special Educational Needs and Disability provision across the Trust’s 34 primary schools and 5 secondary schools located within Northumberland, Newcastle and North Tyneside.
The post holder will develop and oversee Trust-wide SEND strategy, ensuring inclusive education and high-quality provision for all children with SEND. Working closely with Headteachers, SENCOs and school leadership teams, the role will provide both support and challenge to ensure statutory responsibilities are fulfilled within a strong culture of care and belonging.
The Trust Lead for SEND will build and maintain effective partnerships with external agencies, promote collaboration and the sharing of best practice across schools, and ensure high-quality professional development is in place for staff. The role also includes monitoring compliance with SEND legislation, advising on estate planning and accessibility, and reporting on the quality of SEND provision to the CEO and Trust Directors as part of the Central Executive Team.
At the heart of Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust is the belief that a great education has the power to transform lives. This role offers a significant opportunity to further strengthen SEND provision across a large and ambitious Catholic multi-academy trust, ensuring excellent educational opportunities for all children, regardless of barriers to learning.
Qualifications and Experience
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong analytical skills to assess needs, evaluate outcomes and develop effective strategy. They will have a thorough understanding of SEND law, policy and statutory frameworks, alongside excellent communication skills enabling them to work effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
Experience of leadership within educational settings is essential, along with a clear commitment to improving outcomes for children with SEND. Knowledge of estate planning and accessibility, experience of budget management or financial oversight, and familiarity with multi-academy trusts and/or Catholic education are highly desirable. A degree in education, special educational needs or a related field is required, with higher qualifications welcomed.
Part-time hours may be considered for the right candidate. Salary is negotiable depending on skills and experience. The post is appointed on teachers’ pay and conditions.
Staff at Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust benefit from a positive and inclusive ethos rooted in Catholic values, within a collaborative network of 39 schools forming the 15th largest Trust in the UK. The Trust supports over 13,000 students and employs more than 1,900 dedicated staff.
Employees have access to comprehensive professional development and career progression opportunities, alongside a strong commitment to staff wellbeing and policies that support work–life balance. Additional benefits include salary sacrifice schemes for NHS fleet cars, bikes and Metro transport corporate cards, as well as bespoke employee discounts with local businesses.
Safeguarding Statement
Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
In accordance with the safeguarding vulnerable groups’ regime [2006] & the relevant Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) DfE guidance, any offer of employment made will be conditional upon the results of checks from the Disclosure & Barring Service (“the DBS”) and Teacher Services (regarding teacher prohibition/disqualification from working with children and young people).
School roles give privileged access to vulnerable groups, therefore, we require all applicants attending interview to disclose all spent convictions and cautions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 unless it is a “protected” conviction/caution under the amendments made to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order 1975 (in 2013) and, therefore, not subject to disclosure.
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