Your career #EMATters! East Midlands Academy Trust is seeking an ambitious and passionate School Impact Partner – Inclusion to help shape the future of inclusive education across our Trust.
With EMAT continuing to grow following recent expansion across the Trust, this is a particularly exciting time to join our organisation. As we continue to invest in our schools, people, and systems, you will play a vital role within a forward-thinking and ambitious Trust committed to ensuring every child can thrive, succeed, and achieve their full potential.
This is more than a school improvement role — it is an opportunity to influence lives, remove barriers to learning, and champion excellence for every child. We are looking for someone who believes that inclusion is not an add-on, but the foundation of exceptional education.
Working collaboratively across our schools, you will provide strategic leadership and practical support to strengthen inclusive practice, improve outcomes for vulnerable learners, and build the capacity of school leaders and staff. You will combine vision, expertise, and hands-on school improvement experience to create meaningful and lasting impact across the Trust.
At EMAT, we value innovation, collaboration, and impact. We are proud of our diverse workforce and are committed to creating inclusive environments where children, staff, and communities can thrive. If you are a values-driven leader with the expertise, compassion, and determination to improve outcomes for vulnerable learners, we would love to hear from you.
Our Trust was incorporated in July 2012 to establish, maintain, manage, and develop academies and free schools as world-class centres of excellence. We are a collaborative partnership that currently includes an all-through school in Northampton, a secondary school in Oundle, and five primary schools across Northamptonshire and Milton Keynes.
By joining EMAT, you will benefit from a wide range of professional development opportunities and employee benefits, including:
- Continuous professional development and high-quality training
- Career and leadership opportunities within our growing Trust
- A confidential 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme
- Access to the Teachers’ Pension Scheme/Local Government Pension Scheme (delete as appropriate)
- A corporate eye care plan
- Flu jabs for all staff
- Cycle to work scheme
- Health and wellbeing support, including access to an online GP
- An employee lifestyle savings platform
- Generous family leave provisions
About the Role
School Impact Partner – Inclusion is a dynamic, field-based role focused on improving inclusive practice and outcomes for vulnerable learners across our schools.
Working closely with Headteachers, senior leaders, SENDCOs, pastoral teams, and specialist provisions, you will help drive meaningful and sustainable improvement for pupils with SEND, disadvantaged pupils, pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL), looked after children (CLA), and children known or previously known to social care.
This role is accountable to the Head of Inclusion and supports the delivery of the Trust’s inclusion strategy through coaching, challenge, and hands-on school improvement work.
You will combine strategic leadership with practical school support, helping schools strengthen inclusive practice, improve attendance and engagement, reduce exclusions, and ensure every child receives the support and opportunities they need to thrive.
Key Responsibilities
- Implement the Trust’s inclusion strategy across all schools and settings
- Support leaders to evaluate the intent, implementation, and impact of inclusive provision
- Conduct inclusion reviews, audits, learning walks, and monitoring visits across schools
- Analyse attendance, behaviour, attainment, SEND, Pupil Premium, CLA, EAL, and safeguarding data to identify priorities and improve outcomes
- Provide coaching, support, and challenge to SENDCOs, inclusion leaders, and pastoral teams
- Promote high-quality adaptive teaching and inclusive classroom practice
- Support schools to improve attendance, reduce exclusions, and strengthen engagement for vulnerable learners
- Ensure compliance with safeguarding requirements and the SEND Code of Practice
- Deliver and facilitate professional development linked to Trust inclusion priorities
- Work collaboratively with external agencies, local authorities, and specialist provisions
- Support effective transition arrangements across phases, particularly from KS2 to KS3
- Contribute to Trust-wide inclusion quality assurance, monitoring, and improvement planning
- Promote a culture of inclusion, equality, safeguarding, and high expectations for all learners
About You
We are looking for someone who is passionate about inclusion and committed to improving life chances for children and young people.
The successful candidate will have:
- Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Experience leading or supporting inclusion and school improvement initiatives
- Strong knowledge of SEND legislation and inclusive education practice
- Experience improving outcomes for vulnerable learners
- Excellent coaching, communication, and relationship-building skills
- The ability to analyse and interpret pupil performance and inclusion data
- A collaborative, resilient, and solution-focused approach
- A genuine commitment to safeguarding, equality, and inclusion
Desirable qualifications and experience include:
- NASENCO qualification
- NPQSL, NPQH, or equivalent leadership qualification
- Experience working across multiple schools or within a Multi Academy Trust
- Experience supporting specialist or alternative provision
- Knowledge of systems such as Arbor or Edukey
Why Join EMAT?
At EMAT, inclusion matters. We believe every child deserves the opportunity to thrive, regardless of background, need, or circumstance. As a School Impact Partner – Inclusion, you will have the opportunity to influence practice across multiple schools, collaborate with talented and committed colleagues, and make a genuine difference to the lives of children and families.
For more information or to arrange an informal conversation, please contact Hannah Fajemiyo, HR Business Partner, at hrqueries@emat.uk.
A Note for Recruitment Agencies
We have a team of internal recruiters, and we advertise our vacancies to attract candidates rather than agency suppliers. If we require agency assistance, we will reach out to our trusted partners. Any speculative CVs we receive will not be accepted as an introduction.
EMAT reserves the right to withdraw this advert early if a suitable candidate is found.
EMAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). References will be taken up before interviews are offered.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, or age.
EMAT encourages a “Speak Up” culture where colleagues are encouraged to raise any concerns relating to risk or wrongdoing. You will be responsible for ensuring that colleagues are supported where necessary to raise concerns without fear of blame or recrimination and should proactively raise concerns should they come to your attention.