Trust Lead for SEND and Inclusion
£71,330 - £78,702 per annum for full time
(Part-time 0.6 -1.0 FTE considered; salary pro-rated based on agreed hours)
Ready to lead transformational SEND and inclusion improvement across a growing and ambitious multi-academy trust? Do you bring a successful senior leadership experience, or substantial middle leadership experience, from a school, trust, local authority or similar education setting? Do you have a teaching qualification? Are you passionate about championing inclusion and securing ambitious outcomes and meaningful participation for pupils with SEND?
If you have answered yes to these questions, then we want to hear from you!
The Coastal Collaborative Trust is seeking an exceptional SEND and inclusion leader to take on a high-impact improvement role across the trust, with an initial deployment at Lytham St Annes High School, whilst leading central support for all SEND services
Lytham St Annes High School is on an ambitious journey to strengthen SEND and inclusion. Strong foundations are in place, but we are seeking an experienced leader who can bring the expertise, challenge and capacity needed to accelerate improvement and secure outstanding outcomes for pupils with SEND.
This is not a SENCO role. You will work alongside established, qualified SENCOs, providing strategic leadership, professional support, and rigorous quality assurance. You will partner closely with school and trust leaders to strengthen systems, develop people, and embed sustainable improvement.
Your initial priorities will include:
· Strengthening SEND leadership, accountability and quality assurance
· Embedding high-quality inclusive teaching across the school
· Developing effective support systems for vulnerable learners
· Improving the use of attendance, behaviour and outcomes data
· Supporting the development of the school's Inclusion Hub
· Building sustainable systems that deliver measurable impact for pupils
We are looking for a leader with credibility, influence, and a proven track record of improving outcomes for children and young people with SEND. You may be an experienced Assistant or Deputy Headteacher, a highly effective SENCO ready for a broader strategic remit, an inclusion leader from a trust or local authority, or a recently retired leader seeking a purposeful challenge.
You will bring deep SEND expertise, strong school improvement skills, and the ability to support, challenge and develop others. Above all, you will be committed to building lasting capacity and leaving systems stronger than you found them.
This is an exciting opportunity to shape the future of SEND and inclusion across a growing Trust while making a tangible difference to the lives of young people.
The role can be offered between 0.6 and 1.0 FTE and we are open to discussing working patterns and is initially a fixed term project for 12 months to deliver strategic SEND improvement to build capacity, strengthen provision and improve pupil outcomes across the trust, however it may be extended.
About Coastal Collaborative Trust
Coastal Collaborative Trust is a growing family of five academies across Lancashire: two secondary schools, two pupil referral units and a sixth form college. We combine collaboration with autonomy, valuing the unique identity of each academy while working together to secure the very best outcomes for all young people.
Join us and play a leading role in shaping the future of inclusion across our Trust.
Closing date: 25th September at 9:00am
Interviews: 30th September 2026
Find everything you need here to get started with your online application.
Our commitment to a safe and respectful environment
We are an equal opportunities employer committed to a diverse and inclusive community. We do not tolerate discrimination and welcome applications from all backgrounds. We provide equal access, services, and care regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity/expression/trans status, race, religion/belief, or sexual orientation.
We are committed to fostering a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment for everyone. This includes a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment of any kind. We believe that all individuals deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and we are dedicated to creating a workplace and online community free from harassment, intimidation, and discrimination. We encourage open communication, provide clear reporting mechanisms for misconduct, and conduct thorough investigations. We expect everyone interacting with us to uphold these standards.
All staff will be carefully selected using recruitment and selection procedures designed to emphasise the trust’s commitment to safeguarding. All posts, including volunteers, are subject to enhanced DBS clearance. All shortlisted applicants will be asked to complete a self-declaration of any criminal record or information that will make them unsuitable to work with children. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn should any information come to light that has not been included in the self-declaration. It is an offence to apply for a role if you are barred from regulated activity relevant to children; anyone caught doing so will be reported to the police immediately.
We are required, as part of our shortlisting process, to carry out an online search on candidates as part of our due diligence. If you are shortlisted for the role, an online search (including Google and social media) will be undertaken on your name (and any previous names) to identify any publicly available information that may indicate a risk to our students. Any information found will be treated confidentially and will only be used in relation to the post for which you have applied.
Think of your application as a chance to show off and shout about your experience! Below is a list of all the skills we're looking for, so don't be shy, make sure you highlight how you've used them. You'll find a breakdown of what's important for this role in the job description, so give it a good look and make sure your application shines!
Please do not upload your CV; we cannot consider these. Instead, make sure that everything we need to know is included in your application.