This post is specifically working in our new Specialist KS3 SEND Resource Base – a supportive facility for children with SEND needs.
We are really excited to be opening a Specialist SEND Provision, for Key Stage Three students, in the coming academic year. Our provision is for children with cognition and learning and/or other SEND needs. This is due to the desire to intervene as early as possible, to support students where their learning is impacted by an identified/ unidentified need. Joseph Leckie Academy will be one of a small number of schools to contribute to developing targeted provisions in response to an increased number of children with specific additional needs and to support the increasing number of SEND students who are applying to Joseph Leckie Academy, due to the positive reputation we are developing, within the community we serve.
This is a really exciting phase in our Academy’s development, as we are an expanding Academy and we have been developing Restorative Practice for some time and have an excellent reputation for support with our SEND students. We already have a dedicated Internal Alternative Provision facility, which supports students with SEMH and other SEND needs. This new provision will be essential in completing our “wrap-around” support for our students, to ensure that gaps in learning, numeracy and literacy are addressed as soon as possible, upon arrival to the Academy, so that we can look to support the transition from primary to secondary school.
You will be working alongside teachers and support staff in our Academy, including working alongside an Assistant Principal and our current SENDCO and Assistant SENDCO, who both have experience in this area. You will also be able to access support from colleagues within Walsall to help us to establish the provision with significant training and development available to you. This is a really exciting opportunity for you to be at the forefront of this development and to shape the future of SEND provision in our Academy. Joseph Leckie Academy is a fully inclusive school and enjoys the challenge of meeting the needs of every child in a unique way as can be seen from our progress for our students whatever their starting points.
If you are an energetic, enthusiastic and outstanding teacher of SEND with the ability to inspire our children, ensuring they make good progress and enjoy learning, we would ask that you consider this exciting opportunity, as one that could make a real difference to the lives of the young people we work with. Specialisms in SEND / SEMH teaching at year 6 and /or KS3 would be an advantage, but you will also be able to access some excellent CPD opportunities and training as we establish this provision from September 2025.
Joseph Leckie Academy is a vibrant, exciting and innovative mixed 11-18 Academy being graded as “Good” across all areas by Ofsted (October 2021) with some excellent feedback across all subjects and our Pastoral Care. Our ongoing desire to continually look to move forwards means that this is an exciting time to join our successful and welcoming team. The Academy has continually remained as one of the top non-selective secondary schools for progress in Walsall based on validated results and is a great place to work.
We pride ourselves on our high expectations of all learners. This creates a calm learning environment where teachers can teach and students can learn as was clearly supported by the feedback from Ofsted. We offer a highly supportive environment and are committed to ensuring outstanding teaching, behaviour, progress and achievement. Ofsted noted that staff are proud to work in the academy.
We are an expanding academy with numbers growing to well over 1500, and we continue to be over-subscribed at Key Stage 3 and in our large sixth form. The academy has a large sixth form of well over 240 students.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a forward-thinking candidate to join our dynamic team at the forefront of change and to make a real difference. If you believe that you have the skills and abilities to make a difference in this role; we would love to hear from you.
Experience of working with primary/secondary age students and specific subject knowledge and experience in specialist subject areas (especially core subjects) would be an advantage. The successful candidate may be asked to work with students across different years/ages and support them with varied behaviour strategies, support them in their learning or work within other areas as needed by the Academy.
Please do not hesitate to contact us for more information and a tour around the SEND Faculty and Academy. Please liaise with Mrs Morgan to arrange this through the email address below.
We can offer you: -
* Friendly, caring and supportive staff across the Academy – staff stay here for a number of years and say it is a great place to work and ex-students come back to work in the Academy so please come along and visit us find out what they say…
* A high focus on staff well-being with staff social events, a new gym, well-being counsellor, well-being coordinator for staff, monthly staff breakfasts, employee assistance programme, an in-house educational psychologist to support assessments and much more…
* 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 leadership roles
* Opportunities to work with other agencies and schools to develop knowledge and expertise in this field
* A well-established, experienced and dedicated SEND, pastoral and leadership team who value SEND and are prepared to invest in ventures for the future good of the local community
* A well-resourced and staffed SEND base
* We are a TEEP ambassador School with Level 4 trainers
* A well established and supportive induction programme for all staff at all levels
* A highly dedicated and committed pastoral team at all levels
* The opportunity to be at the forefront of change in this new provision/initiative and make a real difference to the lives of children
* 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
You will have/show:
* Practical skills and expertise as outlined in the Job description including QTS
* A passion and vision for SEND and SEMH and the links between academic and pastoral success for students
* SEND qualification or working towards completion (desirable)
* A commitment and dedication to support students in order to excel, regardless of need
* The desire to create an irresistible learning experience for every single child
* A belief that all behaviour is communication of an unmet need
* Believe that ‘every day is a new day’
* Be an innovative teacher who is not afraid to try something new and learn from mistakes
* Experience of working with SEND students at KS2 / 3
* Ability to teach a second subject and to contribute to appropriate qualifications for SEND students
* Professional curiosity; gathering appropriate evidence to support diagnoses for students
* High expectations of students and your team
* The determination to support in raising student achievement within the classroom and beyond
* The passion to enrich the lives of our students and contribute to the development of Cultural Capital to enhance the life opportunities for our students
* Team – working skills as well as the ability to work independently and pro-actively
* A clear understanding of the importance of Safeguarding.
In addition to your application form, please see the attached job description and person specification and address this in your letter, and address the question below:
* Explain how your experience, skills and qualities to date have prepared you for this role.
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.
For further information, please contact Mrs Morgan.
Closing date Monday 17th March 2025 at 8.00am. However, applications considered upon receipt and the Academy reserve the right to close the position early.
Interviews will take place week commencing 24th March. 2025.
Please send completed applications to: recruitment@josephleckieacademy.co.uk
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