Director of SEND and Safeguarding

NON CYC VACANCY
SCHOOL VACANCY
Are you an exceptional leader with a passion for inclusive education?
Excel Learning Trust is seeking a dedicated and inspirational Director of SEND and Safeguarding to join our central team and drive excellence across our family of schools in the wonderful city of York.

As the Director of SEND and Safeguarding, you will be a key part of our team, responsible for developing, implementing, and monitoring the trust-wide strategy for SEND, ensuring exceptional provision and outcomes for all pupils with additional needs. You will provide expert guidance and training to all schools, ensuring statutory compliance and the consistent application of outstanding SEND practice. You will also ensure robust safeguarding policies, procedures, and culture are embedded across every school, driving continuous improvement and sharing best practice.

We are looking for a candidate who is a proven strategic leader, expertly knowledgeable in all relevant legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice. You will be an outstanding communicator and collaborator, capable of building effective relationships with school leaders, staff, parents, and external agencies.

In return, we offer a range of staff benefits, including access to a staff discount scheme, enrolment in the excellent Teachers' Pension Scheme, 24/7 access to an employee assistance programme and a range of family friendly policies, as well as regular, high quality professional development. Further details regarding our benefits and information about our trust can be found here .

About Us
Excel Learning Trust is a collaborative family of seven schools, comprising four primary, two secondary, and an alternative provision school. Our fundamental vision is to ensure educational excellence every day so that all children achieve the very best outcomes, both academically and in their personal development. Our work is underpinned by our EPIC values:

• Excellence: A sharp focus on outcomes for children, staff, and the community.
• People: Recruiting, retaining, and developing the very best staff.
• Improvement: Achieving excellence through robust collaboration.
• Community: Striving for truly inclusive schools where diversity is valued.

As a trust, we believe our schools should be the centre of the communities they serve and that our children should have a better school experience because they attend an Excel Learning Trust school. You will be joining a thriving organisation committed to an inclusive and ambitious curriculum for all children.

Excel Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and checks regarding suitability to work with children.

We reserve the right to close advertisements early. Advertisements will therefore close at 12 midnight either on the advertised closing date, or at the point the decision has been taken to close the advertisement early.

This post is subject to the Childcare (Disqualification) Regulations 2009 and as such shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a Disqualification Declaration. Any information supplied will be discussed at interview.

The Application Process
Please call Zoe French on , or email , to arrange an informal conversation with Clair Kitchen, Director of School Improvement, to discuss the role in more detail.

The deadline for applications is midnight on Sunday 19 October 2025, with the assessment and the selection process expected to take place on Wednesday 22 October 2025.

The job description and person specification and application form are available to download from the Trust website:

To apply for this vacancy, please submit completed application forms electronically to , for the attention of Mark Hassack, CEO.

Closing date
: Sunday 19 October 2025 at 12 midnight

Interview date:
Wednesday 22 October 2025

City of York Council (CYC) advertise vacancies on behalf of schools, academies and external organisations (third parties). CYC are not responsible for the recruitment and employment practices of these third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment or employment processes. Enquiries regarding the vacancy or practices should be made directly with the third party.