Director of SEND
About This Role
Salary L16 – L20
Contract term Full time, 1.0FTE, permanent
Start date September 2026
Closing date 8am Friday 15 May 2026
Mercia Learning Trust
Mercia Learning Trust is a successful partnership of four primary and three secondary schools located in the south-west of Sheffield. Established in 2012, with one secondary school, our trust has grown to serving over 5000 pupils, with 650 staff.
Why do we exist?
· To empower everyone in our communities, especially the most disadvantaged, to succeed.
How do we behave?
· We are kind - showing care and supporting each other.
· We have integrity - doing the right thing and always putting children first.
· We work with diligence - overcoming obstacles and having no excuses.
What do we do?
· We run schools that focus on academic excellence, cultural capital and the development of character.
How will we succeed?
· A culture of excellence – high standards shaped by clarity, not control.
· Academic focus – empowering all children through an exceptional curriculum.
· Purposeful collaboration – relationships built on trust, reducing sub-optimisation and driving collective success.
Our staff are a crucial part of our trust, just like our pupils. We are devoted to recruiting, training, retaining and taking good care of our highly skilled and dedicated team.
The role
We are seeking an exceptional and strategic leader to take on the role of Director of SEND across our trust.
This is a pivotal leadership position, responsible for ensuring that all pupils with special educational needs and disabilities receive a high-quality, inclusive education that enables them to thrive academically and personally. The Director of SEND will provide strategic oversight, challenge and support across all schools, ensuring consistency, compliance and excellence in SEND provision.
You will work closely with school leaders, SENDCos and trust leaders to develop and embed a coherent, evidence-informed approach to SEND, securing strong outcomes for pupils and ensuring that statutory responsibilities are met to a high standard.