Special Educational Needs Coordinator

Felpham Community College is a thriving 11–18 local authority, mixed comprehensive with over 1500 students on roll and a successful, inclusive Sixth Form. We have high ambitions for our students and staff, and are exceptionally proud of our strong community identity, our values‑driven approach, and our unwavering commitment to improving life chances for all.

We are delighted to be recruiting a SENCO to lead the strategic and operational development of SEND across the school, and to oversee The Harbour, our Specialist Support Centre with current capacity for 12 students with communication and interaction differences. This is an exceptional opportunity for a skilled and passionate leader who is committed to equity, inclusion and high‑quality teaching. The role is central to shaping whole‑school practice, driving improvement, and ensuring that all learners with SEND experience high‑quality provision and strong outcomes.

At FCC, our work is guided by three core values:

Achievement: We believe all students can succeed, and we set ambitious expectations for their learning, progress and personal development. We enable experiences that instil a lifelong love of learning and self‑improvement and prepare them for a life beyond school.

Care: We create a calm, safe, respectful environment where students wish to attend and staff want to work. Students are known as individuals, and wellbeing and inclusion are everyone’s responsibility.

Equity: We aim to provide each student with the type and level of support they need to meet the same high expectations. We identify barriers (academic, social, SEND, economic, identity, wellbeing), adapt teaching and systems, and target resources by need so that all learners can access, participate and succeed.

These values are more than words — they shape every decision we make and every experience we create for our students.

We are:

• Committed to raising standards in all aspects of school life

• Focused on high‑quality teaching, strong curriculum design and a purposeful learning culture

• Proud of our inclusive ethos and our targeted and specialist provisions

• Dedicated to developing staff expertise and empowering leaders at all levels

• Relentless in our pursuit of equity and improved life chances for students facing disadvantage

• A vibrant, outward‑facing school with a strong moral purpose

You will:

• Have a firm belief in the ability of all young people to succeed

• Bring a strong track record of improving outcomes for students with SEND

• Demonstrate expert knowledge of the SEND Code of Practice and evidence‑informed SEND practice

• Be a visible, approachable and optimistic leader with excellent communication skills

• Model inclusive, high‑quality teaching and support colleagues to develop their practice

• Build strong relationships with students, families, staff and external agencies

• Lead with clarity, compassion and purpose, balancing strategic influence with operational precision

• Demonstrate expertise in managing statutory SEND processes (EHCPs, Access Arrangements, graduated approach)

• Confidently oversee The Harbour SSC, ensuring aspirational and evidence‑based specialist provision

• Work collaboratively with school leaders to shape whole‑school improvement through a SEND lens

• Champion Achievement, Care and Equity in all aspects of your leadership

Please visit our website (https://www.felpham.com/) for more information and an application pack.

Closing date for applications is: 10am Thursday 16 April 2026

Interviews will be held on Thursday 23 April 2026

We ask that candidates submit their application to jobs@felpham.org.uk as soon as possible as some interviews may take place before the closing date. Visits to the school are welcomed.

This school and West Sussex County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service check along with other relevant employment checks, including satisfactory references; online searches may be done as part of due diligence checks.