Job Description:

Director of Education & Practice Standards – SEN

Location: Regional / Multi-Site
Contract: Permanent
Sector: Specialist Education / SEND
Level: Director / Senior Leadership

We are recruiting for an experienced Director of Education & Practice Standards to take a senior strategic leadership role across a large network of 60+ specialist SEN schools.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished education leader with extensive SEND experience who is passionate about improving teaching, learning and outcomes for children and young people with additional needs.

You will provide strategic leadership across the organisation, ensuring consistently high standards of education, curriculum delivery and professional practice while supporting Headteachers and senior leaders to drive continuous improvement.

The Role

As Director of Education & Practice Standards, you will:

• Provide strategic leadership for education and practice standards across 60+ SEN schools

• Develop and implement an organisation-wide education strategy

• Drive improvements in teaching, learning and assessment across specialist settings

• Ensure schools achieve or exceed required Ofsted and regulatory standards

• Lead quality assurance and monitor educational performance across multiple sites

• Develop consistent, evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning within SEND

• Oversee the development of inclusive and personalised curricula

• Use performance data and qualitative insight to identify areas for improvement

• Lead the development of key SEND education and safeguarding policies

• Support and mentor Headteachers and senior education leaders

• Drive professional development and SEN-specific training across the organisation

• Build strong relationships with local authorities, parents, carers and external agencies

• Lead and develop a team of approximately 12 people

• Work closely with fellow Directors and the wider executive leadership team

About You

We are looking for an established senior education professional with:

• Significant leadership experience within SEN/SEND education

• Experience operating at multi-school, regional, trust, group or strategic level

• A proven track record of improving standards and outcomes within SEN schools or specialist settings

• Strong knowledge of Ofsted frameworks and education quality assurance

• Excellent understanding of SEND legislation, the SEND Code of Practice and EHCP processes

• Experience of curriculum design and development within specialist education

• Experience developing and supporting Headteachers and senior leadership teams

• Strong understanding of SEN-specific teaching and therapeutic approaches

• The ability to analyse data and translate findings into measurable improvements

• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder-management skills

Experience within residential SEN settings, therapeutic provision or assistive technology would be advantageous.

The Opportunity

This is a genuinely strategic position with the opportunity to influence education provision across a substantial national SEN school network.

You will have the autonomy and senior-level backing to shape educational strategy, improve consistency across schools and ensure children and young people with SEND receive the highest possible standards of education and support.

This role would particularly suit an experienced Director of Education, Regional Education Director, National Education Director, Director of Quality, Executive Headteacher or senior SEND leader looking to make an impact across a large specialist education organisation.

Apply now for further information and a confidential discussion.