Reading Leader - Kenwood - West Riding Campus

Join the Nexus team as a Reading Leader - Kenwood - West Riding Campus

Position: Reading Leader

Hours and Salary: MPS/UPS plus SEN allowance + TLR £5650

School and Location: Kenwood Academy – West Riding Campus Barnsley

Contract type: Full time (0.8 part time considered)

Closing date: 5:00pm on Wednesday 30^th April 2025

Interview date: Friday 9^th May 2025

About our School

Do you have the highest expectations and aspirations for every child and young person to be “the best they can be”?
Are you a passionate and dedicated teacher, with an excellent track record in designing and implementing specialist curricula for developing reading?
Are you looking for a lead role within a creative and dynamic team?
Are you excited by all of the opportunities, challenges and rewards of working with children and young people with complex Special Educational Needs?

Then Kenwood Academy may be exactly what you are looking for…

Kenwood Academy is an 11-19 Special School and part of Nexus Multi-Academy Trust. Every day we make a difference to the lives of the children and young people in our school community. We are proud of our great reputation with children and families, other professionals, and other agencies.

Our shared vision for Nexus Multi-Academy Trust is that we are constantly "Learning together, to be the best we can be". This vision is what we aspire for and is as relatable to every employee and partner of our Trust as it is to our children, young people and their families. We are fully committed to partnerships and all the educational benefits of collaborative working. You can find out more at:www.nexusmat.org

Kenwood Academy is a new and growing school, opened on 1st January 2023, and expecting our first Ofsted inspection during the Summer Term 2025. Our provision is based at four campuses: West Riding (11-16) in Barnsley, Nether Edge (11-14) & Broadfield (14-19) in Sheffield, and Enterprise Works (14-19) in Sheffield (near Meadowhall). This role is based at our West Riding campus.

We have a fantastic and dedicated team of staff, indicated by our historically low staff turnover. We are currently expanding our provision and working to further broaden and deepen our ambitious curriculum; therefore, this is a wonderful opportunity for passionate and inspirational specialist teachers to join our growing team.

About the Trust

This is an exciting opportunity to join an award winning Multi Academy Trust and be part of a welcoming and supportive team that serves amazing children and young people. Nexus Multi Academy Trust was founded in 2016, with 17 unique SEND and mainstream academies.

We are a growing, forward thinking and innovative Trust with a shared ethos, vision and values for a personalised child centred approach. We are committed and invested in “Learning together, to be the best we can be” and it is as relatable to every employee and partner of our Trust as it is to our children, young adults and their families.

Please see a copy of our most recent prospectus, for further information.

Our Opportunity

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic reading specialist who can design, implement and evaluate the curriculum, working closely with our experienced Deputy Headteacher. You will have a strong understanding of the teaching and learning of phonics and early reading. You will be ready for the next step in school leadership and you will have a proven ability to deliver exceptional learning experiences for all our students. You will be confident working independently and working collaboratively as part of our whole-school curriculum leadership team.

The students at Kenwood Academy deserve the very best education and an ambitious, rich curriculum. All have communication and interaction needs; many have social, emotional, and mental health needs; and many have other identified SEND. Most have missed a large part of their previous education for a variety of reasons. Although we cannot change their past educational experiences, we can work together to transform their futures. The students are at the heart of everything we do, and we strongly believe it is our responsibility to nurture their sense of belonging. We are here to ensure that every single student has the best opportunities to flourish through personalised learning, in a school where everyone feels welcome, safe, secure, and highly valued.

We currently deliver a spiral curriculum (aligned with the national curriculum) that allows for multiple outcomes, including access to appropriate accreditation at Levels 1, 2 and 3. All schemes of learning and sequences of lessons are constructed in order to identify and address gaps in prior learning and to build towards mastering the recall and application of knowledge and skills in a variety of different contexts. We are seeking to further strengthen our teaching and learning of phonics and early reading, particularly for students in Key Stage 3 who have gaps in their learning from Key Stages 1 and 2.

Applications are welcome from candidates in all educational settings who can demonstrate knowledge of special educational needs and disabilities.

Candidates are strongly encouraged to visit Kenwood Academy to find out more information, prior to interview. For a conversation about the vacancy or to arrange a visit (22^nd, 23^rd, 28^th, 29^th, 30^th April) please contact Nina Sneddon, Deputy Headteacher, by email: kenwood@nexusmat.org

What you can expect from us

Wellbeing – Pay – Careers and Training – Annual Leave and Flexibility

Access to free wellbeing support resources including counselling, medical and legal advice and an option to top up to private healthcare via corporate membership of a healthcare plan.

Access to discount schemes for savings with high street retailers, restaurants, activities and lifestyle services

Auto enrolment into a leading pension scheme with Teachers Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme

Access to extensive and tailored career pathways, CPD programmes, training and coaching giving you the opportunity to grow and develop your career

An Induction package to help you settle in and approach your role with confidence and enthusiasm

The ability to contribute to and share quality practice with other professional TAs, Teachers and the wider team

Internal opportunities across the Trust academies and to work with specialised leaders in education on nationally recognised projects

Flexible working policies

Cycle to Work Scheme

Annual leave increases based on length of service plus bank holidays for support staff

To apply

For an application form please contact Julie Ramsden at kenwood@nexusmat.org

Completed applications to be sent to Julie Ramsden at kenwood@nexusmat.org by 5pm on Wednesday 30^th April 2025

All candidates are advised to refer to the job profile before making an application.

We reserve the right to close this advertisement early should we receive if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

CV’s will not be accepted.

Further information

For an informal and confidential conversation about the role, please contact Nina Sneddon, Deputy Headteacher by email kenwood@nexusmat.org

Please be aware that Kenwood Academy’s website is still under construction. Furthermore, if you wish to read Ofsted’s previous evaluation of our provision, please read the latest report for Becton School, through this website: www.becton.sheffield.sch.uk

Nexus Multi Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

This post involves working with children and young people. If successful you will be required to apply for a disclosure of criminal records check at an enhanced level and a barred list check. Further information about the Disclosure and Barring Service and can be found at www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce.