Assistant Head of Inclusion & Enrichment at The Cooper School

About this Role

The Cooper School

Assistant Head of Inclusion & Enrichment

Salary: Leadership 12 - 16

Contract Type: Permanent

Start Date: January 2027

Location: Bicester, Oxfordshire

Reporting to: Headteacher

Responsible for: Special Educational Needs (SEN) Department including the SENCO and deputy SENCO, AP lead, a small number of allocated subject departments subject to change on a yearly basis and managing all staff leading trips and running enrichment clubs and events.

Thank you for your interest in the position of Assistant Headteacher at The Cooper School, part of the Acer Trust. This is a unique opportunity to be part of an exciting chapter in the school's journey as it embarks on a period of rapid change, striving to embody its school values of dreaming big, working hard and being kind. The Cooper School has recently appointed a new headteacher and Chair of governors; this appointment marks the next critical appointment in the school as it strives to be "ambitious for all". The Cooper School believes in having high expectations for all members of its community, alongside warm relationships and humanity.

About Acer Trust

'Working together to provide exceptional learning experiences and opportunities, empowering everyone to realise exciting futures'

We seek to create a positive and ambitious learning environment in every one of our schools, through which young people are prepared for success now and for lives of purpose, fulfilment and contribution in the future. We are committed to being a 'family of schools', working in genuine partnership, sharing expertise, challenge and support, so that each school, and every learner within it, thrives. Our values, collaboration, trust and ambition, underpin everything that we do, guiding how we work, lead and learn, and strongly shape our culture.

Job Purpose

The key purpose of this role is to improve outcomes for every student by implementing the school's vision of being a truly inclusive setting. The AHT of Inclusion and Enrichment will work alongside the Deputy Headteacher of Teaching and Learning to ensure that classroom practice is inclusive. They will also ensure that the SENCO, deputy SENCO and SEN team, implement robust assess, plan, do, review cycles embedding a graduated response to support at the school. This role will also require close work with the vulnerable learner lead in the school. Finally, the role will be overseeing our enrichment offer, ensuring that trips, clubs and events are inspiring, inclusive and accessible to all.

Key Responsibilities

1. Inclusion and Special Educational Needs (SEN)

• Line Management of SEN: Provide direct line management, leadership, and line-management support to the SENCO, SEN Department, and associated support staff to ensure engagement with high-quality provision across all key stages.
• SEND Identification & Outcomes: Lead the SEND team to ensure that student needs are identified early and met effectively, maintaining oversight of an accurate SEND Register, Pupil Passports, and EHCP provision.
• Adaptive Teaching: Work alongside senior leaders for Teaching & Learning to ensure high-quality adaptive teaching strategies are deployed across all classrooms for students with SEND.
• Exams & Interventions: Ensure that Exam Access Arrangements (EAA) are compliant with JCQ regulations and that targeted interventions produce measurable progress for priority students.
• Line management of AP: Line manage the AP lead in the school, ensuring that alternative provision is used appropriately, strategically and inline with the school's inclusive vision. Ensure the school's use of AP is compliant with DFE guidance.
• Vulnerable learners: Work alongside the Vulnerable Leaders Lead to ensure that all students, regardless of vulnerability, are included and catered for at The Cooper School.

2. Inclusive Enrichment, Trips, and Educational Visits

• Whole-School Enrichment Strategy: Lead, design, and monitor the school's enrichment programme, ensuring provision is fully inclusive, diverse, and caters to all students across all year groups regardless of SEND status or socioeconomic background.
• Trips and Visits Oversight: Act as the strategic lead for school trips and educational visits, ensuring a wide-ranging, well-managed, and equitable outdoor learning and educational visits calendar.
• Barrier Removal: Identify and remove physical, financial, and logistical barriers so that disadvantaged and priority students (e.g., Pupil Premium and SEND) fully participate in enrichment activities, clubs, residential trips, and educational visits.
• Compliance & Safety: Take on the role of Educational Visits Coordinator (EVC) to ensure all health, safety, risk assessment, and safeguarding requirements for trips and off-site visits are rigorously met.

3. Line Management of Academic Departments

• Departmental Leadership: Act as Curriculum Leader Link / Line Manager for a small number of designated academic departments, driving high standards of curriculum planning, assessment, and subject-specific outcomes.
• Quality Assurance: Coach department leads to help them improve classroom practice in their subject areas.
• Performance Management: Conduct appraisal and performance management cycles for designated middle leaders, holding teams accountable while fostering professional growth and wellbeing.

4. Senior Leadership & General Responsibilities

• Strategic Vision: Co-lead the creation, implementation, and evaluation of the strategic vision, values, and annual School Improvement Plan for The Cooper School.
• Priority Students & Data: Oversee progress tracking and interventions for priority student cohorts (including PP and Looked-After Children/LAC where assigned), evaluating data to close achievement gaps.
• Safeguarding & Behaviour: Act as a Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL) where required, upholding robust child protection practices and reinforcing positive behaviour management throughout the school.
• Community Engagement: Promote positive relationships with parents, carers, governors, external agencies, and the wider Bicester community.

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