About ARU:
ARU is a global university transforming lives through innovative, inclusive and entrepreneurial education and research. ARU holds a Gold award for the quality of its education, awarded through the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).
ARU’s research institutes and four faculties bridge scientific, technical and creative fields. We deliver impactful research which tackles pressing issues and makes a real difference to our communities. Our academic excellence has been recognised by the UK’s Higher Education funding bodies, with 16 of our research areas assessed as world leading. We are the largest provider of Nursing, Midwifery, Health and Social Care students in the East of England, and we are also among the UK’s leading universities for degree apprenticeship provision, working with hundreds of employers across the UK.
At our ARU Writtle campus, we specialise in animal, environmental, agricultural and horticultural courses, for learners aged 16 to 18, adult learners, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
About the Role:
We are seeking an ambitious and forward-thinking leader to provide strategic leadership for SEND, inclusion, attendance, behaviour, wellbeing and safeguarding at Writtle College. The new post holder will lead the development and implementation of the college SEND and Inclusion Strategy, providing leadership for learning support services and inclusion teams, and ensuring effective support and outcomes for students. You will champion inclusive practice across all curriculum and support areas to further develop and enhance inclusion at the college, ensuring that it is front and centre in all we do. Key to success will be reducing achievement gaps and improving learner outcomes through continuous improvements to SEND and inclusive practice.
We have recently modified the focus of this role, to ensure that it reflects our deep commitment to providing the optimum experience, support and nurturing environment for our more vulnerable students and those with higher needs. This will be a key priority going forwards, as our enrolments continue to grow and as we welcome students to more diverse programmes and levels of study.
You will have ample opportunity to bring new ideas, shape practice and make a deep impact on the success and well-being of our students. A key priority will be working collaboratively with colleagues across both Writtle College and ARU, including sharing good practice and role modelling inclusivity.
The Candidate
Our successful candidate will have significant experience of leading SEND and Inclusion provision, supporting High Needs learners and vulnerable groups within an education environment, with a strong understanding of EHCP processes and statutory responsibilities.
Experience of leading quality improvement and inspection preparation is of key importance, as is extensive safeguarding leadership experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead. We are seeking an innovative, entrepreneurial and collaborative leader, who can motivate and inspire staff while demonstrating empathy in supporting and engaging students.
We welcome applications from individuals seeking to step upwards and we will provide support and development to help you succeed and continue your leadership journey. We are equally open to considering candidates from colleges, schools, academies or other education environments, and previous land-based sector experience is not necessary. What matters most is your ability to have a positive impact on the inclusion agenda, inspire colleagues and create a safe, supportive environment, taking forward a specialist institution with ambitious plans for growth.
You will have a degree plus demonstrable professional experience for the role or relevant professional/degree level qualification (chartered where appropriate) appropriate to the specific role being appointed to plus demonstrable professional experience for the role, recognised teaching qualification and/or Assessor and Verifier Awards, minimum level 3 safeguarding qualification or willingness to undertake.
Why Join Us?
This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join a talented and committed leadership team at a pivotal point in the college’s development. By combining Writtle’s specialist heritage with the strengths and opportunities offered through ARU, you will help shape the next chapter of our success and make a meaningful difference to the lives of our students, staff and wider communities.
We have an agile working culture and offer an extensive range of benefits including generous holiday entitlement, occupational pension schemes, training and development opportunities, travel to work scheme and a competitive relocation package.
- generous holiday entitlement
- occupational pension schemes
- training and development opportunities
- travel to work scheme
- competitive relocation package
Visit our benefits page for full details.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting welfare of our staff and students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants should be aware that ARU will carry out online searches as part of the due diligence on short listed candidates.
All appointments at ARU Writtle are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including a satisfactory Enhanced criminal records with Children’s Barred List check through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Further information can be obtained from https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check. Shortlisted candidates will be required to disclose any prior disciplinary action or investigation related to sexual misconduct or abuse.
This role is considered exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.
We value diversity at ARU and welcome applications from all sections of the community.
In accordance with Home Office guidance and the Asylum, Immigration and Nationality Act 2006, ARU has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to work in the UK and in the role for which they have been recruited. Prior to their start date, the successful candidate will be asked to provide evidence of their right to work in the UK.
For candidates who do not currently have the right to work in the UK, ARU is a UKVI-licensed sponsor and may be able to provide sponsorship for eligible candidates appointed to skilled roles, subject to meeting the relevant immigration requirements. Eligibility for sponsorship will be assessed on a case-of-case basis.
Further information about UK immigration requirements and working in the UK can be found on the Home Office website.
Committed to being inclusive and open to discuss flexible working.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications.
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