Director of Education & Practice Standards
Location: London (Regional Travel South London Required) Salary: Highly Competitive + Executive Benefits Package Contract: Full Time, Permanent
Lead Educational Excellence Across a National SEND Portfolio
We are seeking an exceptional and visionary education leader to join our senior leadership team as Director of Education & Practice Standards .
This is a high-impact executive opportunity for an experienced SEND professional who can drive excellence in teaching, learning, quality assurance and educational outcomes across a large portfolio of specialist educational settings. You will play a pivotal role in shaping educational strategy, supporting senior leaders, and ensuring the highest standards of practice for children and young people with additional needs.
The Role
As Director of Education & Practice Standards, you will provide strategic leadership across a network of specialist provisions, ensuring outstanding educational practice, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement.
Leading a team of educational specialists, you will work closely with senior leaders to develop and embed evidence-based approaches that improve outcomes for pupils with SEND while maintaining the highest standards of teaching, learning and safeguarding.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and implement a forward-thinking education strategy.
- Drive consistency and excellence in teaching, learning and assessment.
- Lead educational improvement initiatives across multiple settings.
- Ensure the organisation remains at the forefront of SEND best practice.
Quality & Standards
- Monitor and evaluate educational quality across provisions.
- Lead quality assurance frameworks and school improvement activity.
- Ensure compliance with statutory, safeguarding and regulatory requirements.
- Analyse performance data to identify trends and drive improvement plans.
Curriculum & Innovation
- Oversee the development of inclusive and personalised curriculum approaches.
- Promote innovative educational practice and assistive technologies.
- Embed evidence-based interventions that improve pupil outcomes.
Leadership Development
- Coach, mentor and support Headteachers and senior leaders.
- Design and deliver professional development programmes.
- Build a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Develop strong relationships with local authorities, families and external agencies.
- Represent the organisation at sector events and policy forums
- Act as an ambassador for excellence in SEND education.
About You
We are interested in hearing from candidates who can demonstrate:
Essential Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience within SEND education.
- Experience leading educational improvement across multiple sites or regions.
- Proven success in raising standards and improving outcomes.
- Strong experience in quality assurance, curriculum development and staff development.
- Excellent knowledge of SEND legislation, SEND Code of Practice and EHCP processes.
- A track record of leading and inspiring high-performing teams.
Desirable
- Experience within specialist or therapeutic educational environments.
- Knowledge of assistive technologies and innovative SEND approaches.
- Experience operating at executive or director level.
What's On Offer?
- Executive-level leadership role with national influence.
- Opportunity to shape educational practice at scale.
- Collaborative and values-driven culture.
- Competitive salary and benefits package.
- Genuine opportunity to improve the lives and outcomes of children and young people with SEND.
Apply Today
If you are a strategic SEND leader with the vision, expertise and passion to drive educational excellence across a large and diverse portfolio, we would love to hear from you.