This is a deeply significant role within our community, one that sits at the heart of our mission to deliver the highest quality education for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND).
At Compass, we are committed to transforming lives through learning, and our National Lead – Curriculum and Assessment will be instrumental in shaping the future of our Compass Curriculum: a values-led, inclusive, and research-informed framework designed to meet the diverse and evolving needs of our pupils from Reception to Post-16.
This position is about more than leading curriculum and assessment. It’s about building a movement of excellence in teaching and learning across all phases. It’s about creating meaningful pathways for every learner, developing a pedagogy that champions high expectations and individual growth, and mentoring educators to reach their fullest potential.
The work you lead will have a tangible impact on pupil outcomes today — and will shape the future of inclusive education across the country.
About the Role
As National Lead – Curriculum and Assessment, you will:
- Design and implement the Compass Curriculum, ensuring it reflects our values and responds to the needs of SEND learners across all phases.
- Lead the development of coherent, cross-phase curriculum frameworks and robust, research-informed assessment models.
- Model excellence in teaching practice, while supporting staff development through CPD, coaching, and mentoring.
- Drive a culture of reflective practice, continuous improvement, and evidence-informed innovation across our schools.
- Ensure compliance with national and SEND-specific statutory requirements, and embed quality assurance processes that support long-term improvement.
- Influence the sector by representing Compass in professional forums and shaping national discourse on curriculum and SEND education.
Qualifications
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Requirement
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Essential
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Desirable
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Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent
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✅
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Postgraduate qualification in Education, SEND, Curriculum Design, or Leadership
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✅
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Evidence of ongoing professional development in inclusive pedagogy, assessment, or educational leadership
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✅
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Experience
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Area
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Essential
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Desirable
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Curriculum and assessment leadership in SEND or specialist education
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✅
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Leading curriculum frameworks across multiple school phases (Early Years to Post-16)
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✅
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Designing assessment systems to track progress, engagement, and outcomes
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✅
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Outstanding classroom practitioner with proven pupil outcomes
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✅
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Experience teaching across multiple key stages
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✅
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Leading CPD, coaching or mentoring education professionals
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✅
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Contribution to strategic planning and school improvement
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✅
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Involvement in national forums, networks, or educational research
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✅
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Knowledge and Skills
- Deep knowledge of inclusive, research-informed curriculum principles
- Understanding of SEND-specific frameworks, pedagogy, and assessment
- Familiarity with statutory curriculum and assessment requirements
- Skilled in curriculum audit, evaluation, and continuous improvement
- Strong ability to lead change, influence stakeholders, and build capacity
- Strategic mindset with strong project leadership and analytical thinking
- Excellent communicator, facilitator, and coach
- Deep commitment to collaboration and high professional standards
Personal Attributes
- Visionary and values-led – passionate about inclusion, learning, and equity
- Compassionate and credible – a leader who inspires confidence and trust
- Reflective and resilient – solution-focused and proactive in complex contexts
- Strong alignment with Compass Community values:
Inclusion | Innovation | Care | Collaboration | High Expectations
- Enthusiastic about national curriculum reform and Compass’s growing influence
Why Join Compass?
- A values-driven community committed to inclusion, innovation, and individual progress.
- A chance to lead national curriculum transformation and influence best practice in SEND education.
- Continuous professional development, collaboration with leading educators, and a platform to shape research and policy.
- A supportive, forward-thinking organisation where your leadership makes a real, measurable difference.
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