Job Introduction
We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and personable individual to join our large team of dedicated learning support assistants. We are a very inclusive school and all pupils attend mainstream lessons. The main aspect of this role will be to support pupils learning within a classroom environment. You will support a variety of pupils with differing needs. Therefore, the ability to be flexible and positive is important.
The successful applicant will need to be able to build strong relationships with pupils and enjoy a challenge, in addition to fulfilling the safeguarding requirements of the role and adhering to the school’s safeguarding policy.
A full induction process will be provided. We pride ourselves on supporting employees with career progression opportunities and it is not uncommon for graduates working in this role to become qualified teachers themselves.
GCSE Grade C/4 (or equivalent) in English and mathematics is essential.
We can offer:
A school that is moving towards outstanding.
A school with a calm and considered environment.
A school which pupils, staff and the community feel proud.
We are a growing 11 – 16 comprehensive school. Graded ‘good’ by Ofsted in our most recent inspection (January 2024) and graded as ‘outstanding’ for Personal Development. We pride ourselves in being highly inclusive and pupil focused. We were awarded the prestigious National SMSC Quality Mark Gold Award, for the second time in April 2024. We are very proud of our pupils and their achievements.
Within the school we also have a resourced provision for physically disabled pupils who are integrated fully into the life of the school, which brings a richness and variety to the curriculum and adds to our extensive after school provision. We are proud of the way we address the needs of all of our pupils.
As a community school we also have a nursery and a pre-school.
If you would like to have an informal discussion or have any questions about the school or the role, please email our Assistant Headteacher, Mrs Ford: r.ford@portchester.hants.sch.uk or our SENCo, Mrs Howell: k.howell@portchester.hants.sch.uk
For further information about the post, please visit our website at www.portchester.hants.sch.uk where an application pack is available under the ‘About Us’ menu, or email: recruitment@portchester.hants.sch.uk
Please be aware that a Hampshire County Council application form must be completed, as CVs are not accepted.
Applications will be considered on receipt and suitable candidates invited for interview. We reserve the right to withdraw the advertisement early if the vacancy is filled before the closing date.
Online searches will be completed on all shortlisted candidates as part of the recruitment process.
We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 because it is a post which involves working directly with children or young people. If shortlisted for interview you are therefore required to declare whether you have any criminal convictions (or cautions or bind-overs) including those which are ‘spent’. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Disclosure and Barring Service website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dbs-filtering-guidance
Safer Recruitment
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.