Teaching Assistant (Apprentice)

The Leigh Academy has an exciting opportunity to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated Teaching Assistant (Apprentice) who will make a real impact to our students' learning. The role of a Teaching Assistant involves working with students across Years 7 to 13 in a variety of subject areas, either on a 1-1 basis or in small groups. Some students may have Special Educational Needs that you can support them with (training is offered in this remit), whilst others may need extra assistance from someone with a passion for the subject to push them even further. ​​​​​​​

Our successful candidate will provide support for pupils who have a range of specific needs; an opportunity to make a real difference to their development. Applicants should be adaptable, personable and committed to providing an excellent service on behalf of the school and wider Trust, and above all else our appointed candidate will have a positive work ethic and can-do attitude.

The basis of the role is fixed term for the duration of the apprenticeship (12-18 month approximately), 35 hours per week (8.00am - 3.30pm, Monday - Friday), Term Time + 1 week. Our successful candidates will work towards a nationally-recognised Level 3 Teaching Assistant qualification, delivered by LAT Apprenticeships. Click here to read more about LAT Apprenticeships.​​​​​​​

Apprenticeship Summary

Annual wage:  Actual salary £9.909 per annum (£12,500 full time equivalent)

Working weeks:  Monday - Friday, Term Time + 1 week inset 

Total hours per week: 35 (including the 20% training element of the Apprenticeship) - start and finish times to be agreed

Apprenticeship duration:  12-18 months approx.

Anticipated start date:  January 2023 

Apprenticeship level:  Advanced Level Apprenticeship (Level 3)

Apprenticeship standard: Teaching Assistant​​​​​​​

Essential entry qualifications: GCSEs A* - C, Maths and English (desirable)

Future prospects: This apprenticeship could be the start of a very promising career within the wider business. We endeavour to offer further employment following successful performance and completion of the Level 3 course with future opportunities to extend your training with a higher level apprenticeship programme. We offer in-house Continuing Professional Development and you’ll be part of a highly experienced and efficient team – you’ll be learning from the very best!

Working with us at The Leigh Academy: The Leigh Academy is a secondary school at the heart of the community and our small school model ensures that each and every student gets the personal support and challenge they need to reach their full potential. Overall the academy is a dynamic and exciting place to work and the fantastic leadership team are committed to making it a great place to work for staff at all stages of their career.  As the flagship academy of Leigh Academies Trust we have an inspirational building hosting modern technology and great facilities. We ensure that our students are prepared both academically and socially for their futures. We ensure that students’ talents and interests are nurtured through our broad and balanced curriculum, in particular through the delivery of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme in Years 7, 8 and 9, having been accredited as an IB World School in December 2020 for our Key Stage 3 curriculum, and previously in 2017 for our International Baccalaureate Careers Pathway in Key Stage 5, which sits alongside our offer of A Levels and BTECS. We take pride in being the first school in the UK to have been awarded The Healthy Minds School kite mark, in recognition of successful involvement in the Healthy Minds curriculum delivery, demonstrating a commitment to the personal development of students and staff. 

We strive for excellence in all that we do whilst ‘Opening minds to Success’. This is reflected in our dedicated staff and our consistent approach to teaching and learning to ensure all of our students are happy, successful and resilient to the challenges they face. Our intention is to work in close partnership with parents and carers to ensure that students of all abilities, interests and talents are given every opportunity to be part of our inspiring, challenging and supportive community. We work hard to ensure all staff are supported in their current and next stage of their career journey, ensuring staff are able to access NPQ courses and other further training opportunities within the Leigh Academies Trust and externally. 

Everyone who visits us is impressed by our students, the working atmosphere, the sheer sense of enjoyment in the learning process and the strong focus on achievement.

Please click here to view our website and learn more about The Leigh Academy.

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2022, our Trust comprises 30 geographically organised academies (14 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating 20,000 students, and employing 3,000 talented staff. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training organisations, a large teaching school hub and is an accredited apprenticeship provider. Our future plans are found in our Vision 2030 document available on our website.​​​​​​​

Click here to view the benefits available to all LAT employees from day one. 

Our commitment to safeguarding: Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about this in our Recruitment Guidance. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.

​​​​​​Our commitment to equality and diversity: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.