Learning Support Assistant

Our School

We are a well-established secondary school of choice in the south of the Croydon borough of London. We are a mixed comprehensive school, with pupils from age 11-16 years. We opened as Oasis in September 2008 and have worked tirelessly to become a trusted and oversubscribed secondary school in the community we serve. In 2011 our multi-million pound rebuild was finished, and we opened our new modern, light, and expansive facilities. We are extremely fortunate to be based within green belt land, affording us extensive sports fields and a backdrop of woods and common land.

Our Community

We predominantly serve Old Coulsdon and Coulsdon, however, we are extremely close to the border of Surrey and have many students travelling from neighbouring Caterham. We are proud to be a truly comprehensive school with a fantastic and diverse cohort of students who continue to make better than expected progress year after year

We have a diverse cohort of students, and students are all proud of their individual heritage and the collective identity that OAC gives them, which is celebrated at our annual Culture Day. We have an onsite ASD unit within our SEND department, and inclusiveness is at the heart of everything we do - we strongly believe in meeting people where they are at but not leaving them there.

Our students are very proud of their school. They behave well, are keen to learn, and embrace the wider life of the school. All students take part in the personal development award, and a vast majority of our students are involved in student leadership and/or our extra-curricular offers.

Our Values

We strive to be a school that is very much the heart of the community, where everyone associated with us is proud to call us ‘their school’. Each child who walks through our doors must leave equipped with the capacity to thrive in the wider world and contribute positively to it. Every young person deserves to realise the very best version of themselves regardless of socio-economic background, gender, ethnicity, educational need, or any other historical ‘barrier’ to achieving this.

We will provide the support, opportunities, structure, and inspirational learning required to facilitate this. Our values of ‘excellence through resilience, rigor, aspiration, and passion’ drive everything we do in our day-to-day actions and strategic planning.

What we offer

You will be joining an extremely talented and highly committed staff team. We all care deeply about our students and staff and are determined to deliver the very best for our community. We have a well-established and robust curriculum in place, and we are fortunate to have a wealth of resources to support adaptation needs for our students through Trust Subject Leads who work across Oasis Academies, sharing best practice and ideas.

You will benefit from regular CPD delivered within the academy, with dedicated time for staff once a week thanks to a shortened school day on Wednesdays to allow us to have regular and focused sessions.

We also benefit from local cluster and national CPD by the OCL learning and development team. Being part of a relatively large trust presents opportunities to learn from others as well as clear routes of career progression for both teaching and support staff.

Career development is very much at the forefront of our thinking, ensuring you get the chance to develop your skills and be well-placed for the next step in your career. Above all, OAC is an exciting and enjoyable place to work. Morale is high amongst staff, and your well-being will always be a priority as you help to grown and shape the future of the school.

We are proud of the benefits that come with being part of the Oasis Coulsdon family. Our benefits include:

• A well-established curriculum and resources that help manage workload effectively.
• A supportive, thriving local community and an oversubscribed school.
• An on-site nursery with subsidised places for staff members.
• Wellbeing day for every member of staff to take at a time of their choosing.
• A team that values staff wellbeing and prioritises long-term planning, avoiding mid-year changes.
• A modern, beautifully designed building with outstanding facilities and stunning landscapes.
• A commitment to staff continued professional development, with a comprehensive yearly plan to support out staff as teams and individuals.
• Shortened school day every Wednesday to allow for regular, dedicated CPD time for staff
• My Oasis Benefits giving staff exclusive discounts with a wide range of retailers.
• Annual allowance for individual coaching, therapy, and counselling with independent practitioners.
• Health Shield cash plan and employee discount scheme.
• Flexible Working: We understand the importance of work-life balance. If you need flexibility to accommodate personal commitments or are interested in part-time or hybrid working (where applicable), we’re happy to discuss options with you.

Who are we looking for?

Quite simply, we want people who shares our values and vision for delivering exceptional education at the heart of the community. Someone who is hard-working, driven, and constantly striving to improve and develop. We want individuals who will complement and enhance our existing team with their skills and personality.

The Academy welcomes Applications from experienced Staff as well as those newer to the profession – whatever your background or experience, we are committed to developing you and ensuring you remain professionally stimulated with real job satisfaction and support. To find out more about the Academy please contact us and arrange a visit.