Teaching Assistant (Ipswich Prep School)
Ipswich School
Suffolk
- £17,458 per year
- Expired
- Salary:
- + generous benefits
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Start date:
- 01/09/2025
- Apply by:
- 23 June 2025
Job overview
Full-time, permanent required from September 2025
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, well organised, willing and flexible person to primarily provide teaching assistant support, working with our pupils across Key Stages 1 and 2.
With your strong communication skills and a caring nature, you will establish good working relationships with learners and enable them to build and develop their confidence. You should ideally have experience in this area and be willing to contribute to the full life of our busy school.
Ipswich Preparatory School, for pupils aged 4 –11, is the primary aged stage of Ipswich School and close links are enjoyed with the Senior School. Generally, there are two classes per year group, Reception to Year 6 and a day care nursery (The Lodge) which cares for some 100 children aged 3 months to the time the children join Reception.
The Prep School operates as one unit, from Reception to Year 6 with lessons on Mondays to Fridays. Whilst there are organisational differences between the ways in which school life is structured for ‘infants’ in Lower Prep and ‘junior’ pupils in Upper Prep, there is no formal separation of the school into two sections.
Pupils follow a broad and balanced curriculum. Academic achievement is high and the School has particular strengths in art, music, drama and sport. All classes, with the exception of Years 4 to 6 are generally taught by their Form Teacher, although some subjects, such as Languages, Art, Computing, Games, Music and Science are taught by teachers specially appointed to teach that subject, throughout the school. The School has Learning Support staff, a school counsellor and a good number of teaching assistants.
The School enjoys a talented, committed and loyal teaching staff. The ratio of teachers to pupils is approximately 1:11. In addition to Form Teachers, there are specialist teachers for PE, Games, Music, Art, Languages, Science, Drama, Computing and Learning Support. Form teachers, in addition to subject specialists, take on subject leader roles.
All staff who teach at the School make contributions to school life outside their own specialisation as well as to our co-curricular programme. The School has a strong community feel and new members of staff invariably speak of the supportiveness and friendliness of their colleagues and the pupils.
HOURS OF WORK
- This is a permanent post, subject to completion of a 6 month probationary period.
- Hours: 8:30am - 4:00pm Monday to Friday during Ipswich School term time.
- All Teaching Assistants are required to work on Open Morning on one Saturday (usually) in September each year.
SALARY AND BENEFITS
- The starting salary for the hours as described is dependent on skills and experience starting from £17,458 and can be discussed further at interview
- The annual salary quoted includes statutory holiday pay. Annual leave may only be taken outside of Ipswich School term times.
- After 3 months’ service and/or in line with workplace pension legislation, you will be entitled to join a defined contribution pension scheme with 10% employer contributions, and you will receive 3x death in service cover.
- You will have access to Smarthealth, the School’s wellbeing app for staff which offers 24/7 GP access and mental health support.
- Free lunch is provided in the Senior School Dining Hall during term time when the kitchen is in operation.
- Staff are able to use the School’s swimming pool and fitness gym (in compliance with appropriate rules and regulations).
- After 3+ years’ service, support staff are eligible for staff fee remission.
APPLICATION AND INTERVIEW ARRANGEMENTS
We would encourage you to download a full job description and application form from our websitehttps://www.ipswich.school/contact-us/vacancies/prep-school-teaching-assistant/ or contact hr@ipswich.school / 01473 408300.
Please advise us of any special requirements you may have if you are called for an interview. If your special requirements mean that you need to submit this application in a different format please contact us.
Completed application forms, with the names, addresses and telephone numbers of two referees; along with a letter of application, explaining your educational philosophy, teaching strengths and relevant personal interests, should be sent by 12 noon on Monday 23 June 2025 to Mrs Lucy Southgate, Prep Deputy Head, Ipswich Preparatory School, 3 Ivry Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3QW or email: hr@ipswich.school.
Interviews are scheduled to take place on Wednesday 25 June and/or Thursday 26 June 2025. Visits to the school are welcome and should be arranged with Head’s PA, Mrs C Clarke prephead@ipswich.school
PLEASE NOTE
● Ipswich School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. Having a criminal record will not necessarily be a bar to obtaining the position. The Ipswich School Policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders and the Code of Practice relating to the Disclosure and Barring Service are available on request.
Attached documents
About Ipswich School
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Ipswich School is one of the leading independent schools in the area. It has a long history dating back to at least 1399 and is known for its academic success, without being an educational ‘hot house’, its extensive sport, drama and music activities and its commitment to the local community.
Pupils at the school come from a really broad range of backgrounds, and this makes the school different to many others in the independent sector. The atmosphere is very positive and pupils really do get on well with each other and with teachers. Behaviour in lessons is first class and teachers are able to focus fully on their teaching and pupils’ learning without having to spend time and effort keeping everyone in order.
Those applying for teaching posts in the Senior School will find that class sizes are generally smaller than in the maintained sector, with Lower School classes typically being around 20, Middle School can be a little larger or smaller depending on subjects – but are never larger than 24. A Level classes in the Sixth Form are typically have around 10 – 12 students, with 15 students being the upper limit.
Teachers are well supported by Heads of Department and there is a first-class CPD programme in place which not only provides the latest on class room practice, but also involves a range of optional social events. Additional training is also available for all teachers.
For those looking at Prep School posts they will find wonderful purpose-built classrooms in a state-of-the-art Prep School building, small class sizes – typically around 15 in the Lower Prep and between 18 and 25 in the Upper Prep. They will also find parents are very supportive and keen to develop the potential in their children.
Those applying for support staff posts will feel themselves very much part of a community alongside teaching staff. There is a well-refined CPD programme for, great opportunities for development and a fantastic range of benefits.
There are regular opportunities for all staff to get together socially. Recently staff events include drawing sessions, gin and wine tasting, wreath making at Christmas and a summer BBQ.
Facilities throughout the school are excellent with a brand new Music School, the extensive Ipswich School Sports Centre at nearby Rushmere, a specially-built Prep School and a day nursery – The Lodge.
There is free car parking on site for teachers and support staff (though this can be a little tight at times in the Senior School) and a range of other benefits.
Supporting the community is one of the school’s core values. The school has a significant community programme with pupils visiting local care homes giving music and drama performances, pupils growing vegetables and giving them to a local charity, local primary schools taking part in our annual Festival of Music and a large pupil-led termly fundraising programme.
Please have a look at our current vacancies listed here.
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