Year 5 Teacher

About the role: Paddock Wood Primary Academy are looking for a Year 5 Teacher to join the team in February 2020 on a permanent, full-time basis. This very rare opportunity that has come about from the planned relocation of one of our teachers.

Paddock Wood Primary Academy is a comparatively large school (22 classes/600+ pupils), set in the town of Paddock Wood in the Kent countryside. It is a thriving and engaging three-form entry school in the heart of West Kent. Our ethos encapsulates high standards and expectations, excellent learning and teaching, and the positive wellbeing of our pupils and colleagues. We have a strong and committed teaching team which is widely respected and supported by our academy community. Our teachers vary in experience from Newly Qualified to 30+ years, and each brings something valuable to share, and a passion to learn. Our staff team totals 67 (32 teachers, 18 teaching assistants and 17 others) and we have a lot to offer new colleagues, in terms of sharing experience and opportunities, and professional development and training.

We directly employ our own SEN department, comprising Numbers Count and Reading Recovery teachers, specialist Teaching Assistants, and our highly-skilled Inclusion Manager. Our wide curriculum is supported by specialist teachers of music, French, PE, computing and outdoor education. Some features that help us stand out from other schools are that all of our pupils learn French, learn other subjects in French and leave us conversant in the language, pupils leave us with a strong understanding and appreciation of music and sporting skills and that we embed independence, stamina and considered risk into children’s learning, for example through EYFS and KS1 team games and initiative exercises, Year 3 outdoor/forest skills, Y4 mountain biking, Year 5 caving and kayaking, and Year 6 skiing/snow-boarding. We have our own school minibuses and we very frequently take children out into the local area and into central London, as well as taking Year 5 pupils to the Brecon Beacons and Year 6 pupils to Paris. We have a strong regard for extra-curricular learning and a healthy catalogue of sporting and other successes and awards. 

Our school is very well regarded, and as well as serving our local community we have a number of pupils (and staff!) who travel some distance to be with us every day. Our academy benefits from significant parent and community support, but we are not complacent - we are committed, hard-working and welcoming. Our children are delightful; calm, focused and very eager to learn.

Applications are invited equally from experienced and newly qualified teachers. We warmly invite you to come and visit either or both academies to experience the culture, ethos and expectations of our schools for yourself. Please contact Lisa King to make an appointment - lisa.king@latrust.org.uk

We welcome applications from colleagues who will:

• Take considered risks and teach from the heart
• Recognise, appreciate and teach to the uniqueness of every child
• Commit to on-going professional development and be free from complacency
• Make positive contributions to the wider life of our academies
• Maintain a dynamic and inspiring learning environment
• Be innovative, highly motivated and eager to take a lead
• Have good interpersonal skills and be able to work well as part of our strong team

Working with Leigh Academies Trust: As of September 2019, our Trust is comprised of 25 geographically organised academies (11 secondaries, 13 primaries and 1 special) educating over 15,000 students, and employing over 2,500 talented staff.  We also have three further academies in development phase, due to open between September 2020-2021.  The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North West Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training providers and a large teaching school. 

As part of Leigh Academies Trust you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust.  This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together.  You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

We strive to offer a range of benefits that all employees can take advantage of which we regularly review and add to - click here to view what you’d receive as a member of staff with Leigh Academies Trust. 

Diversity is at our core: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals we all bring something unique to the role regardless of age, gender, race, beliefs or disabilities which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. 

The academy is committed to safeguarding children and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by robust processes and checks which are in place across the Trust.