Teaching Assistant

The Job:

Pleckgate High School wish to appoint a Teaching assistant Level 3 (maternity cover) on 30 hours per week Monday to Friday 08:25-15:05, on a term time plus one week contract.

What does this job do? To work under the direction of the class teacher (or HLTA leading the class in the short-term absence of the class teacher), to implement planning and assessment, working with individual or small groups of pupils to achieve high levels of accelerated pupil progress. To support pupils to overcome barriers to learning, promoting the inclusion of all pupils by developing their communication skills, supporting them to manage their behaviour, developing independence and social skills and to take responsibility for monitoring/reporting on the impact of class-based interventions. To provide supervision and guidance and learning opportunities in all non-lesson-based activities. Working with the teacher on lesson planning, evaluating and adjusting lesson plans as appropriate. Administering and assessing routine tests to assess the pupils as needed.

What are the job requirements?

GCSE or Equivalent qualification in English and Mathematics at level 9 – 5. Child Care/NVQ/ other relevant qualification (related to education is desirable) at level 3. Experience of support work with children in an educational setting. Experience of working with EAL pupils to develop their language acquisition skills. Experience of delivering interventions to small groups of students independently from the teacher.

Experience of administering and assessing routine tests

About Pleckgate High School:

We are a large secondary school, part of the Education Partnership Trust (EPT), situated on the northern outskirts of Blackburn. Our school community is made up of 1350 students and 180 staff with excellent facilities to benefit both the school and local community. Pleckgate High School is a thriving multicultural community that places the best interests of young people at the heart of everything we do.

We are an ambitious school with high expectations for ourselves and our pupils. We are committed to providing excellent teaching and learning and we want all our pupils to be safe, happy and successful. In our Ofsted report in June 2024, our school was described as offering a “harmonious and supportive environment. Pupils learn the importance of being kind and respectful towards others”. Every pupil at Pleckgate is encouraged to have ambitious goals and to work hard. A copy of our full report is available from the school website.

We are proud of our achievements – our ambitious curriculum, our examination success, opportunities for pupils' personal development, our charity work and our community involvement. We are significantly oversubscribed and pupils achieve positive outcomes at Pleckgate.

We are significantly oversubscribed and pupils achieve positive outcomes at Pleckgate. We are proud of how staff support pupils in achieving success both academically and through sport.

As a staff member of Pleckgate High School, you will be able to take advantage of the staff benefits, available through the EPT, which includes access to both the Simply Health and Discount for Teachers schemes. We also have an Associate member of our Senior Leadership Team whose role is to work with our staff on staff wellbeing, working to ensure you have a balanced home and work life-style.

If you have any questions about our school, or the role itself, please don't hesitate to get in touch and please visit our school website http://www.pleckgate.com to get a flavour of what we have to offer.

About the Education Partnership Trust (EPT):

EPT was established in 2012 as a multi-academy trust and is an approved academy sponsor. Our vision is to create outstanding schools which transform learning, lives and communities. We benefit from our diverse and unique range of schools which include secondary mainstream, alternative provision and special and have a proven track record of sustained improvement. Our schools are united by a drive to improve opportunities and outcomes for children and young people within a collaborative learning culture.

Our staff are our most valued asset so we continually invest in our colleagues and we believe that all teaching and support staff posts within our schools are key in terms of supporting pupil achievement and improving their life chances. As such we are keen to recruit dedicated and ambitious professionals who will add value to our schools and trust by helping our young people to succeed.

Our extensive range of rewards and benefits include:

Healthcare cash back plan provided free by the trust includes optical, dental, physio, diagnostics, health assessment, NHS prescription charges, hospital cover, discounted gym memberships plus lots more. Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling, CBT, and wellbeing initiatives. Cycle to Work scheme. Access to government pension schemes. Free parking. Training, mentoring and progression opportunities. Trust wide intranet to share knowledge and resources.

Incomplete application forms will not be shortlisted, if you need to discuss a reason for being unable to complete a section, please contact the recruitment team HR@ept-uk.com

We warmly welcome a visit to the school or an informal conversation prior to application. P lease contact Carrie Smith - csmith@pleckgate-ept.com

Please be advised, as part of due diligence checks, online searches will be carried out on shortlisted candidates.