Higher Level Teaching Assistant

Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy has an exciting opportunity to appoint an enthusiastic, motivated and experienced Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) to join our highly collaborative and supportive team as soon as possible. Our successful candidate will support curriculum delivery across the Academy through working collaboratively with teachers, teaching assistants and mentors.

The HLTA will be able to encourage pupils to become independent learners, whilst providing appropriate support for pupils with special educational needs. This role would suit an experienced teaching assistant seeking the next step in their career and we would particularly welcome applications from those who are hearing impairment specialists and hold the Level 1, 2 or 3 British Sign Language (BSL) qualification, although this is not essential. Our successful candidate will be joining a supportive Inclusion Team with 2 specialist resource provisions covering speech and language and hearing impairment. 

This position is ideal for those seeking to embark on teacher training, as this role offers first hand experience and exposure to classroom teaching and the opportunity of working directly with our teaching staff, as well as running and planning interventions. 

This basis of this role is permanent and offers an actual salary of £22,421 per annum (£26,079 full time equivalent) based on 37 hours per week, Term Time + 1 week inset. 

Working with us at Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy: Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy (formerly 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. Our award winning building and facilities are modern, light and airy and the open learning terraces and classrooms built around a daylit winter garden give the academy a unique and special character.

The purpose-built academy has the most up-to-date, technologically advanced facilities available. It is divided into four Colleges each containing 400 students aged 11-18 taught by their own staff. Our dedicated and energetic staff make a real difference to the lives of our students. We believe that these smaller schools within the Academy develop deeper relationships and lay stronger foundations for learning which underpin outstanding achievement.

The principles that have taken us on our exciting journey remain: namely, a passion for learning; a commitment to trying new ways to inspire and motivate young minds; and a dedication to helping each student fulfil their potential by encouraging them to explore all that life has to offer. 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 Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy (formerly The Leigh Academy).

Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2024, our Trust comprises 33 geographically organised academies (17 secondaries, 14 primaries and 2 special) educating more than 24,000 students and employing 4,000 talented staff. Nearly 40% of our academies are judged outstanding overall by Ofsted, versus 15% nationally. The Trust is establishing three ‘clusters’ of academies: LAT West; LAT Central; LAT North. 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.

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.

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.

Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.