Higher Level Teaching Assistant (BSL)

The Hearing Impaired Specialist Resource Provision (SRP) at the Sir Geoffrey Leigh Academy includes a dedicated SRP for Hearing Impaired (HI) students with severe to profound hearing loss.  The HI students are placed in tutor groups alongside their hearing peers. They are taught by the academy’s subject teachers, working in the mainstream classes for the majority of the time. The Hearing Impaired Specialist Resource Provision staff provide support, working alongside teaching staff and the SENDCo to ensure that the needs of the hearing impaired students are taken into account. Some of the students use BSL to support their spoken language so signed communication support is provided and we also use the Total Communication Approach. The academy strives to promote deaf awareness within the academy community as a whole and deaf awareness is included in the pastoral programme for all students.  Although the Hearing Impaired students work primarily in their main classes for the majority of the time,  interventions also take place in the Hearing Impaired SRP. The SRP base within the Inclusion Hub is used for specialist teaching, audiology and Speech and Language Therapy.

The successful candidate will be able to offer hearing impaired support in all aspects of academy life, whilst encouraging students you work closely with to become an independent learner. They will also facilitate personal, social and intellectual development of those with hearing loss. This role would suit an experienced HLTA of hearing Impaired students with relevant hearing impairment qualifications. The successful candidate will join an established hearing team, offering specialist resource provision to those with hearing impairment within a large SEND department. We would welcome applications from those who are qualified hearing impairment specialists and hold British Sign Language level two or above.

This is a fixed-term position until the end of the academic year, working 37 hours per week, term time + 1 week of inset and offers an actual salary of £24,339 - £26,830 per annum (£28,297 - £31,194 full-time equivalent) based on experience.

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 four ‘clusters’ of academies: North Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. 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.