Teacher

The Role

Gilbert Ward Academy, a pioneering secondary special school, invites passionate educators to enhance our community. Our school, dedicated to the academic and social-emotional growth of 11 to 16-year-olds with SEMH needs, is expanding. Following a triumphant opening in September 2023, we're preparing for new arrivals in September 2024, necessitating a broader team to accommodate our enlarging student cohort.

 

Our pupils, often facing significant learning disruptions, are met with a curriculum designed to close educational gaps. Leveraging the Oak National Academy curriculum for streamlined planning, our educators are free to focus on bespoke lesson adaptation, career linkage, and the integration of social and emotional learning.

 

Our state-of-the-art facilities include:

- Comprehensive science lab

- Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA)

- Art and design studio

- Food technology room

- Extensive individual and group work rooms

 

To ensure focused and effective education, our classes host small class sizes, supported by dedicated support staff alongside the teacher. This model fosters a supportive learning atmosphere conducive to engagement and growth.

 

We employ a mix of primary-trained teachers for foundational knowledge and secondary-trained specialists for Key Stage 3 & 4 subjects. While our primary-trained team is robust, we're actively seeking exceptional secondary-trained subject specialists to join us.

 

We aim high for our pupils, supporting GCSE pathways for those capable, while also providing alternative qualifications to suit diverse futures, acknowledging the academic hurdles many face.

 

Vacancies:

We're currently seeking specialists in:

- Mathematics

- Science

- English

- Humanities (History, Geography)

- Food Technology

- Computing

- PE

 

If you're driven to impact the lives of young people with SEMH needs positively and thrive in a supportive, innovative setting, we'd be delighted to consider your application. 

To be successful in this role, you will need to have:

- DFE recognised teaching qualification and QTS or equivalent (ECTs welcome to apply)

- An excellent understanding of SEND, especially SEMH and ASD

- A proven track record of raising attainment and progress of pupils with SEND

- Excellent communication, interpersonal and organisational skills

- A positive, flexible and creative approach to teaching and learning

- A willingness to participate in ongoing professional development and training

To learn more about Gilbert Ward Academy and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit  https://www.gilbertwardacademy.co.uk/

Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 with Newcastle Bridges School and Mary Astell Academy. Thomas Bewick School joined in 2019, Harry Watts opened in September 2020 and Gilbert Ward Academy opened in September 2023. We are striving to further build collaboration across the schools and grow as a Multi Academy Trust, whilst continuing to strengthen our relationships with schools outside the MAT for the benefit of our pupils.

The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Gilbert Ward Academy but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.

The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:

·    A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another

·    Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide CPD programmes

·    Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group

·    Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme

Full details can be found on https://www.prosperlearningtrust.co.uk/121/why-work-for-us

All successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.

Please note: We can only accept CVs when accompanied by a fully completed application form. 

Benefits

Other
SEN Allowance	SEN 1 £2,539

Qualifications

Qualification Title	Grade
DFE recognised teaching qualification and QTS or equivalent		Essential

Skills

Personal Qualities
Eagerness to learn, develop and engage with support and guidance	Essential
Flexibility and positive attitude to change	Essential
Self-aware and able to identify and ask for help and support when needed	Essential
Solutions focused and a ‘can do’ attitude when faced with challenge	Essential
Always holds others in high regard	Essential
Ability to prioritise own well-being and therefore maintain emotional availability to support others	Essential
Abilities, Skills and Knowledge
Excellent Classroom Practitioner	Essential
Excellent verbal and written communication skills	Essential
Knowledge and understanding of pupils with a wide range of learning needs	Essential
Clear understanding of and adherence to teacher standards	Essential
Commitment to raising the academic and personal achievement of pupils	Essential
High expectations of pupil achievement.	Essential
Special Requirements
Open to take part in out-of-school activities	Essential
Eagerness to positively respond to professional development opportunities offered by the school	Essential
Cleared to work with children	Essential
Desirable - Teachers
Understands the framework for inspection of schools	Desirable
Can teach other subjects or general subjects appropriate to the curriculum for pupils with complex needs	Desirable
Qualifications
Primary curriculum stage trained	Desirable
Relevant Skills
Excellent understanding of how main subject and subsidiary subjects can be taught to pupils with complex needs	Essential
Clear vision of how the subjects can be delivered to enhance the curriculum	Essential
Sound understanding of assessment, recording and reporting processes	Essential
Experience/Knowledge
Has experience of teaching pupils with significant and/or complex special educational needs or disabilities (pupils with an EHCP)	Essential
Experience
Has experience of teaching in a special school	Desirable
Has experience of teaching the primary curriculum stage to secondary age pupils	Desirable
Has experience of teaching other or general subjects to pupils with additional needs	Desirable
Further professional development	Desirable
Personal Attributes
Calm, confident and professional manner	Essential
Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and personal boundaries with children and young people with learning difficulties.	Essential
Ability to manage change and prioritise competing deadlines	Essential