Teacher (Maternity Cover)

Maternity Cover/ Fixed Term until the 31.01.2026 or subject to the return of the post holder.



Pay/Salary: MPS/UPS FTE: £31,650 - £49,084 per annum depending on relevant teaching experience, plus SEN 1 allowance (£2,679)

Newcastle Bridges School is seeking to appoint an outstanding teacher with relevant experience to join our successful team. We require an excellent teacher who has experience in the Arts and Creative Curriculum field or has the ability to offer a number of subjects in this and other areas.

The successful candidate should have relevant secondary teaching experience and/or special education experience and will be expected to work primarily within our hospital setting at Ferndene Mental Health Inpatient Unit in Prudhoe, but potentially also at our provisions at the Great North Children’s Hospital or our small provision in Kenton. Flexibility, adaptability and an understanding of the specific needs of our students are essential requirements of the post.

Given the unique nature of our schools and the position advertised, if you would like to discuss the post before applying please contact Helen McGowan, Deputy Headteacher to arrange an informal chat: helen.mcgowan@bridges.newcastle.sch.uk. 

Newcastle Bridges School provides excellent educational opportunities to young people whose education has been interrupted by mental or physical ill-health or school based non-attendance. We seek to support each young person's access to a full-time, broad and balanced education appropriate to their potential and their educational needs and encourage reintegration into mainstream whenever relevant. The successful candidates with therefore contribute to supporting some of the most vulnerable young people within the city and surrounding areas, striving to make a difference to their lives.

Newcastle Bridges School was judged by Ofsted to be once again ‘Outstanding’ in May 2022.

Ferndene Hospital at Prudhoe (Redburn, Stephenson (MSU), Fraser, and Riding Wards): provides regional and national Tier 4 Child and Adolescent Services (CAMHS) for children and young people between the ages of 13 and 18. Tier 4 CAMHS are for patients with more complex needs usually requiring inpatient treatment.

The Great North Children’s Hospital is a regional hospital for many specialised services within paediatrics. The intake of patients covers a wide Geographical area; north to the Scottish Borders, west to Cumbria and south to North Yorkshire. It also serves the national and international community as a centre of excellence. The Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital provides care for children who need medical or surgical help for conditions involving the heart, lungs and airways. It is one of two units in the UK to carry out heart and lung transplants on children.

Newcastle Bridges School at Kenton offers education to pupils aged 11-16 years old who are unable to access mainstream school due to medical and mental health needs. It offers a smaller and more nurturing environment than most mainstream secondary settings. A secondary curriculum is followed and pupils sit external exams.

The Medical Pathway Team are based within this provision and provide education to pupils in the community who are unable to access the Kenton Provision for medical reasons, supporting them in a transition back to an education setting appropriate to the individual learner.

To learn more about Newcastle Bridges School and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit our websites.

Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust

Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds. Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and kindness. We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.

The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region: 

• Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years) 
• Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years) 
• Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years) 
• Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years) 
• Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years) 

Prosper Learning Trust was also recently named as the lead partner in the opening of a new Free School in Jarrow, South Tyneside. This school will be a Special School academy for pupils with SEMH (4-11 years).

The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Newcastle Bridges School 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 Continuing Professional Development (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, each with favourable employer contribution rates.  
• Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace 
• Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs) 
• Cycle to work scheme 

For more information on why we think you should work for us see our Trust website, where you will also find videos of what our current staff think. 

Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.