Assistant SENDCO

Astrea Academy Trust; West of England; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 28,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work

On-site gym membership

On-site parking

Job summary

Gordano School is seeking a part-time Assistant SENDCO to support inclusive education for students with additional needs. The role offers 20 hours per week with potential to increase to 30 hours, spread across 3 or 4 days, and a term-time only timetable with INSET days.

The successful candidate will work with the SENDCO and deputies, ensure statutory requirements are met, and collaborate with families, staff, and students to secure the best outcomes.

Qualifications

• Strong communication skills, both written and spoken.
• Competent ICT user with standard school systems.
• Experience supporting students with additional needs is desirable.
• Ability to prioritise tasks in a busy school environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the SENDCO in delivering inclusive education daily.
• Ensure statutory safeguarding and related duties are met.
• Collaborate with families, students and staff to achieve outcomes.
• Assist with deployment of support and monitoring of progress.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

ICT skills

Prior safeguarding experience

Ability to manage priorities

Job description

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credit_card Salary Grade JG7, SCP Range 24, £36,851 – 27, £39,481 paActual annual pro-rata salary - £17,496 - £18,745 (for 20 hours per week)Actual annual pro-rata salary - £26,244 - £28,117 (for 30 hours per week)

The job requirements are detailed below.

Job details

Salary Grade JG7, SCP Range 24, £36,851 – 27, £39,481 paActual annual pro-rata salary - £17,496 - £18,745 (for 20 hours per week)Actual annual pro-rata salary - £26,244 - £28,117 (for 30 hours per week)

Contractual hours 20

Basis Part Time

Job type Support Staff - Educational

Job category Support Role - Education/Behavioural Support

Permanent – 20 hours per week with flexibility to increase to 30 hours per week

Term Time Only Plus 5 INSET Days

The School

Gordano School, part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, is a large and successful 11-18 comprehensive secondary school approximately eight miles outside Bristol. Our school includes a thriving Sixth Form of nearly 400 students that is strongly integrated into the life of the school and offers significant opportunities for sixth form teaching in over 30 courses. We are the sole secondary school serving the popular town of Portishead and benefit greatly from being a central part of our community.

We view education as something bigger than just academic achievement. We have a record of considerable academic success but wholeheartedly believe that a student's education should be about preparing young people for their future lives in the complete sense, developing our young people’s key skills and behaviours that set them up for a successful future pathway. As well as consistently strong outcomes at GCSE and A Level, we place great emphasis on the opportunities available to our students including developing student leadership across our student body, offering an unparalleled extra-curricular programme and ensuring clear guidance for students when considering progression to their next steps of their educational journey.

We pride ourselves on high-quality support for colleagues at all stages of their career through internal and external CPD, including our membership of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, with staff involved in a range of developmental opportunities across schools in the Trust as well as supporting staff in bespoke training such as completing different levels of the NPQ programmes. We maintain significant involvement in Initial Teacher Training and deliver a comprehensive ECT induction in association with the Five Counties Teaching School Hubs Alliance and Ambition Institute. Our very large staff body allows regular opportunities for progression into leadership roles at all levels.

Importantly, beyond the wider experiences on offer to our student body, we seek to be a very happy school community with a big heart. This has never been more evident than through our recent work in delivering our core principles of ‘Dream big, do your best, give back’, fostering a community filled with kindness and respect.

The Role

We are seeking to appoint an additional, part-time Assistant SENDCO who shares our vision of providing the best possible education for all of the children within our school, so that they become independent and effective lifelong learners. The role is offered on a minimum of 20 hours per week with flexibility to increase to 30 hours per week. The working pattern will be agreed with the line manager, but with the hours ideally worked over 3 or 4 days.

The right candidate will be committed to, and passionate about facilitating inclusive, equitable practice on a daily basis. They will work to match the needs of the student body with the most effective deployment of support, to secure the best possible outcomes for students. They will ensure that statutory requirements are fully considered when working with families, students and their additional needs.

The Assistant SENDCO will work within a well-established department including the SENDCO, Deputy SENDCO, Teachers of Learning Support and Student Support Workers. They will be able to effectively collaborate with all stakeholders, fostering excellent working relationships between staff, students and families.

It is important that applicants recognise the safeguarding responsibilities that all adults in schools hold, and the checks that are needed to allow all adults in school communities to work there. The role will involve contact with students in the school, and the successful applicant will need to fully understand, and undertake regular training updates on, our safeguarding protocols and how to report on these if needed.

Criteria for Selection

• Excellent communication skills (both written and oral)


• Good level of ICT skills


• Ability to stay calm under pressure and manage priorities effectively


• Excellent attention to detail


• An understanding of the importance of confidentiality in a school environment

To be considered for this position you must:

• Have a passion and 'can-do' attitude for supporting the School


• Be inspired by a high-paced and dynamic working environment

Gordano School offers an excellent benefits package including

• contributory pension scheme


• a comprehensive employee assistance programme and benefits (offering discounts on shopping)


• cycle to work scheme


• discounted on-site gym membership


• on-site parking

In interviews: w/c 2 nd November 2026

We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, particularly those from under-represented groups.

Safeguarding Statement

The Lighthouse Schools Partnership - Gordano School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all in its community to share this commitment. Suitability to work with children and young people will form part of the selection process. As part of the shortlisting process an online search will be carried out. All appointments will be subject to vetting, including an enhanced DBS check.

A copy of the Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy, Disclosure Policy and Recruitment Policy can be found on the Lighthouse Schools Partnership website.

Please note that for all roles that require regulated activity it is an offence to apply if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity.