Horizons Level 1 Teaching Assistant

JOHN SMEATON ACADEMY; Leeds; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational academy in Leeds is seeking enthusiastic Teaching Assistants to promote their vision and values. Successful candidates will support teachers in providing education for children with complex communication needs. Ideal applicants should possess good numeracy and literacy skills and have experience working with children. This position offers a full-time contract within a supportive environment aimed at driving academic excellence.

Benefits

Membership of a pension scheme

Continued investment in staff

Access to an Employee Assistance Programme

£2k Cycle to work scheme

Responsibilities

• Support the teacher with a tailored curriculum.
• Assist children with complex communication needs.
• Work under direct instruction of teaching staff.

Skills

Good numeracy/literacy skills

Experience of working with or caring for children

Ability to relate well to children

Job description

Horizons Level 1 Teaching Assistant

CAPTION: Job details

• Posting date: 17 November 2025
• Hours: Full time
• Closing date: 17 December 2025
• Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS15 8TA
• Company: Teaching Vacancies
• Job type: Permanent
• Job reference: 0fddf1a6-3dbd-460c-bde1-3cdaabc1dd31

Summary

What skills and experience we're looking for.

John Smeaton Academy is seeking to appoint five enthusiastic and dynamic Horizons Teaching Assistants to join our academy who will promote our vision and values. The successful candidates will work under the direct instruction of teaching/senior staff, within our resource provision that provides support and education for children with complex communication needs, to support the teacher on implementing a curriculum which is tailored to individual needs, enabling pupils to reach their full potential.

Qualifications

• Good numeracy/literacy skills.
• Experience of working with or caring for children of relevant age.
• Ability to relate well to children and young people.

About us

On 1 September 2021 John Smeaton Academy joined The GORSE Academies Trust, an organisation renowned for excellence in education. The trust has a nationally recognised track record of transforming inadequate schools and making them great again. Consequently, this role represents an incredibly exciting opportunity for any candidate who is eager to be part of an organisation that seeks to secure the very highest educational standard for every student. We are determined to ensure students at John Smeaton Academy are inspired to ‘Secure the Gift of Choice’ and we expect any successful candidate to be passionate and tenacious in their quest for all‑round academic and pastoral excellence.

We offer a unique opportunity to be part of the rapid transformation of an academy and its wider community.

In 2019 John Smeaton Academy’s performance data placed it as the lowest‑performing secondary school in the city of Leeds and one of the worst performing in the country. It is fair to say that the academy was unconvincing for many years, resulting in the community losing confidence in the school. The academy has already improved significantly as evidenced by parent/carer and student feedback along with the day‑today experience of the students.

How to Apply

If you are as excited about this role as we are, you can download the Job Description, Person Specification and Application Form from The GORSE Academies Trust website, request them by email at [e-mail] or call us on 0113 8313900.

If you submit an electronic application, we will not require a hard copy. CVs are not accepted.

Closing date for applications: 17 December 2025 (Apply Now)

PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will be shortlisted and invited to interview while this advert remains live; if a successful candidate is found the advert will be withdrawn. We therefore strongly encourage you to apply as soon as possible so you do not miss out on this fantastic opportunity.

Interviews will take place: TBC.

We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to full employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and barring service check. We promote diversity and aim to establish a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds.

Employment is conditional on confirmation of the right to work in the UK – either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

Please note that, as a sponsor licence holder, we only provide sponsorship for teacher vacancies.

What the school offers its staff

As a trust, we want to ensure that professionals at every stage in their career have the opportunity to enjoy expert support and training. We are pleased to offer a generous benefits package to our team – as we work together to create a rewarding future for all including:

• Membership of a teacher or local government pension scheme, depending on the role.
• A commitment to continued investment in our professionals, supporting every member of staff throughout their career in the trust.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential professional advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• £2k Cycle to work scheme.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), medical, online and social media prohibition from teaching, right to work, satisfactory references, suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.