Lead Teaching Assistant

Ark; St Leonards; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A local educational institution in St Leonards is seeking a Lead Teaching Assistant to support students' academic progress and development. The successful candidate will lead a team of teaching assistants while focusing on creating a supportive learning environment. Responsibilities include providing specialized support and implementing effective strategies for student learning. This permanent role offers a salary range of £26,824 – £32,061 (pro rata) with additional health benefits. Applications are encouraged early due to a rolling review process.

Benefits

Healthcare Cash Plan

Cycle to Work scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Staff discounts via Ark Rewards

Development opportunities for support staff

Higher salary than national pay scales

More training days than standard

Coaching for every teacher

Protected co-planning time

Access to professional development courses

Qualifications

• Experience in removing barriers to student progress.
• Ability to establish respectful and supportive learning relationships.
• Experience in planning and implementing interventions for students.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist support to help students achieve academic success.
• Lead a team of teaching assistants and plan intervention programmes.
• Create a supportive learning environment.

Skills

Removing barriers for student progress

Establishing successful learning relationships

Developing and implementing high-quality programmes

Job description

Lead Teaching Assistant

Start date: March 2026

Location: Ark Alexandra Academy, Hastings, East Sussex

Salary: Ark Outside London Support Scale 6, points 8-19: £26,824 - £32,061 (pro rata)

Actual starting salary: £23,073.14. Pay is spread evenly over 12 months.

Hours: 36 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term time only)

Contract: Permanent

Closing date: 11:59pm on 04 January 2026

We reserve the right to close this advert early and interviews may take place before the advertised closing date. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early for this role to avoid disappointment.

Would you like to be instrumental in helping remove barriers to student progress and development?

We are looking for a reliable and detail-oriented Lead TA to join our hard-working SEND team. You will have your own dedicated area and will have access to a range of online training for your role.

As a Lead Teaching Assistant you will provide specialist support for pupils, parents, TA’s and teachers, to establish a supportive learning environment in which children make excellent academic progress. You will lead a team of TA’s, alongside planning and delivering intervention programmes to address the student needs and to remove barriers to their progress and development. You will be instrumental in our mission to provide every student, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life.

As the ideal candidate you will:

• Have experience of removing barriers so that students make at least good progress.
• Have experience in establishing successful learning relationships with young people, treating them consistently with respect and consideration.
• Have experience in developing and implementing high quality programmes and interventions for students.

How to apply

Please click 'apply' on the website you are visiting to complete an online application form. Please ensure you complete your application fully.

Please note we are unable to accept paper applications or applications via CV. We will also be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. Early application is strongly encouraged. You will be able to pause, save and log back in to complete your application up until the vacancy closes.

To find out more about our school, please visit our website: www.arkalexandra.org

If you have any questions about the role, please contact HR on [e-mail]

Benefits

We offer health benefits such as:

• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Staff discounts (online and in-store) via instant vouchers or reloadable gift cards from the Ark Rewards scheme
• Developing CPD offer for support staff
• Salary higher than the national pay scales
• Twice as many training days as standard and network-wide events with Ark colleagues, held by the best minds in education
• Weekly staff training designed to meet the needs of the school
• Coaching for every teacher
• Protected co-planning time
• Access to the high-quality, professional development, including nationally recognised qualifications such as the NPQML and NPQSL
• Opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the network

About Us

We are aiming to create one of the top performing schools in the UK right here in Hastings.

Ark Alexandra Academy is a popular secondary school in Hastings. We operate a ‘One School, Two Campus’ model, which brings with it unique opportunities for career growth and development. The school is on an exciting and rapid journey of improvement which is underpinned by research and best practice. We place primacy on traditional values: discipline, courtesy and respect. Our students are smart and ready to learn and thrive. We are a strict no mobile phone school.

As part of the Ark network, Ark Alexandra Academy has access to the dedicated support of a highly successful MAT with a well-regarded CPD offer for leaders and teachers at all levels and a developing programme for support staff. In addition, the school is part of the Hastings DfE Education Investment Area giving an increased focus on the region, potential funding, and genuine opportunities for collaboration between schools.

Visit arkalexandra.org/jobs to learn more about us and see our current vacancies.

Diversity and inclusion

We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click link.

Safeguarding statement

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.

Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click link.

Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.