Pastoral Assistant

OFG Education; Newbury; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme with employer matching

Wellbeing and mental health support

Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista)

Cycle to Work Scheme

Discounts

Job summary

OFG Education's New Barn School in Newbury is seeking a compassionate Pastoral Assistant to join our dedicated team. This fixed-term role supports students’ emotional and social development, acting as a trusted mentor and advocate throughout the school day.

With a 40-hour week, Monday to Friday, start in November 2026, you’ll work closely with pastoral and teaching staff to foster a safe, nurturing environment and help students thrive on their educational journey.

Qualifications

• Full UK driving licence required.
• Experience working with children or young people, including those with additional or complex needs.
• Good understanding of safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to stay calm and positive in challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Provide emotional and pastoral support to students across the school.
• Build positive, trusting relationships to promote confidence and wellbeing.
• Support students to overcome barriers to learning and achieve personal goals.
• Collaborate with pastoral, welfare and teaching teams to create a safe environment.
• Encourage positive behaviour, resilience, self-esteem and social development.
• Be a consistent source of guidance and support throughout the school day.

Skills

Driving licence

Experience with children/young people

Safeguarding knowledge

Communication & relationship-building

Calm, positive, solution-focused

Job description

Pastoral Assistant

New Barn - River View House

Newbury

Fixed Term

Salary: £26,000 per annum

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Position: Pastoral Assistant

Location: New Barn School - River View House, Newbury, Berkshire RG14 2PS

Salary: £26,000 per annum (not pro rata)

Hours: 40 hours per week | Monday to Friday

Contract: Fixed Term (until September 2027) | Term Time Only

Start: November 2026

UK applicants only. This role does not offer sponsorship.

About the role

At New Barn School, we're looking for a compassionate and resilient Pastoral Assistant to join our dedicated team.

This is more than a support role. It's an opportunity to positively influence the lives of young people every single day.

As a Pastoral Assistant, you'll be a trusted mentor, advocate, and role model, helping students overcome challenges, build confidence, and develop the skills they need to thrive. You'll provide the encouragement, consistency, and support that helps students feel safe, valued, and ready to achieve their potential.

Whether you're supporting a student through a difficult moment, celebrating a breakthrough, or helping them develop positive relationships, you'll play a vital role in their educational journey.

What You'll Be Doing

• Providing emotional and pastoral support to students across the school.
• Building positive, trusting relationships that promote confidence, wellbeing, and engagement.
• Supporting students to overcome barriers to learning and achieve personal goals.
• Working closely with pastoral, welfare, and teaching teams to create a safe and nurturing environment.
• Encouraging positive behaviour, resilience, self-esteem, and social development.
• Acting as a consistent source of guidance, encouragement, and support throughout the school day.

What you will bring

• A full UK Driving Licence.
• Experience working with children or young people, particularly those with additional or complex needs.
• A good understanding of safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to remain calm, positive, and solution-focused in challenging situations.

About Our School

New Barn School provides inclusive, nurturing education for autistic children and young people with complex needs across three sites. We deliver personalised learning, therapeutic support, and vocational opportunities tailored to each student’s Education, Health and Care Plan. Students learn in small, supportive settings that promote confidence, independence, and emotional wellbeing. Built on strong partnerships with families, New Barn empowers every learner to thrive and prepare for life beyond school.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

About Us

At OFG Education, we believe every student deserves an education designed around who they are. Through high expectations, deep expertise and truly personalised education, we help students realise their potential and prepare for successful futures.

Building on more than 20 years of experience, we are bringing our approach to more students and communities around the world. Across the UK, Iberia and the Gulf, our schools combine the strength, expertise and high standards of an international education group with the individuality of each school and the communities they serve.

Whatever your role, joining OFG education means contributing to our shared ambition: empowering every student to success through truly personalised education.

Why Join Us?

We place students and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

OFG Education is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout. OFG Education does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales

Wherever you work – whether in a city location or one of our more rural settings – you’ll be part of one dynamic family, aiming high and dreaming big, and helping the people we work with achieve their own personal goals

Salary: Up to £45,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday

With amazing teams working across our family of brands – Acorn Education, Options Autism, Momenta Connect and Blenheim Schools– we offer a huge range of exciting career opportunities. Take a closer look and discover how fulfilling your career could be.

Meeting the social and emotional needs of pupils who have faced trauma or adversity, equipping them for life’s important steps.

Supporting autistic pupils to value their uniqueness and access the world in their own way.

At Momenta Connect we support young people to overcome barriers and engage with education.

We are committed to enabling outstanding futures for all children through a portfolio of inclusive, high-quality independent and international schools.