Sports Coach - Sports Graduate - Teaching Assistant

Astro Education Ltd; Lancashire; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Astro Education is seeking a Football Coach turned SEN Teaching Assistant to join a specialist school in South Manchester. You will support KS3 and KS4 students, using sport and coaching to engage learners and build confidence.

This full-time, permanent role offers school hours with opportunities for professional development. Prior coaching or youth work is valued, and no prior school experience is required if you have the right attitude and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Background in football coaching or sports coaching.
• Experience working with young people or youth work is beneficial.
• Willingness to train for SEN education and behaviour mentoring.

Responsibilities

• Support KS3/KS4 students inside and outside the classroom.
• Use sport to engage learners and promote positive behaviour.
• Help students develop communication, social and emotional skills.
• Collaborate with teachers and SEN/pastoral teams.

Skills

Football coaching

Sports coaching

Youth work

Team sports

Education

Sports degree

Job description

Sports Coach / Football Coach - SEN Teaching Assistant & Behaviour Mentor

Location: South Manchester

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Hours: Monday-Friday, School Hours

Students: KS3 & KS4

Role: SEN Teaching Assistant / Behaviour Mentor

Are you a Sports Coach looking to move into education?

Are you a Sports Graduate, Football Coach, Sports Coach, PE Graduate or professional sports practitioner looking for your next career opportunity?

Astro Education is working with a specialist SEN school in South Manchester that is looking for an enthusiastic, resilient and motivated individual to join their team as a Teaching Assistant and Behaviour Mentor on a full-time, permanent basis.

This role would be particularly well suited to someone who has experience working with young people through football, sport, coaching or youth development and wants to use those skills to make a positive difference in a specialist educational setting.

You don't need to have worked in a school before. If you have the right attitude, strong communication skills and experience building relationships with young people, the school can support you in developing your education-based experience.

About Astro Education

At Astro Education, our mission is to connect great schools with great people. We believe in ethical recruitment, transparency and long-term relationships with schools and educators.

We work closely with schools across Salford and the surrounding areas, taking the time to understand the needs of each setting and the experience of every candidate. Our aim is to ensure the right people are placed in the right environments where they can thrive.

About the Role

You will work with KS3 and KS4 students aged approximately 11-16, supporting them both inside and outside the classroom.

The school is looking for someone who can use the positive influence of sport to engage students, build relationships and encourage positive behaviour. Your coaching background can be particularly valuable when working with young people who may find traditional classroom environments challenging.

As a Teaching Assistant and Behaviour Mentor, you will support students with their learning while also helping them develop confidence, emotional regulation, communication and social skills.

You will work closely with teachers and the wider SEN and pastoral team, providing consistent support and helping students remain engaged in their education.

Sport and physical activity may form an important part of your approach, using activities such as football and team sports to develop relationships, motivation, teamwork, discipline and confidence.

You will also support students who may display challenging behaviour, using positive relationships, clear boundaries and appropriate de‑escalation strategies to help them manage difficult situations.

What We're Looking For

We are keen to hear from candidates with backgrounds in football coaching, sports coaching, PE, sports development, youth work or community sport.

You could be a recent Sports Graduate looking for your first opportunity within education, an experienced Football Coach wanting to move into a school environment, or an established Sports Coach looking for a new challenge.

Previous SEN or school experience is desirable but not essential. What matters most is your ability to connect with young people and your willingness to learn.

You will need to be confident, patient and consistent, with the ability to build positive relationships while maintaining clear professional boundaries. You should also be comfortable managing challenging situations and working as part of a wider team.

Why Move Into SEN Education?

For sports professionals, moving into SEN education can be a natural progression. The skills developed through coaching - communication, motivation, leadership, teamwork, discipline, resilience and relationship building - are highly transferable to working with young people in a school environment.

You will have the opportunity to use your passion for sport to engage students who may have previously struggled to engage with education, while developing valuable experience in SEN, SEMH, behaviour support and education.

The school offers a supportive environment where you will work alongside experienced teachers and SEN professionals and develop your understanding of how to support young people with additional needs.

The Role Offers

Full-time, permanent employment, Monday to Friday, working school hours, with the opportunity to work with KS3 and KS4 students in a specialist SEN setting.

You will gain valuable experience in Teaching Assistant and Behaviour Mentor responsibilities, while developing your career within education and SEN.

Ideal Candidates

This role could be a great fit for:

Football Coaches Sports Coaches Sports Graduates PE Graduates Sports Development Graduates Youth Workers Academy Coaches Community Sports Coaches Personal Trainers with youth experience Graduate Sports Coaches Behaviour Mentors Teaching Assistants

If you are passionate about sport, enjoy working with young people and are ready to take your career in a new direction, we would love to hear from you.