Teacher

Prosper Learning Trust; Blyth; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A special academy in Blyth is seeking an exceptional teacher to join its dedicated team. The ideal candidate will have a DfE recognised teaching qualification and bring creativity and resilience to support pupils with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Responsibilities include monitoring objectives, contributing to school development, and fostering a collaborative environment. The academy offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of young learners. Visits to the school are encouraged, and full details on application are provided.

Benefits

Highly supportive staff team

Tailored professional development opportunities

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Access to Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee centred policies

Qualifications

• Commitment to a nurturing and inclusive learning environment.
• Ability to monitor and deliver set objectives effectively.
• Willingness to support the aims and ethos of the school.

Responsibilities

• Monitor delivery of objectives to pupils.
• Contribute to school development priorities.
• Promote collaboration and contribute to professional development.

Skills

DfE recognised teaching qualification

Creativity

Resilience

Understanding of SEMH needs

Adaptability

Education

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent

Job description

Gilbert Ward Academy

Princess Louise Road
Blyth
Northumberland
NE24 2TS

We are looking to appoint an exceptional teacher to join our strong, dedicated teaching team. We welcome applicants from all subject areas, whether primary or secondary trained. What matters most is finding the right person with the values, skills, and passion to make a real difference for our pupils with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

We are seeking a passionate and adaptable teacher who:

• Has DfE recognised teaching qualification and QTS or equivalent
• Is primary or secondary trained in any subject specialism
• Understands or is committed to developing a strong understanding of the needs of pupils with additional needs
• Brings creativity, resilience, and dedication to helping pupils succeed academically and personally
• Shares our commitment to providing a nurturing and inclusive learning environment

Some of the main responsibilities of the role will include:

• To monitor the delivery of set/planned objectives to pupils within the required subject area/s
• Contribute to the development and implementation of priorities, policies and activities in order to enable the achievement of whole school aims
• Promote collaboration between colleagues and contribute to their professional development through coaching and mentoring, demonstrating effective practice, and providing advice and feedback
• To play a full part in the life of the school community and support the aims and ethos odd the school by adhering to the school vision

Gilbert Ward Academy, part of Prosper Learning Trust, opened in September 2023 and has now grown to full capacity with 80 pupils across all year groups. This is a very exciting phase in our journey: having successfully built and grown the school, we are now embedding our practice and continuing to make excellent progress.

Our Pathways

At Gilbert Ward Academy, we deliver our curriculum through three needs‑led pathways: Engage, Explore and Discover. All pupils access the same curriculum, but delivery is adapted to meet individual needs. Pupils are allocated to a pathway based on their personal profile, and movement between pathways is fluid to ensure provision remains responsive and supportive.

• Engage Pathway – for pupils with significant anxieties or the most complex SEMH needs, focusing on communication, emotional literacy, and interest‑led learning
• Explore Pathway – for pupils who need consistency, strong relationships, and reduced transitions, with inquiry‑based and cross‑curricular approaches
• Discover Pathway – for pupils who benefit from clear structure and subject‑specific teaching, led by subject specialists across the curriculum

As a purpose‑built, state‑of‑the‑arts special free school that opened its doors in September 2023, we are dedicated to providing exceptional education for pupils aged 11‑16 with Social, Emotional, and Mental Health (SEMH) needs.

Located on Princess Louise Road in Blyth, Northumberland, our academy serves as a beacon of hope and opportunity for our pupils and their families. Since our official opening in September 2023, we have remained dedicated to delivering a personalised, high‑quality education that extends beyond academic success. We focus on the holistic development of each child, ensuring they are equipped with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and resilience necessary to thrive in all aspects of life.

This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the academy’s growth, delivering high‑quality teaching and learning that inspires and supports our pupils to reach their full potential.

We Can Offer:

• A highly supportive and skilled staff team who share expertise across the Trust
• Exceptional facilities designed to meet the needs of SEMH learners
• Tailored professional development opportunities to support subject teaching and career progression
• The chance to make a meaningful difference at a growing, values‑driven academy

Visits to the school are encouraged to share our vision and discuss the roles. To arrange a visit or request a confidential conversation, please email [e-mail]

To learn more about Gilbert Ward Academy and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit the websites.

Prosper Learning Trust

Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds. Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Kindness. We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.

The Trust currently has 5 schools in the region:

• Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3‑19 years)
• Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11‑16 years)
• Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3‑19 years)
• Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5‑16 years)
• Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11‑16 years)

Prosper Learning Trust was also recently named as the lead partner in the opening of a new Free School in Jarrow, South Tyneside. This school will be a Special School academy for pupils with SEMH (4‑11 years).

The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Gilbert Ward Academy but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.

Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust

• A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
• Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group
• Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates
• Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace
• Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
• Bike 2 Work scheme

For more information on why we think you should work for us see our Trust website, where you will also find videos of what our current staff think.

Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre‑employment medical questionnaire.

Safeguarding Information

Prosper Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, as well as vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to apply for Disclosure from the DBS.

The Trust actively promotes equality of opportunity with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcomes applications from a wide range of candidates. The Trust selects all candidates for employment based on their skills, qualifications and experience, in comparison against the person specification.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If you are invited for interview, you will be required to disclose convictions that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. Certain spent convictions and cautions will be ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed. Full details on protected convictions and information about which convictions must be declared during job applications can be found on the Ministry of Justice website. You will be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self‑disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed. This role will include Regulated Activities and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure is required for this post. Please note that in all cases written references will be taken up and made available to interviewers before the final selection stage; even if you indicate otherwise.

Online vetting checks will be carried out for candidates who are shortlisted.

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