TEACHER - Westfield Arts College

Dorset Council; Weymouth; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Westfield Arts College in Dorset is seeking an enthusiastic and skilled class teacher to join our committed team. This vacancy is for a secondary ASC specialist class, with strong practice in supporting pupils with SEND, including ASC, ADHD, and speech, language and communication needs.

You will plan effectively for core subjects, create a classroom environment that promotes total communication and engagement, and work with families, aides, therapists and external agencies to provide holistic

Qualifications

• Qualified teacher with experience delivering broad curriculum including English and maths to pupils with SEND, especially ASC/ADHD/speech and language needs.
• Excellent communication and relational skills with pupils, families and colleagues.
• Creative, reflective, solution-focused practitioner able to differentiate for diverse needs and foster confidence and independence.

Responsibilities

• Plan effectively for teaching and learning of core subjects within a broad and balanced curriculum for SEND pupils.
• Create and maintain a classroom environment that promotes total communication and engagement.
• Use Therapeutic Thinking approaches to understand and support behaviour.
• Collaborate with families, teaching staff, TAs, therapists and external agencies to provide holistic support.

Skills

SEN teaching experience

Excellent communication

Creative and reflective

Team player

Education

QTS (ideally primary trained)

Job description

About the role

Westfield Arts College

Teacher

Permanent, Full Time (Monday to Friday) from January 2027

Teachers Mainscale Pay Range plus SEN 1 allowance

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and innovative class teacher to join our committed team. We are seeking a dedicated and skilled professional who has proven teaching experience in supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities. This vacancy is for a secondary ASC specialist class and strong practice in this area is required.

As part of your role you will:

• Plan effectively for the teaching and learning of core subjects within a broad and balanced curriculum, ensuring progression and high-quality outcomes for all our SEND pupils.
• Create and maintain a classroom environment that promotes a total communication approach, regulation and engagement.
• Use Therapeutic Thinking approaches to understand and support behaviour, fostering resilience and personal development.
• Work closely with families, teaching staff, teaching assistants, therapists and external agencies to ensure holistic support for each young person.

We are looking for

• A qualified teacher (QTS, ideally primary trained), with successful experience of delivering a broad curriculum, including English and maths, to pupils with special educational needs and disabilities, especially in relation to ASC, ADHD, sensory and speech, language and communication needs.
• Excellent communication and relational skills with pupils, families and colleagues.
• A creative, reflective and solution focused practitioner who is able to adapt and differentiate to meet diverse needs and is passionate about helping young people develop confidence, independence and self-esteem.
• A strong team player who is committed to ongoing professional development and to contributing positively to Westfield’s ambitious Broadening Horizons curriculum.

Further Information

Why Join Us?

• A real opportunity to make a lasting difference to the lives of extraordinary young people.
• A highly supportive and collaborative staff team that values therapeutic practice and emotional wellbeing.
• Ongoing training and development in Therapeutic Thinking, communication approaches and SEND pedagogy.
• Excellent facilities, beautiful grounds and welcoming learning environment
• A school community that celebrates progress in all its forms – academic, social and emotional.

About Us

Westfield is a highly regarded 4-19, 230 pupil Dorset special school. All pupils have significant learning difficulties, some with additional complex needs. The successful candidate will be joining a vibrant and successful school. They will also receive the full support of an exceptionally committed and skilful staff team. Ofsted judged us as outstanding in February 2023.

Westfield is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be required to have an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check in line with the Government’s safer recruitment guidelines. We value the diversity of our workforce and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Closing Date: Friday 6th November

Interviews: Tuesday 17th November

Start Date: January 2027

Job description and application forms are available via the Dorset Council Jobs website.

For more information or to arrange an informal visit, please contact Julie Rook, Admin Officer (HR) on 01305 833518 or [e-mail]

Further information about Westfield can be found at www.westfield.dorset.sch.uk

Further Information

This role is UK based and your Right to Work will need to be established as part of the appointment process.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975, (2013 and 2020)) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. The MOJ’s guidance on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Exceptions Order 1975, provides information about which convictions must be declared during job applications and related exceptions and further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide.

Keeping Children Safe in Education

The school will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. All aspects of social media and internet searches will be conducted. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination, a person who will not on the appointment panel will conduct the searches and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.