Teaching Assistant

HARRIS FEDERATION; Essex; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 24,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Harris Allowance (MPS/UPS)?

Annual Loyalty Bonus

Pension Scheme

Job summary

Harris Academy Ockendon is seeking a Teaching Assistant to support individuals and groups of students, enabling access to learning within a nurturing environment.

The role centres on developing learning resources, monitoring progress, and contributing to a positive, safe learning culture for students aged 11–18.

Qualifications

• Qualifications to degree level or equivalent.
• Knowledge of strategies for working with young people with challenging behaviours.
• Awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace.
• Experience of working with young people in education or training.

Responsibilities

• Supervising and supporting identified students in 1:1, group or class settings.
• Developing resources and teaching strategies with the teacher to meet learning needs.
• Evaluating progress through agreed assessment activities.
• Providing feedback to teachers on achievement and needs.
• Leading small group sessions and interventions.
• Supporting students' personal needs where required.
• Assisting with behaviour management per academy policy.
• Contributing to a purposeful and supportive learning environment.
• Delivering structured learning activities aligned to learning goals.

Skills

Degree level readiness

Experience with students

Behaviour management

Time management

Stakeholder relationships

Health & safety awareness

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Job description

At Harris Academy Ockendon, we are passionate about three things:

1. Creating a remarkable school for the community we serve - a place where students are inspired, challenged, and supported to grow into well-rounded, ambitious, and successful young people, ready to put a ding in the universe.
2. Your path to professional excellence - we believe in nurturing talent, growing together, and empowering futures. Just as we are dedicated to our students, we are equally committed to ensuring our staff thrive and have the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
3. Work-life balance matters - being an exceptional school should not come at the cost of well-being. HAOC is a life-friendly school where teaching and leading with balance is a priority. At HAOC work fits your life.

Being great at number 1 and number 2 should not mean we can't do number 3!

A School That Inspires Excellence

We are an 11-18 academy with a thriving Sixth Form, set in a modern, welcoming building designed to ignite curiosity and ambition. In February 2024, Ofsted rated us 'Outstanding' in every category, stating:

"Pupils benefit hugely from attending this remarkable school. Staff and leaders' sky-high expectations are immediately evident in pupils' scholarly demeanour. The school and trust have created a centre of true excellence. Pupils experience an extraordinary education at Harris Academy Ockendon."

But what truly defines us is our culture. We help our students and staff dream bigger than they ever thought possible and support them in turning those dreams into reality. At HAOC, three values shape everything we do: Work Hard. Be Kind. Take Responsibility.

These are not just words; they are the foundation of a school where people feel valued, supported, and inspired to be their best.

Why Join Us?

• A high-achieving, inspiring 11-18 academy with a Sixth Form full of ambitious young people.
• A stunning, modern school that provides an exceptional learning and working environment.
• An unbeatable location, just outside the M25, attracting staff from across Essex and London. Many of our team travel from Kent, Surrey, Southeast, and Central London because they love the school so much!
• A supportive, well-balanced working culture, where your professional growth matters, but so does your well-being.
• The backing of the Harris Federation, one of the most successful school groups in the country, while maintaining a unique and vibrant school identity.

Perhaps Harris Academy Ockendon is the school you've been looking for. If you're ready to be part of something extraordinary, we'd love to hear from you.

Summary

Harris Academy Ockendon is looking for a Teaching Assistant to support individuals and groups of students to enable access to learning, contributing to the development and maintenance of a purposeful, nurturing learning environment.

The actual salary for this role will be £21,442-£ weeks per year, 33.42 hours per week).

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Supervising and supporting identified students, in 1:1, group or whole class situations, ensuring their safety and access to learning
• Assisting in the development of appropriate resources, schemes of work and teaching strategies, working with the teacher to ensure the provision supports each identified student's learning needs
• Assisting in evaluating identified students' progress through agreed assessment activities
• Providing detailed and regular feedback to teachers on students' achievement, progress and needs
• Leading small group sessions and interventions as appropriate
• Attending to the students' personal needs where required
• Supporting with behaviour management, using appropriate strategies in line with academy policy
• Contributing to creating a purposeful and supportive learning environment
• Undertaking structured and agreed learning activities/teaching programmes as appropriate, adjusting activities to ensure achievement of learning goals

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to degree level or equivalent
• Some knowledge of strategies in working with young people with challenging behaviours
• Knowledge of some of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Awareness of Health and Safety issues in the workplace.
• Experience of working directly with young people in an education or training environment, supporting the learning of students.
• Experience of establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders, at all levels.
• Experience of managing and being responsible for own workload.

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, an Annual Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where ap