Teaching Assistant

Thornhill Academy; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 23,000; Part time

Job summary

Thornhill Academy in Sunderland area is seeking a Teaching Assistant to support learning and wellbeing under a class teacher. You will help plan, assess, and deliver engaging activities to enable pupils to access learning, both in and beyond the classroom.

The role requires NVQ Level 3 in Teaching Assistance and experience with secondary-age pupils, with safeguarding at the core of daily practice. This fixed-term contract runs until 31 August 2027, 32.5 hours per week, term time plus five days.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Teaching Assistance (or equivalent experience).
• Good numeracy and literacy skills (NVQ Level 2 or equivalent).
• Experience working with children of secondary age.
• Understanding of child development and learning processes.
• Ability to support pupils with autism (1:1 and small group).
• Knowledge of the national curriculum and learning programmes.
• Ability to build positive relationships with pupils, staff and parents.
• Strong team player with good communication skills.
• Commitment to safeguarding and equality.

Responsibilities

• Provide tailored support to pupils, including those with SEND.
• Promote independence, positive behaviour, and engagement.
• Assist with Education/Behaviour Plans and personal care needs.
• Establish positive relationships, promoting inclusion and acceptance.
• Give feedback to pupils to support their progress.
• Assist in preparing resources and maintaining a learning environment.
• Support with planning and delivering structured learning activities.
• Monitor, record, and report pupils' progress.
• Carry out routine marking and behaviour support.
• Help with display work and supervision.
• Deliver interventions and learning programmes (e.g. literacy, numeracy).
• Support ICT use and pupil independence.
• Prepare and maintain equipment and resources.
• Ensure safeguarding, health and safety, confidentiality, and data protection.

Skills

Good numeracy and literacy skills

Experience with secondary-age pupils

Understanding of child development

Ability to support pupils with autism

Strong team player with good comms

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Teaching Assistance

NVQ Level 2 in numeracy & literacy or equivalent

Knowledge of the national curriculum

Job description

Job Title Teaching Assistant

Location: Thornhill Academy
Salary: Grade 4 (NJC Scale Points 6 to 8) £21,719.96 - £22,417.35
Contract: FTC until 31/08/27 - 32.5 hours per week, Term Time plus 5 days
Start Date: October 2026

Join Our Mission to Inspire, Support and Empower Every Learner

Thank you for considering a role with Consilium Academies and Thornhill Academy. We are a trust and school community driven by values, purpose, and a shared belief that every young person deserves an excellent education—and we would love you to join us on that journey.

Welcome from Consilium Academies

At Consilium, we are committed to being an excellent trust with excellent schools, guided by our core values: Excellence, Equity, and Integrity. We celebrate the unique strengths of every pupil and colleague, and we work collaboratively to ensure everyone reaches their full potential.

Our Centre for Professional Learning provides colleagues with tailored training, career development opportunities, and the support needed to flourish. We believe in fairness, inclusion, and giving everyone the opportunity to thrive—regardless of background.

We aim to create vibrant, diverse, and supportive communities across all our academies, where lifelong learning and ambition are encouraged. Thank you for your interest in joining the Consilium family.

Welcome from Thornhill Academy

Thank you for your interest in joining Thornhill Academy. We are extremely proud of our school and the progress we have made. Our May 2024 Ofsted inspection, which graded us ‘Good’, reflects the rapid improvement journey we are on. With a brand-new school building due to begin construction in April 2026, this is an exciting time to become part of our team.

Thornhill Academy is a warm, inclusive, and diverse community. Our students represent 14 ethnicities and 35 languages, and we celebrate this richness in our culture, curriculum, and day-to-day school life.

Our mission is simple: to enable every child to access the best possible future, whether that is university or a fulfilling alternative pathway. We have high expectations, a strong commitment to kindness, fairness, and hard work, and a genuine focus on supporting every student to succeed.

We look forward to receiving your application.

About Thornhill Academy

Thornhill Academy is an 11-16 secondary school located near Sunderland City Centre. We pride ourselves on developing confident, resilient, and responsible young people in a nurturing environment. Our staff and governors are proud of our achievements and the wide range of extra-curricular activities we offer.

We aim to:

• Promote a culture where students take responsibility for their actions and learning
• Create a safe, supportive and happy environment where diversity is celebrated
• Inspire a lifelong passion for learning through high-quality teaching
• Support every pupil’s physical, emotional, social, and academic development

About the Role

As a Teaching Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting students’ learning, wellbeing, and development. Working under the guidance of the class teacher, you will help to provide engaging activities, assist with planning and assessment, and ensure pupils can access learning effectively—both in and beyond the classroom.

Key Responsibilities

Support for Pupils

• Provide tailored support to pupils, including those with SEND
• Promote independence, positive behaviour, and engagement
• Assist with Education/Behaviour Plans and personal care needs
• Establish positive relationships, promoting inclusion and acceptance
• Give feedback to pupils to support their progress

Support for Teachers

• Assist in preparing resources and maintaining a purposeful learning environment
• Support with planning and delivering structured learning activities
• Monitor, record, and report pupils’ progress
• Carry out routine marking and behaviour support
• Help with display work and supervision

Support for the Curriculum

• Deliver agreed interventions and learning programmes (e.g. literacy, numeracy)
• Support the use of ICT and develop pupil independence
• Prepare and maintain equipment and resources

General Responsibilities

• Ensure safeguarding, health & safety, confidentiality, and data protection procedures are followed
• Attend relevant meetings and training
• Contribute to the wider life and ethos of the school

Person Specification

Essential

• NVQ Level 3 in Teaching Assistance (or equivalent experience)
• Good numeracy and literacy skills (NVQ Level 2 or equivalent)
• Experience working with children of secondary age
• Understanding of child development and learning processes
• Ability to support pupils with autism (1:1 and small group)
• Knowledge of the national curriculum and learning programmes
• Ability to build positive relationships with pupils, staff, and parents
• Strong team player with good communication skills
• Commitment to safeguarding and equality

Desirable

• Experience working with pupils with additional needs
• Full understanding of support services and multi‑agency working
• NVQ Level 2 in a curriculum area (if applicable)
• Understanding of relevant legislation and policies

Why Join Us?

• A supportive school and trust with strong shared values
• Excellent professional development opportunities
• A diverse and vibrant school community
• Opportunities to shape the lives of young people every day
• A school on an exciting improvement and redevelopment journey

Safeguarding

Consilium Academies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles require an Enhanced DBS check.

Applications and Information

For further information about the role please see attached recruitment pack including, job description and person specification.

If you have any questions about the role or would like to arrange a visit to Thornhill Academy, please contact [e-mail]

Closing date for applications is 9.00am, Monday 28th September 2026

Interviews will take place on a date to be confirmed

Please ensure that within your application you provide the names, addresses, and contact details for two referees, one of whom should be your current or most recent employer.

We look forward to welcoming a new team member who shares our commitment to excellence in education!

Consilium Academies is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Appointments are made subject to an Enhanced DBS Check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.

The Trust is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016, the Public Sector fluency duty requires state funded schools to ensure candidates for their customer facing roles have the necessary standard of spoken English.