Job Description

Job Title:

ACADEMIC SUPPORT TEACHING ASSISTANT

Reporting to:

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT

Role Type:

Full Time, Term
Time Only until July 2026 with a view to
extension

Start date:

February 2026

Overall Purpose

We are seeking a highly skilled, dedicated, and compassionate Teaching Assistant to provide support to our Academic Support Department both within the classroom and on a 1:1 basis. The successful candidate will work closely with the students with a focus on fostering independence and academic success.

Our support programme is structured, sequential, cumulative, and multi-sensory, incorporating general study skills while remaining flexible to meet the varying needs of each student.

Our aim is to help the student to
improve difficulties with things such as:

Study skills at GCSE and A Level standards

Social communication and interaction

Accessing formal exams

Reading and writing skills

Focus and organisation

Ability to learn, retain and recall information; ability to organise thoughts and to structure material either by hand or on a computer.

We are looking for a positive individual who enjoys working with young people and has the drive and determination to help them to achieve their best. The individual will support in class and on a 1:1 basis working with the Academic Support Department to plan and deliver high quality lessons relating to social communication, reading and, writing, study skills
and other areas as identified by individual's needs. The assistant may work across the whole school so needs to be flexible. The assistant will be actively involved in working with students who have EHCPs.

Key Responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

Provide in-class support

Deliver dedicated sessions to develop literacy skills.

Provide sessions focused on social communication skills development.

Support revision, study and preparation sessions.

Offer mentoring support as required, fostering a trusting and supportive relationship.

Supervise and support the development of assistive technology.

Collaborate with teaching staff and other professionals to adapt and implement strategies
to meet the student's needs.

Regularly monitor and report on the student's progress, adapting support strategies as needed.

Support other requirements within the academic support department and help build capacity of this small, hardworking team.

Maintain confidentiality at all times, both inside and outside of School.

Undertake personal and professional development to meet the changing demands of the
department.

Comply with Health and Safety Policy and safeguarding and Child Protection requirements.

Safeguarding & Child

Protection

Barnard Castle School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of
children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this
commitment.

The postholder must comply with the School's Safeguarding and Child Protection
policy at all times.

The postholder must undergo safeguarding and Child Protection training as directed
by the Head of Learning Support.

Expectations a member of Barnard Castle School Common Room

To have high professional standards and so be an appropriate role model of reliability, behaviour and appearance.

To relate to children in an atmosphere of trust, frankness and ambition and to engender a climate of mutual respect

To make sure that pupils meet the School's expectations of them.

To facilitate the development of children's confidence, self-esteem, determination, responsibility and personal pride
in achievement, behaviour and appearance.

To
understand that offering a well-rounded education means engaging beyond the classroom and therefore contributing to the wider life of the Barney education.

To contribute to marketing the school and to promote the School to prospective
pupils and parents.

To establish and maintain high standards of communication with pupils, staff and parents.

To uphold all the policies of Barnard Castle School.

To take an interest in how the School functions and to convey suggestions for improvement to the Head of Department, Senior Management Team and Headmaster from time to time.

To subscribe to the Common Room's ethos of inclusivity, collegiality and helpfulness.

Support

The Teaching Assistant will be appraised by the Head of Department and will also have a review with the Headmaster but routine communication will be on going. Professional development is encouraged and will be discussed as part of the Teacher's Performance and Development review.

Role Criteria

In order to meet the high standards expected of a teaching assistant in our School, the

Headmaster is seeking to employ a person with the following qualities,

experience, skills and abilities

Essential Criteria

A Teaching Assistant qualification

Experience of providing support to students with learning needs.

Strong knowledge of and experience with differentiation techniques, organisation and study skills support.

Excellent communication skills, with the ability to effectively support students in developing their reading, writing and social communication skills.

Familiarity with technology, including voice-to-text software and other assistive tools.

Ability to offer support across the age ranges.

A patient and empathetic approach to working with students, with the ability to provide discreet support and gentle guidance.

Strong critical thinking skills, with the ability to engage in intellectual debates and challenge the student's thinking.

Desirable Qualities

A good honours degree and/or SEND/teaching assistant qualifications.

A record of and commitment to continuing professional development.

A wider knowledge of learning differences including Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ASD and ADHD would be an advantage.

Possess cultural awareness and sensitivity in working towards the schools aims and objectives. Experience of working in a boarding school.

Sympathy with the Christian values of the School and the nature of working in a boarding environment.

Commitment to fostering a positive learning environment and inspiring students to take
responsibility for their own learning

T

his job description reflects the present requirements of the post and is not intended to be exhaustive. This individual may be required to carry out such other duties as the Headmaster may reasonably require from time to time.

Duties and responsibilities may be subject to change and development, the job description will be reviewed periodically and subject to amendment in consultation with the post holder.

Terms, Conditions and Benefits:

Type:

Fixed Term Contract until July 2026, with the likelihood of an extension

Probationary Period:

3 months

Working Hours:

This is a full-time role during term time, which includes
Saturday mornings

Salary:

Dependent on experience (pro-rated for term time only working)

Recruitment Process

Enquiries

If you have any questions about the role in advance of applying, please contact the current Head of Academic Support, Deborah Wafer (daw@barneyschool.org.uk) who will be pleased to arrange a call for an informal discussion.

Please note, the school is closed for the Christmas break between Friday 12th December 2025 and Monday 5th

January 2026, and Mrs Wafer

will have intermittent access to her emails.

The School offers a pension package. Other benefits include fee remission for children in the School, use of our gym, sports facilities and swimming pool, free
meals during term time, free parking and access to various social activities throughout the year.

Applications

If you feel that you can meet the above requirements, then please submit a letter of application along with the Barnard Castle School application form to the Headmaster. Only applications containing the requested information will be considered.

Applications should be sent to:

Mr D J Cresswell

Headmaster

Barnard Castle School

Barnard Castle

Co Durham

DL12 8UN

Tel: 01833 696098

Email: hr@barneyschool.org.uk

Deadline for applications: 12.00 noon Monday 5th January 2025

Shortlist Interviews at School: Monday 12th January 2025

Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 5 months

Pay: 25,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Employee discount Free parking On-site gym On-site parking
Work Location: In person