Job Description

We are unfortunately unable to accept CV's and would ask that you please visit our website and complete an application form - http://uppershirleyhigh.org/staff-vacancies

Title:

Cover Supervisor

Contract:

Permanent

Hours:

37 hours per week (term time only) 8:00-16:00 Monday to Thursday and 8:00-15:30 on Friday.

Grade:

6

Annual Salary:

24,792 - 26,667 (FTE 28,792- 31,022)

Salary dependent upon experience.

A recruitment and retention (R&R) payment will be considered for the right candidate

Start Date:

ASAP - subject to DBS

Closing Date:

Midday Wednesday 11th February 2026

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Cover Supervisor to join a thriving team supported by experienced colleagues.

We are looking for an enthusiastic, resourceful and creative individual with a passion for supporting young people. This is an ideal role for anyone considering a future career in teaching. USH has a proven track record of supporting colleagues who are entering the profession. We offer assistance with the application process and pathway into teaching, as well as subject-specific opportunities and training to ensure colleagues are well-prepared with the latest best practices. USH collaborates with several teacher training providers across the city and plays a key role in shaping the next generation of teachers.

USH is an heavily oversubscribed community school with just over 1050 students and 140 staff. We are incredibly proud of our family ethos and our success in delivering values-led education. We are known for our excellent career progression routes and we attract professionals who are willing to contribute to our sustained success. USH is a Leading-Edge School, consistently ranked high in Hampshire schools for overall achievement. The school was delighted to be awarded SSAT accreditation for Transforming in Principled Curriculum Design in 2023 and wellbeing in 2024.

We are seeking to appoint a Cover Supervisor to provide class cover in the absence of the teacher. You will be expected deliver cover work in a range of subjects and respond to the needs of both pre-planned and emergency cover. In quieter times, you may also be expected to provide classroom and technician support, exam invigilation and general admin support.

The successful candidate will:

have proven, recent and relevant experience in an educational setting (secondary phase). be able build positive relationships with students and colleagues. have good communication skills and an ability to clarify and explain instructions clearly. be able to demonstrate good organisational and behaviour management skills in a classroom setting. be able to encourage, motivate and inspire young people to achieve their full potential. be able to demonstrate qualities of patience, firmness and sensitivity in establishing good relationships with students and staff. have a good general education and a high level of literacy and numeracy skills.
We can offer you:

Excellent CPD opportunities and Training and Development Programmes. An individual induction programme supported by a mentor. Eligibility to join the Local Government Pension Scheme. Free eye tests up to the value of 25 for users of VDU equipment and contribution up to the value of 60 towards the purchase of glasses specifically for the use of display screen equipment (where all conditions are met). Opportunity to become a school workplace Health and Wellbeing representative, meeting with other schools on a termly basis and feeding into the Health and Wellbeing strategy. Access to the Trust Health and Wellbeing pages. Access to a staff benefits portal through Sodexo and Portsmouth payroll. Free confidential telephone and face to face counselling for staff and family members.
The successful applicant will be welcomed and supported in our friendly environment where we have a passion for learning.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

We positively encourage prospective candidates to inquire about our school prior to applying. If you would like to visit, discuss the position or have any questions, please email: recruitment@ushschool.org

To give your application the best chance at being short-listed, where at interview you can demonstrate suitability for the role, please ensure you read the person specification and job description and give examples in your application. Should you be new to the education sector or do not have direct examples related to the person specification, do please provide examples from a similar experience.

Full details and application forms can be downloaded from our website: http://uppershirleyhigh.org/staff_vacancies. Please return your completed applications to recruitment@ushschool.org.

Please submit your application as soon as possible as we may invite candidates to interview before the closing date.

SAFEGUARDING

All schools within the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

THE JEFFERYS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

The Jefferys Education Partnership is part of an umbrella Trust called the Hamwic Education Trust. At the Hamwic Education Trust we offer unique opportunities for those individuals that excel in education.

We aim to deliver an outstanding education to our pupils and to do so we must employ

outstanding people.

We offer a training pathway for all employees including teachers, support staff and our middle and senior leaders.

Our staff have opportunities to work on cross phase projects and to work in other schools within the Trust in order to gain invaluable experience and enhance their skills.

Job purpose:

To take responsibility for the learning, behaviour and progress of classes during the absence of the designated teacher.

To create conditions for effective student learning, through positive classroom management, delivery, relationships with students and organisation, and through care for students including responsibility for their behaviour and safety.

Ensuring that students can learn from activities planned by teachers for lessons.

Key Duties:

To liaise with the Cover Officer on a daily basis to be informed of the classes to be supervised and collect the work set for students.

Assisting the inclusion of all students to ensure optimum learning opportunities including dealing with behaviour issues in accordance with the school's Behaviour Policy and strategies.

Attending staff meetings and CPD sessions, and undergoing ongoing training, assessment and the monitoring of performance.

To establish productive working relationships with students acting as a role model and setting high expectations of work and behaviour.

When not required to cover classes, providing technician support to practical lessons

Tasks:

To supervise classes and groups of students carrying out work set during the absence of the teacher responsible for the class.

To carry out appropriate clerical and administrative tasks to support the work of the departments in school.

To invigilate tests, assessment and exams, ensuring compliance with exam board regulations.

To register and record student attendance in lessons.

To collect materials for the work set and take to the relevant classroom.

To welcome the class, present the work set (with support from teaching staff where necessary) and answer any questions from students about process or procedures.

To supervise the students while carrying out the work set to ensure that they are on task and that behaviour is good.

To refer problems with understanding of the work to the Cover Officer or Subject Lead.

To promote positive values, attitudes and good student behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage students to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

To refer persistent problems of students' failure to work or misbehaviour to the Cover Officer or Subject Lead.

To collect work completed and other materials at the end of the lesson and return to the designated member of staff.

To provide objective and accurate feedback to the designated member of staff on the conduct of the lesson including keeping appropriate records as agreed with the teacher.

When not required to cover classes, to be available to be deployed in the school to support teaching and learning in a wider role. This may, for example, involve working with individual students or small groups of students.

When not required to cover classes, to be available to carry out appropriate clerical or practical support to subject teams by arrangement. Tasks may include:

o Providing technician support to practical lessons

o Filing

o Reprographics

o Putting up display materials in classrooms and on the corridors

o Stocktaking

o Booking facilities

o Receipt and collection of monies

o Input of data onto the ICT system

o Support for extracurricular clubs/activities.

Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to child protection, equal opportunities, health and safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.

To carry out lunch or break duties as may be directed by the Headteacher.

Any other appropriate tasks within the capabilities of the person appointed as may be required from time to time or as may be directed by the Headteacher.

Supporting the school:

At an appropriate level, according to the job role, grade and training received, all employees in the school are expected to:

Support the aims, values, mission and ethos of the school and participate in a team approach to all aspects of school life.

Attend and contribute to staff meetings and INSET days as required, and identify areas of personal practice and experience to develop.

Take appropriate responsibility for safeguarding and children's welfare and be aware of confidential issues linked to home/child/teacher/school and keep confidences appropriately.

Be aware of health and safety issues and act in accordance with the school's Health and Safety Policy.

Other Duties

The postholder may be expected to carry out duties other than those given in the job description where the level of responsibility is similar and he/she has appropriate qualifications or receives appropriate training to carry out these duties.

The postholder must:

Ensure that Trust policies and procedures are implemented and followed.

Work as appropriate with the Trust Central Services team in matters relating to finance, HR, IT and Health and Safety.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 24,792.00-26,667.00 per year

Work Location: In person