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Graduate Teaching Assistant, HARRIS FEDERATION
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About Us
Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is a mixed Academy for 1,300 students aged 11-18, with a large sixth form of nearly 400 students. The Academy has four consecutive Outstanding judgments by Ofsted, with the most recent inspection in 2025 finding the Academy to be Outstanding in every category. We are a consistently high performing school. Our motto, ‘All Can Achieve’ encapsulates our vision that all members of the Academy community are supported and encouraged to achieve their absolute potential. We believe that a well-supported and valued staff body is the key to our success.
Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is part of the Harris Federation and this enables us to offer you a comprehensive induction programme and training and development opportunities to support your career development including Masters and other qualifications.
Summary
Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is seeking to appoint a Graduate Teaching Assistant to work collaboratively with teaching staff in class to improve the outcomes of students with a variety of SEN needs, including those with Educational Health and Care Plans. This is an excellent opportunity for graduates with a passion for working with SEN students to gain experience of working within a secondary school. This could be used as a first step into a career into teaching and/or the field of SEN. You will be supported by experienced colleagues and full training will be provided for the successful applicant.
The actual salary for this role will be £24,748.88-£25,102.01 (38 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week), with a working pattern of 08:00-16:30 on Mondays and Wednesdays, 08:00-16:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 08:00-15:00 on Fridays.
Main Areas of Responsibility
Your Responsibilities Will Include
- Working collaboratively with class teachers and the SEN Department to support student engagement and progress
- Demonstrating a proactive approach to supporting students with SEN in the classroom
- Demonstrating understanding of a range of SEN needs
- Implementing Quality First Teaching strategies and SEN Support Plans within the Assess, Plan, Do, Review framework
- Adapting learning appropriately to meet individual needs while promoting student independence
- Engaging proactively in CPD opportunities within the SEN Department and wider academy
- Supporting other students within the class as appropriate
- Applying subject knowledge effectively to support teaching and learning
- Using behaviour management strategies consistently in line with student profiles and academy policies
- Reflecting on and improving practice through self-evaluation and professional development
- Liaising with staff to share information and raise concerns about student progress or wellbeing
- Adhering to DfE Professional Standards for Teaching Assistants
- Promoting the school ethos, including behaviour, dress code, attendance and punctuality
- Supporting educational trips and visits
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Qualifications & Experience
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Qualifications to degree standard or equivalent
- An excellent standard of written and spoken English
- Previous experience of supporting learning of students
- Basic knowledge of SEND and learning barriers
- Some knowledge of working with young people with challenging behaviour
- Knowledge of some of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
- Good computer skills, including a working knowledge of MS packages
- Experience of working with young people in an educational or training environment
- Experience of establishing and maintaining working relationships with a range of people
- Awareness of Health & Safety issues in the workplace
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.
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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, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits 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 applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.
We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.
Next Steps
If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.
Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.
We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.
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