Assistant SENDCo and Learning Mentor

St Birinus School, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8AZ

5 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  1st September 2026

• Closing date

  20 April 2026 at 10am

• Date listed

  26 March 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Part time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £11,092.00 - £12,111.00 Annually (Actual) Grade 8 Scale 19-23

Assistant SENDCo and Learning Mentor job summary

We are looking for self-motivated and driven professionalto work alongside the D6 SENDCo to coordinate the provision and support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Years 12 and 13.

Didcot Sixth Form

Didcot Sixth Form is a vibrant mixed sixth form, with its own ethos, values and culture, drawing on the combined experience of the most expert teachers from both Didcot Girls’ School and St Birinus School. We are recognised across Oxfordshire as the sixth form of choice for an A-Level education, and admired for our warm, welcoming climate, and ambitious and respectful culture.

We pride ourselves on being a school sixth form, based within dedicated and bespoke sixth form facilities on the St Birinus site in Didcot. A large roll of over 400 students and the combined resources of two high-performing schools enable us to offer the broadest possible A-Level curriculum, a rigorous and varied enrichment and extra-curricular programme, and the pastoral benefits that arise from existing within a school environment. We offer outstanding pastoral support and high-quality, personalised advice and guidance that ensures students progress towards ambitious next steps in higher education, apprenticeships, and employment.

Around 85% of students go on to university, with a high proportion of these students accepting places at Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. We have increasingly close relationships with local employers, particularly in the science and technology sectors, to offer high-quality apprenticeship opportunities.

Outcomes at sixth form have risen year-on-year since 2017. In Summer 2025, 35% of entries were awarded at A*-A grade, and 65% of entries at A* - B.

The Post

This is a key post working at the centre of a strong and dynamic pastoral team supporting over 400 sixth form students at a key point in their lives. The core sixth form team comprises the Director of Sixth Form, who has overall responsibility of safeguarding, alongside two Heads of Year, a Safeguarding Officer & Student Manager and an Administration & Support Officer.

We are looking for someone who has emotional intelligence, warmth and compassion, who can also be firm and fair when the situation requires. The role requires presence, adaptability and the ability to multi-task and prioritise - no two days are ever the same! As Assistant SENDCo, you would be working alongside the D6 Team and D6 SENDCo to coordinate the provision and support for students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Years 12 and 13. Tenacity, awareness, and an eye for detail are all useful characteristics in supporting staff and students to achieve their best and ensure Didcot Sixth Form is a fantastic environment.

RIDGEWAY EDUCATION TRUST (RET)

Ridgeway Education Trust (RET) is based in south Oxfordshire and currently comprises of two secondary, six primary schools and a SCITT, serving 4,400 pupils and their communities. Guided by the core values of integrity, ambition and leading for legacy, we are committed to delivering excellence through high quality education with powerful collaboration at its heart.

Application process

To ensure we conduct a fair shortlisting process we use blind shortlisting whereby personal information (such as name, email address, gender & ethnicity) are not made available to the short-listing panel.

Please note that the school reserves the right to interview on receipt of applications, and to appoint prior to the deadline, so early application is recommended.

We encourage visits to our school in advance of applications; please do not hesitate to get in touch if you would like a conversation and/or tour of the school by contacting Mr James Cross, Director of Didcot Sixth Form, via email jcross@didcotsixthform.co.uk or by calling 01235 814444.

Ridgeway Education Trust is committed to safeguarding, equality and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff working in all its schools to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS, references and pre-employment safeguarding checks. All Leadership roles will require a Section 128 check. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining a post. All cases are considered confidentially and according to the nature of the role and information disclosed.

To view our Safeguarding policy, please visit our website: https://www.didcotsixthform.co.uk/92/safeguarding-statement . Please be aware that you will be required to bring your original degree certificate, proof of residence and photographic ID, as applicable, to interview and online searches may be made for shortlisted candidates, as part of due diligence checks.

St Birinus School is a Family Friendly School, committed to supporting our staff so that they can carve out a professional and personal life that is fulfilling and balanced.

Our RET Staff Charter summarises the commitment we make to all staff who join and work at Ridgeway Education Trust.

We are committed to expressing our values of high quality learning, respectful relationships and an inclusive environment in the day to day experience of staff and students throughout the school.

Ridgeway Education Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Ridgeway Education Trust is committed to safeguarding, equality and promoting the welfare of children and expects staff working in its schools to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be subject to satisfactory enhanced DBS, references and pre-employment safeguarding checks. All Leadership roles require a Section 128 check. Possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining a post. All cases are considered confidentially according to the nature of role and information disclosed.

Our Safeguarding policy: http://www.st-birinus-school.org.uk/1852/sbs-policies. You will be required to bring your original degree certificate, proof of residence and photographic ID, to interview.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About St Birinus School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 1212 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St Birinus School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-birinus-school-didcot

All Boys' Comprehensive Secondary School, part of the Ridgeway Education Trust

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