21 days remaining to apply

  • Job start date

    1 September 2026

  • Closing date

    2 June 2026 at 11:59pm

  • Date listed

    12 May 2026

Job details

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Key stage

Early years, Key stage 1, Key stage 2, Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5

Working pattern

Full time: 32.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Contract type

Fixed term - 1 September 2026 to 21 July 2027 - Maternity or parental leave cover

Pay scale

M1 to U3

Additional allowances

SEN 1

What skills and experience we're looking for

Join Orchard Community Trust (OCT), a values-led multi-academy trust committed to excellence, inclusion and strong community partnerships. We are seeking a skilled and motivated class teacher to cover a maternity leave.

If you are driven, organised and passionate about improving outcomes for children and communities, we would love to hear from you.

We are seeking to appoint a highly motivated and enthusiastic teacher to join our hard working and committed team from September 2026 to cover a maternity leave until July 2027.

There are currently 225 pupils on roll aged 3-19. Dependent on need, pupils are educated in one of our four bespoke pathways. Please refer to our website for more information. This vacancy is within the engagement pathway. If you are creative, enthusiastic, love a new challenge and are passionate about every child reaching their full potential then this may be the career opportunity that you have been looking for. We have an excellent in house CPD offer that can support you in transitioning into the role of a special school teacher.

The school is committed to equality of opportunity.

Applications from ECT candidates with relevant special school experience are welcome.

2 June - Closing date

4 June - Shortlisted candidates will be invited to school for a class visit, observe a lesson and chat with the pathway lead

w/c 8 June - Interviews

Once you have completed the application form, please email a cover letter with your supporting information to recruitment@kemball.orchardct.org.uk

More information about our school can be found on our website: https://www.kemballschool.org.uk/

In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance which outlines that schools should carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates. I can confirm that the online check will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates only as part of the process of assessing your suitability to work with children.

Kemball School is a day special school for pupils with cognitive and learning difficulties. There are currently 225 pupils on roll aged 3-19. Dependent on need, pupils are educated in one of our four bespoke pathways. Please refer to our website for more information. This vacancy is within the progression pathway. If you are creative, enthusiastic, love a new challenge and are passionate about every child reaching their full potential then this may be the career opportunity that you have been looking for. Across all pathways, our curriculum offer includes daily maths, English, Read Write Inc phonics/spelling interventions and writing/reading interventions alongside carefully planned topics. We have an excellent in house CPD offer that can support you in transitioning into the role of a special school teacher.

Orchard Community Trust (OCT) is a collaborative, values-driven multi--academy trust whose vision is clear:Working together, we enable everyone to flourish through high-quality education.Guided by the values ofCourage, Unity and Equity,we are committed to creating inclusive, caring and ambitious school communities where every child and adult is supported to thrive.

Our schools are welcoming, well-led and focused on delivering exceptional learning experiences, helping children grow academically, socially and emotionally to reach their full potential.

As a Trust, we recognise our people as our greatest asset - encouraging innovation, celebrating success and empowering every colleague to contribute to our mission and to flourish in their role. Staff across OCT benefit from strong collaboration, high-quality CPD, shared expertise and a culture that values wellbeing, growth and positive working relationships.

Read testimonials from our current staff here:OCT - Testimonials

Kemball School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This position is subject to a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions as part of the recruitment process. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record and other relevant safeguarding information that may make them unsuitable to work with children.

It is an offence to apply for this position if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity.

A copy of the school's safeguarding policy can be viewed hereKemball - Safeguarding policy

What the school offers its staff

Working within the Trust also means being part of a community where children are placed firmly at the centre of every decision, supported by a shared ethos and strong common values. We empower staff to have accessible advice, professional support and an open, collaborative culture where help is only ever a call or email away. OCT provides meaningful opportunities for professional development, leadership growth and career progression within a united and forward-thinking educational family.As well as the above, below is an extension of the benefits of working within our family:- Working with colleagues that are passionate about innovative digital strategy- CPD framework to help you flourish in your role and beyond- Trust wide network group and collaboration opportunities with peers- Valuable access to employee wellbeing services, including; counselling, physiotherapy, online fitness classes and more- Discounted gym membership- Competitive Employer Pension Scheme- Family Friendly policies including the opportunity to request flexible working, occupational maternity and paternity pay- Free flu jabs- Unions recognition- Access to wellbeing time

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

In line with the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance which outlines that schools should carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates. I can confirm that the online check will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates only as part of the process of assessing your suitability to work with children.

Applying for the job

Apply for the job by following the link below.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

View advert on school website (opens in new tab)

About Kemball School

School type
Academies, ages 3 to 19
School size
220 pupils enrolled
Age range
3 to 19
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report
Phone number
01782 883120

Kemball School is a special school catering for pupils who have a wide range of cognition and learning needs. The school moved into a brand new building at the beginning of the academic year 2013/14. It has an extensive range of modern facilities to meet the needs of the pupils. These include specialist teaching areas, hoists in all classrooms and extensive indoor and outdoor play areas. There is also a hydrotherapy pool and sensory/soft rooms. There are also several meeting/training rooms to provide professionals and families with comfortable surroundings. The building is co-located with the Ormiston Sir Stanley Matthews Academy which provides good links with mainstream pupils and colleagues.

We specialise in complex physical and medical requirements for individual pupils who have this as an additional need. Additional training is given so that class staff are able to meet the range of specific medical needs that our pupils may have. Families are encouraged to play an active part in the life of the school and to be fully involved in their child’s education.

Within Kemball School, classes are divided into four different pathways. This ensures that individual needs are fully met. The pathways are fluid and pupils may move from one pathway to another if their needs change. Classes may also change from year to year dependent on the educational needs of the pupils.

Our pathways are; Multisensory, Engagement, Progression and Functional. When students are in Key Stage 4 there is more emphasis on what will happen when they leave Kemball. Whether it is going into further education or working towards gaining employment the focus is on helping them to continue their career path. To enable this we offer nationally recognised qualifications for pupils to work towards. We have a Post 16 class for pupils who have profound and multiple learning needs, functioning on lower level Engagement Steps (previously P1 and P3ii).

Kemball School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

This position is subject to a criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) which will require you to disclose details of all unspent and unfiltered spent reprimands, formal warnings, cautions and convictions as part of the recruitment process. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Candidates will be asked to complete a self-declaration of their criminal record and other relevant safeguarding information that may make them unsuitable to work with children.

It is an offence to apply for this position if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity.

A copy of the school's safeguarding policy can be viewed on our website: https://www.kemballschool.org.uk/page/?title=Policies&pid=86

Arranging a visit to Kemball School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@kemball.orchardct.org.uk.

School location

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