Learning Mentor

Bedford Free School, Bedford, Bedfordshire, MK42 9AD

23 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  asap

• Closing date

  1 June 2026 at 8am

• Date listed

  8 May 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Fixed term
• Full-time equivalent salary: £25,893.00 - £26,712.00 Annually (FTE) AS 5-7 FTE £25,893-£26,712 pro rata £22,470-£23,180 (dependent on experience)

Learning Mentor job summary

Learning Mentor

We are looking to recruit an outstanding and committed Learning Mentor to join our wonderful school that believes young people deserve the very best quality of education. We are seeking someone with very high expectations who loves working with young people and is ambitious to see them achieve. The ideal candidate will be a resilient team player with a can-do attitude, will be flexible, organised and able to use their own initiative and problem-solve.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a committed, friendly and professional team providing a transformational quality of education to the pupils in our thriving school. At Bedford Free School, our values of Integrity, Ambition, and Excellence, underpinned by very high expectations, drive everything that we do. We have a powerful culture which is warm but strict, based on clear routines, systems, and structures. As a result, our staff enjoy their roles with impeccable behaviour in lessons and hardworking, highly motivated pupils.

Joining Bedford Free School as a Learning Mentor is a fantastic opportunity to be part of our story - providing transformational experiences for thousands of pupils, developing our staff to be the very best they can be, and influencing the wider system by demonstrating first-hand what is achievable.

Our trust is known for its ‘no excuses, can-do’ culture that seeks to prepare all its pupils to have the opportunity of a pathway to university. If you are passionate about helping all pupils, regardless of background, to achieve this, then this could be the role for you.

KEY DUTIES

To be responsible for providing one-to-one or group or class support to pupils with barriers to learning and SEND.

To carry out innovative & effective intervention programmes under the leadership of the SENDCo and in line with Bedford Free School’s ethos of high expectations.

To be responsible for effective administration duties where necessary.

The successful candidate will have

Experience working in an educational setting.

Experience of working with children with SEND and EAL, supporting children 1:1 or small groups.

At least C grade or equivalent in English and Maths GCSE. and Level 3 qualification.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with students, staff, and parents.

Proactive and flexible approach to work, with the ability to adapt to different situations and challenges.

Empathy, patience, and a genuine passion for working with children and young people.

Ability to deal with challenging behaviours and able to motivate and encourage pupils.

Strong organisational skills with the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively.

Thorough knowledge and understanding of safeguarding.

JOB SPECIFICS

Start date: asap

Salary: AS 5-7 FTE £25,893-£26,712 actual pro rata salary £22,470-£23,180 (dependent on experience)

Job role: Fixed term 1year, Full time, Term time + 5 INSET days, 39 weeks per year

Working Hours: 37 hours per week, Mon-Thu 8.15am-4.15pm and Fri 8:15am- 3.45pm

The Trust reserves the right to interview and appoint a suitable candidate before the deadline date.

Safeguarding

The safeguarding and welfare of children is paramount and all our staff share this view. Applicants must be willing to undergo safeguarding and child protection checks including with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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

Safeguarding children enrolled at the School is of paramount importance, and we are fully committed to the protection and safe care of our pupils. The successful applicant will be required to undertake appropriate checks as well as providing proof of your right to work in the UK.

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 Bedford Free School

• School type: Free Schools, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary school
• School size: 525 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: Bedford Free School website
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/bedford-free-school

Set up in 2012 by local teachers and parents, Bedford Free School exists to offer families a choice in Bedford.

Bedford Free School is a unique school with a fantastic educational offer. We really do believe that our pupils can go on to achieve extraordinary things. In our young history, we have proved they can and we are now one of the highest performing secondary schools not only in the area, but in the country.

BFS is a small school of only around 500 pupils, so staff get to know each pupil as an individual and we have a family feel. This allows us to encourage, demand and collectively strive for academic and personal success.

We believe that all pupils deserve a ‘grammar-school’ style education, with access to an academic curriculum, strong discipline, high expectations and access to highly selective universities, and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

School location

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