Learning Mentor - Outdoor Education
The Fermain Academy, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 8JF4 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
24 November 2025 at 11:59pm
Date listed
20 November 2025
Job details
Job role
- Learning support or cover supervisor
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 37 Hours - Monday - Friday
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £29,730 - £32,999
What skills and experience we're looking for
About us
This is an exceptional time to join a young but growing and ambitious trust, whose aim is to transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable pupils in the region. As a trust we are not only growing in terms of the number of schools, students, staff and parents but also in the depth and breadth of experience, knowledge and expertise we have across our schools.
Our Core Values are
We are
Child centred
Adaptive and sensitive to need
Authentic in our relationships
Our Vision
…is to support all learners, raising their aspirations through high quality engaging education which empowers and liberates their futures.
We are seeking a talented and dedicated professional who will lead and develop our outdoor education provision, working collaboratively as part of the whole school team to ensure pupils receive the highest quality support, challenge, and enrichment through engaging, nature-based learning experiences.
This role will primarily be based in Cheshire East / Macclesfield. We believe that The Fermain Academy and Skills Centre can reengage those students (age 12 – 16) who have become disconnected with not only mainstream education but with their own dreams and aspirations. We want to help students to recognise their achievements, and by delivering a personalised curriculum that will allow them to sit a minimum of five GCSEs (or equivalent). We will prepare them for a world where they can truly realise their full potential. Designed to encourage all students to be respectful of, and generate their own alternative viewpoints and ideas, we’ll deliver a complete academic, social and emotional learning experience by placing students in smaller working groups led by adult role models that our students trust
Job Description
Senior Learning Mentor – Outdoor Education Job Description
Key Priorities;
Support the vision and direction of the Academy
- Provide an engagingspecialistcurriculum within theAcademy
- Deliver and maintain effective learning and teaching throughout school
- Deploy resources efficiently and effectively to meet specific objectives in line with your specialist area strategic plans.
- Ensure effective pastoral care and behaviour support throughout the school
Teaching and Learning;
As a specialist Senior Learning Mentor of Fermain Academy, you will help secure and sustain effective teaching and learning throughout the Academy, monitor and evaluate the progress made in your specialist area and present students’ achievement, effectively using benchmarks to track set targets for improvements. He/she will:
- Deliver high quality teaching of your specialist area within the school and other subjects throughout the school as and when required
- Support and maintain an environment and a code of behaviour and discipline which promotes and secures good teaching, effective learning and high standards of achievement
- Help organise the / your curriculum and its assessment; work with the SLT to monitor and evaluate it in order to identify areas for improvement
- Ensure that the curriculum and assessments meet National Curriculum requirements
- Ensure that improvements in literacy, numeracy are priority targets for all students across school.
- Deliver and support the PSHRE programmes across the school
- Work alongside staff members to plan and deliver Enrichment and reward activities
Partnership Working;
- Seek opportunities to invite parents and carers, into Fermain Academy to enrich student experience and to promote Fermain Academy’s value to the wider community
- Collaborate with staff, to actively promote the British values, academic, spiritual, moral, social, emotional and cultural well-being of students and their families
Health and Safety / Child Protection;
- To help ensure that health and safety standards meet statutory requirements, monitoring health and safety matters within the school, particularly ensuring that all members of the staff take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others
- To help ensure that Child Protection and Safeguarding procedures and Department of Health assessments of Children in Need are rigorously complied with, and that the welfare and health and safety of students are of prime consideration
- To promote the safety and well-being of students and staff
- To ensure good order and discipline of students and staff
Extra CPD Opportunities
- Engage with CPD opportunities in order to effectively fulfil your role and achieve the best possible outcomes for our students.
Benefits
Looking After our Team
At the YES Trust, we believe our aims and vision for our students and their carers are best achieved through supported and valued team members. We offer the following benefits to all trust employees from their first day with us:
- Access and support with training and CPD including further professional qualifications.
- Specialist training where required
- Cycleto work scheme
- Flexible and supportive approach to work
- Free lunch at school
- Free parking
- Nursery benefits
- Education Mutual– access to free face to face counselling, physiotherapy, nurse help-line, prescription service whenever you need it
- Perkbox membership, Including:
-A huge range of discounts, free gifts, perks including shopping, eating out, holidays
-The wellness Hub – access to a variety of practical and useful resources
-Medical – on-line GP appointments, prescriptions and advice at a time convenient to you
Desired Criteria
Qualifications/Education
Any other outdoor national governing body awards (e.g. climbing. Mountain biking)
Duke of Edinburgh expedition leader qualification
Recognised behaviour / curriculum / SEMH qualification
Educating Experience
Demonstration of high expectations
Success in educational settings
Work with disconnected students
Able to adapt teaching to respond to the strengths and needs of all students
Understanding the commitment to the schools wider focus on student attainment
Experience of leading Duke of Edinburgh Awards
Professional/Personal Skills
Evidence of coaching and/or mentoring
Able to effectively resolve personnel issues
Training and understanding of child protection
Training and experience working with students with a variety of mental health needs
Curriculum & Personal Management
Experience of supporting staff
Knowledge and Understanding
Knowledge and experience of current good practice and development in special education provision.
Knowledge of successful practice in teaching hard to reach students.
Knowledge of how to promote independence for young people with complex needs.
Behaviour Management training
Essential Criteria
Qualifications/Education
Outdoor First Aid Certificate
Hill and Moorland Leader Award or above
Evidence of further professional development
Education Experience
Proven ability to:
Set high expectations which inspire, motivate and challenge
Promote good progress and outcomes
Demonstrate subject and curriculum knowledge
Plan and teach well-structured lessons
Make accurate and productive use of assessment
Manage behaviour effectively to ensure a good and safe learning environment
Communicate and work effectively
Ability to motivate and inspire
Experience delivering outdoor activities or training
A passion for delivering outdoor adventures and education
Professional/Personal Skills
Proven ability to:
Generate enthusiasm for new ideas
Inspire others with confidence
Communicate effectively to groups and individuals, orally and in writing
Resolve conflict through active listening and negotiation
Demonstrate a flexible approach and a willingness to listen to others
Good organisational skills
Provide advice and guidance to parents and carers in a positive and clear manner
Remain calm when working under pressure
Ability to show patience and empathy
Curriculum & Personal Management
Evidence of successful experience in managing change
Ability to analyse situations, prioritise and help to implement realistic solutions
Ability to establish and develop good relationships with all involved in the school.
Commitment to the school’s wider community.
Flexible approach to working hours and able to work away if required.
Ability to inspire all in a love of learning for your subject.
Knowledge and Understanding
Demonstrate a good level and understanding of ICT
Knowledge of how to deal with safeguarding issues in school.
Behaviour management techniques for groups and individuals
Know how to develop effective rapport with students, this being based on high expectations and establish a purposeful learning environment
Shaping the Future/Philosophy
Expectation of high achievement of all students
Evidence and understanding and commitment to equality of opportunity
Respect for students’ individual difference
Commitment to parental partnership in education and developing links between school, home and the community
Developing Self and Working with Others
Excellent interpersonal skills
Commitment to one’s own continuing professional development
Ability to work as part of a team
Ability to make and take decisions and set priorities
Able to gain and maintain the confidence and respect of colleagues, students, parents and multi professionals.
Commitment
Have energy and perseverance.
Be confident and enthusiastic.
Be reliable and have integrity
Other Requirements
Positive recommendation from present employee
Satisfactory attendance record
The successful candidate would be expected to maintain a well-organised, creative, safe and friendly environment for living and learning and hence enhance the ethos of the school. Candidates are asked to address as many of the person specifications as possible in their application.
What the school offers its staff
- A teaching day that ends at 14.30
- Small class sizes
- Fantastic classroom support
- Access to training and CPD including further professional qualifications.
- Specialist training where required
- Cycle to work scheme
- Flexible and supportive approach to work
- Free lunch at school
- Free parking (including charging stations on most sites)
- Nursery benefits
- Education Mutual – private health support - access to a 24/7 GP, free face to face counselling, physiotherapy, nurse help-line, prescription service whenever you need it
- Perkbox - vouchers, discounts and wellbeing
Flexible working opportunities
Flexible Working
We recognise that attracting and retaining the highest quality candidates means offering a flexible working environment. We consider a variety of flexible arrangements, including part-time roles, job-sharing, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid opportunities where appropriate. By adopting a flexible approach, we empower our staff to bring their best selves to work every day, fostering creativity, commitment, and resilience. Our teams remain diverse, motivated, and aligned with our vision of transforming children's lives through world-changing education. We believe that by investing in the wellbeing and professional fulfilment of our staff, we are also investing in the futures of the communities we serve.
Candidates are encouraged to discuss flexible working from recruitment onwards, in line with the statutory "day one right" principle, and ensuring equal opportunities for all groups of prospective employees
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Youth Engagement Schools Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. All positions will require an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and registration with the DBS Update Service together with all other relevant recruitment checks.
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 The Fermain Academy
- School type
- Free School, ages 13 to 16
- School size
- 12 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 13 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Fermain Academy website
- Email address
- admin@thefermainacademy.org
- Phone number
- 01625 611 001
The Fermain Academy opened as a brand-new Alternative Provision free school in September 2015 and underwent a £1.6m building project to extend and refurbish the entire building. The academy now has facilities to cater for up to 90 students aged 13-16 at any given time, and is a safe place of learning for those who, for whatever reason, have become disengaged from mainstream education.
Whatever the amount of time a student spends at The Fermain Academy, they are guaranteed a structured and positive learning experience, and an outstanding dedicated team able to provide emotional support in a safe and supportive environment.
At The Fermain Academy we live by the following core principles, which run through everything we do:
• We are Child Centred
• We build Authentic Relationships with young people
• We are Adaptive and Sensitive to need
Arranging a visit to The Fermain Academy
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email admin@thefermainacademy.org.
School location
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