Learning Support Assistant

St James' Catholic High School, Cheadle, Cheshire, SK8 6PZ

17 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  24 October 2025 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  1 October 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Part time: 28 hours a week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full-time equivalent salary: £26,403 - £28,142
• Actual salary: £17,090 - £18,215
• Pay scale: Scale 4

What skills and experience we're looking for

Main responsibilities of the post

To assist in providing a learning environment thatenables all pupils to access the curriculum and learn tothe best of their ability.

General - The Learning Support Assistant will:

• Have an understanding of the broad range of Special Educational Needs (specific learning difficulties, complex learning difficulties, moderate learningdifficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, emotionalbehavioural, mental health & social communicationdifficulties, ADHD) with reference to how this affects pupils’ learning
• Work under the guidance of teaching / senior staff to implement agreed work programmes
• Provide support for teaching staff across the school in an appropriate learning environment
• Assist with the integration of pupils with special educational needs and/ or disabilities, supporting a small group or onan individual basis within the classroom or on a withdrawal basis
• Be an integral part of the school, working in close partnership with all staff
• To liaise sensitively and effectively with parents/carers as agreed with the teacher and participate in feedback sessions or meetings as directed

Pupils - The Learning Support Assistant should:

• Assist with the teaching of pupils; whole class, small groups and individuals as directed
• Help pupils to access learning activities through specialist support
• Provide feedback to pupils in relation to progress and achievement
• Monitor and evaluate pupils’ responses to learning activities through observation and planned recording of achievement against pre-determined learningobjectives
• Encourage pupils to interact and work co-operatively with others and engage all pupils in activities
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities to learn and develop
• Implement local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy, and make effective use of opportunities provided by other learning activities to support the development of relevant skills

Staff - The Learning Support Assistant should:

• Assist the teacher in curriculum planning, management & preparation of resources
• Be responsible for keeping and updating records as agreed with the teacher, contributing to reviews of systems/records as requested
• Undertake marking of pupils’ work and accurately record achievement/progress
• Implement agreed learning activities/teaching programmes, adjusting activities according to pupil responses/needs
• Implement local and national learning strategies e.g. literacy, numeracy, early years and make effective use of opportunities provided by other learning activities to support the development of relevant skills
• Support the use of ICT in learning activities and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use

Specific Responsibilities of the Learning SupportAssistant at St James’ Catholic High School

• To work with the department and all staff in the promoting of inclusion of young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities
• To support the learning of pupils with SEND
• To be empathetic, highly supportive and understanding of the needs of individual pupils
• To help pupils to access learning activities through

specialist support

• Administer and assess routine tests and invigilate exams/ tests
• Be responsible for keeping and updating your own records in relation to your continued professional development
• To attend training and development sessions
• To work alongside the teacher to ensure that students achieve learning aims
• To provide general clerical/admin support e.g. administer coursework, produce worksheets for agreed activities etc
• To support charity work within school
• To help to develop and maintain Individual Educational Plans (IEPs)
• To be a presence in the classroom, where required
• To attend SEND Departmental meetings

What the school offers its staff

We are a good oversubscribed school (OFSTED 2022) locatedin Stockport, South of Manchester. Our school is made up of825 students and 100 staff. St James’ Catholic High Schoolis a thriving Catholic community that places children atthe centre of everything we do. The Diocese of Shrewsburyjudged our school to be a “Good” Catholic school.

St James’ is a highly academic performing school:

• In 2025, 73% of students attained a Grade 4 or above in both English & Mathematics (the equivalent to the old Grade C) with 46% achieving a Grade 5 or above in bothEnglish & Mathematics
• 82 grade 9s and 115 grade 8s were awarded to our students in 2025, demonstrating exceptional attainment across a wide range of subjects
• Exceptional results in open, Maths and English subjects placing us in the top 20% of similar schools nationally

Our school is at the cutting edge of teaching and learningand thrives on providing outstanding opportunities for theyoung people we serve. All our staff work to provide our youngpeople with the skills, knowledge and understanding in orderto achieve their full potential.

Inspired by the example of St James, the purpose of ourschool is ‘To educate and develop global Catholic citizens’. Ourthree school values of Family, Faith and Excellence are livedout every single day by staff, students and all stakeholders.The reputation of our school is exceptional within Stockportand across the Shrewsbury Diocese for academic excellence,impeccable pupil conduct and for providing outstandingadditional opportunities for our young people. The result isthat our young people develop into global Catholic citizenswho are proud to profess their faith and who make a positivecontribution to society.

At the root of our success is our St James’ community. Thisis built on strong, positive relationships between all staff,students and parents. Our parents support our school anddevelop their children at home whilst our dedicated staffare relentless in driving excellence by providing the besteducational experiences and opportunities for our students.Underpinning this excellence are our unique values, Catholicethos and our mission. We are inspired and driven by theGospel where we are told: ‘With God allthings are possible’(Matthew 19:26).

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

St James’ Catholic High School is an equal opportunity employer which is “Positive about Disabled People”. Whilst all applicants will be judged on merit alone, we particularly welcome applications from groups currently under-represented in the workforce, who meet the person specification for the post

St James’ Catholic High School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

Applying for the job

Please download the application form using the link below, and once completed send to headteacherpa@stjamescheadle.co.uk

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.

STJ17805_ApplicationPack_LearningSupportAssistant.pdf - 773 KB (opens in new tab)

About St James' Catholic High School

• School type: Local authority maintained school, Roman Catholic, ages 11 to 16
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 824 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 16
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: St James' Catholic High School website
• Email address: headteacherpa@stjamescheadle.co.uk
• Phone number: 0161 482 6900
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/st-james-catholic-high-school-cheadle

The St James’ Catholic High School Mission:

To ensure everyone within our school family achieves their full potential, to encourage learning and development through faith, and to strive for excellence.

Applications are welcome regardless of the personal faith of the applicant, providing they are supportive of the school’s Catholic ethos.

St James’ Catholic High School is a popular and oversubscribed 11-16 mixed comprehensive Catholic High School which was judged by OFSTED to be a “Good school in April 2022, with “Outstanding” Outcomes for Pupils.

The Diocese of Shrewsbury judged our school to be an “Good” Catholic school.

Arranging a visit to St James' Catholic High School

To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email headteacherpa@stjamescheadle.co.uk.

School location

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