Pastoral Support Assistant

West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral, Merseyside, CH48 5DP

10 days remaining to apply

• Closing date

  13 October 2025 at 9am

• Date listed

  3 October 2025

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
  • HLTA (higher level teaching assistant)
  • Pastoral, health and welfare
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4
• Working pattern: Part time: Monday to Friday - Term Time only Term Time Only (38 weeks) 36 hours per week
• Contract type: Permanent
• Actual salary: £24,180 to £26,230 (actual)

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, committed individual to be a member of the Pastoral Team to offer support to students in Year 7-11.

The successful candidate will promote the ethos of the school, with regard to standards of behaviour, dress code, punctuality and attendance, support the development of students in Years 7 – 11, and develop supportive relationships with students.

The successful candidate will be expected to be involved in activities to assist with the transition process between key stages including Open Evenings, Information Evenings, and Transition Days and visits.

What we would like from you:

• Relevant background or qualifications and ability to be pro-active, inspiring and above all, an effective communicator.
• The enthusiasm, energy and determination to make a significant impact on the support of the students in Years 7 – 11.

West Kirby Grammar School is an outstanding selective girls’ grammar school with boys admitted into the Sixth Form. Academic standards are exceptional and extracurricular provision enriches the lives of students.

How to Apply

Complete the application form online and supply a letter, of no more than two sides, explaining why you wish to join our Pastoral Team and what skills and experience you can bring to the school.

Closing date: Monday 13 October at 9am

Interviews: Wednesday 15 October

Duties and Responsibilities:

Child Protection, Safety, & Wellbeing

• Build and foster strong, respectful relationships with all students.
• Collaborate with Heads of Year and the Wellbeing Manager to address problems and provide guidance.
• Identify students needing guidance and support.
• Liaise with parents/carers on day-to-day issues and concerns.
• Support Heads of Year and SENDCo with students having SEND.
• Understand and stay updated with KCSIE and school safeguarding policies.
• Record necessary information on MyConcern and inform DSL if the concern is urgent.

Attendance & Punctuality

• Promote the school ethos regarding punctuality and attendance.
• Record all 1:1 appointments and group sessions as planned absences.
• Encourage students to attend lessons promptly and support those returning from leaving lessons.

Positive Behaviour for Learning

• Model and promote expected behaviour as per the WKGS Way.
• Engage with students to celebrate achievements and guide them towards opportunities.
• Use Arbor for logging and monitoring rewards and incidents.
• Understand barriers to learning by referring to each student’s PCP and implement support strategies.
• Deliver 1:1 or group support to reduce barriers to learning and accompany students to lessons when appropriate.

Academic Progress, Achievement & Personal Development

• Develop and lead small group interventions to aid academic progress.
• Encourage participation in school events and extracurricular activities.
• Recognise and celebrate student achievements within and beyond school, communicating these to Heads of Year, Senior Leadership Team, and parents/carers.
• Positively acknowledge students exemplifying school values or the WKGS way.
• Ensure students accessing support have the relevant lesson resources by communicating with teaching staff.

Other Duties:

• Embody Professional Standards and act as a positive role model.
• Model positive, inclusive, and respectful relationships, ensuring high behaviour expectations.
• Provide accurate responses to parent/carer enquiries.
• Assist with transition activities between key stages, including Year 6 Taster sessions, Induction Days, Open Evening, Induction Evening, and 11+ Familiarisation sessions.

Personal Qualities:

• The successful applicant will above all be confident, calm and a good communicator with a positive and ‘hands on’ attitude towards their work, together with a generous sense of humour.
• Ability to work as part of a team and on their own initiative.

Additional Duties:

• To play a full part in the life of the school community, to support its distinctive mission and ethos and to encourage staff and students to follow this example.
• To respect confidentiality at all times.
• To actively engage in the staff review and development process.
• To undertake any other duty as specified by the school not mentioned in the above.
• This job description does not form part of the employment contract and may be subject to change at the Headteacher's discretion to meet school demands.

We are looking to attract candidates with the qualifications, skills and experience detailed below:

E: Essential D: Desirable

1. Experience. Direct work experience, other relevant experience

• Experience of Word and Data Processing Software is essential (E)
• Experience of working with young people is desirable (D)

2. Knowledge

• Good literacy and numeracy skills (E)

3. Skills and abilities

• Strong keyboard and Word / Data Processing skills. Precise and with attention to detail (E)
• An ability to recognise confidential issues and maintain this confidentiality (E)
• Excellent organisational and multi-tasking skills (E)
• An ability to communicate effectively with parents, students and staff (E)
• An ability to develop effective working relationships and to work as part of a team is essential (E)

4. Qualifications, training and education

• Good written communication skills with the ability to produce high quality documentation (E)
• Experience of working in a school is not essential but desirable (D)

5. Attitudes and approaches (to be assessed at interview)

• A reflective professional with a desire for continuous improvement (E)
• Desire to develop own learning and do things differently and better (E)
• A commitment to working within school to develop a collaborative vision which embraces excellence, high standards and inclusion (E)
• Possess energy and enthusiasm (E)
• Willing to learn from and with others in the development of good practice (E)
• Have humility and resilience (E)
• Willing to try out new ideas and be flexible in their approach (E)
• Ambitious – can see an opportunity to make an impact and develop own skills (E)

What the school offers its staff

• Deadlines well publicised and staff consulted on the annual calendar
• Headteacher ‘Open Door’ Policy at all times
• Opportunities for professional development always considered
• Access for all staff to self-referral Health & Wellbeing Support package
• In-house Wellbeing Manager available to all staff, and Staff Wellbeing Committee that monitors and responds to staff needs.
• A flexible and generous approach to family appointments and child events
• On site car parking available
• Complimentary tea and coffee
• Regular social events organised by the Social Committee

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.

CV's or approaches from agencies are not accepted

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

Upload additional documents

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

Pastoral Support Assistant job pack September 2025.pdf - 823 KB (opens in new tab)

About West Kirby Grammar School

• School type: Academy, ages 11 to 18
• Education phase: Secondary
• School size: 1186 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 18
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• School website: West Kirby Grammar School website
• Email address: office@wkgs.net
• Phone number: 0151 632 3449
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/west-kirby-grammar-school

A selective, all-girls grammar school with co-educational sixth form, providing Wirral and the wider region with an outstanding education since 1913.

Every student arrives at West Kirby Grammar School with a unique combination of talents, skills and aspirations – it’s our job to help each of our students to discover and nurture theirs.

We do this by providing pupils with a wealth of opportunities and choices, enabling everyone to find out what they enjoy and are good at. We create a caring and supportive environment, whilst at the same time allowing students to solve problems for themselves, ensuring that we develop resilient and enterprising learners.

We don’t believe that anyone is born with fixed abilities and intelligence. With the right teaching, support and motivation, children can grow and thrive in subjects they never considered themselves to be cut out for. And whilst our academic record speaks for itself, we know that students learn and develop both in and out of the classroom. That’s why we offer such a broad range of extra-curricular opportunities, through which pupils develop vital life skills and forge lasting friendships.

Because of all of this, our students leave us equipped to thrive in a complex world, ready to make a positive contribution locally and globally as tomorrow’s leaders.

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