Primary Teacher - The Harbour School
The Harbour School, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO2 8RA20 days remaining to apply
Job start date
12 May 2026
Closing date
22 March 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
2 March 2026
Job details
Job role
- Teacher
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Key stage
- Key stage 2
Working pattern
- Full time: Full-time
Contract type
- Fixed term - 5 months
Pay scale
- MPS
Additional allowances
SEN allowance (£2,787)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Do you want to be the person who helps a child feel safe, seen, and proud of what they can achieve?
At The Bay Campus, many of our pupils have experienced learning as something overwhelming, frustrating, or out of reach. They need someone who notices their strengths, celebrates the tiny steps forward, and believes in them wholeheartedly – even on the days when they don’t believe in themselves.
We’re looking for an exceptional Primary Teacher who can be the calm in the storm, the encourager, the guide, and the steady voice that says, “You can do this.” Someone who understands that progress isn’t always linear… but every spark of curiosity, every brave attempt, every “I tried my best today” is worth celebrating.
Because here, every victory matters – and as part of our team, you’ll see them happen right in front of you.
You’ll be:
- Creating a safe, nurturing and predictable classroom where pupils feel valued and ready to learn.
- Planning and delivering engaging lessons that are responsive to individual needs, including those with SEND and SEMH.
- Using assessment thoughtfully to understand where a child is, what they need, and how you can help them grow.
- Supporting pupils socially, emotionally and academically, and celebrating even the smallest progress with genuine joy.
- Using trauma‑informed, relational and restorative approaches that help pupils feel safe, calm and understood.
- Working closely with colleagues, families and external partners to make sure each child has the support they deserve.
We’re looking for someone who:
- Holds QTS and brings a passion for teaching primary‑aged pupils.
- Understands the power of patience, empathy and consistency in helping children thrive.
- Has strong knowledge of, and experience teaching, the primary curriculum and can adapt teaching to meet diverse needs.
- Can bring high expectations and high nurture into the same room.
- Is reflective, resilient and not shaken by the unpredictable moments that come with SEMH needs.
- Works collaboratively, communicates openly, and believes no child is “too hard to reach.”
- Brings creativity, curiosity and a sense of possibility into each day — because our pupils deserve nothing less.
What the school offers its staff
Why Join Us?
- Be a part of a school that truly believes in educational equity for all learners.
- A supportive team that genuinely cares about the students and each other.
- Training, CPD opportunities, and the chance to grow in your role.
- The opportunity to transform the educational journey of vulnerable young people.
- Build a career within the Southern Education Trust – where we believe in “making lives better”.
- A rewarding role where no two days are the same (predictability is overrated, anyway!) seeing students succeed against the odds.
About Us:
The Harbour School is a multi-site organisation, with campuses at Bay Campus (including Primary at The Bay), The Bridge Campus, The Lighthouse Campus, and the Vista Campus (including The Horizon Service), all based within the city of Portsmouth. We also have an Outreach Support Team and a Hospital tuition service at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.
Primary at The Bay is a full‑time specialist and Alternative Provision for pupils in Years 5 and 6 with complex SEMH needs, including those with EHCPs, those unable to attend mainstream school, and children who have experienced exclusion or changes in care placements. We provide a nurturing, relationship‑centred environment built on the belief that every child has the potential to grow and succeed.
This is more than just a job; it’s a chance to ignite passion, inspire growth, and make a lasting impact on the lives of those who need it most.
Further information about the job
Become part of our journey, by completing our Application Form and returning it to recruitment@southern.education if you would like to apply. See our Primary Teacher Job Description for further details on the role as well as our Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Kate at the recruitment address, who will be happy to assist you.
Closing date: 22nd March February 2026
Interview date: 14th April 2026
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.
If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.
Commitment to safeguarding
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly CRB) check is required for this post prior to commencement. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.
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)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About The Harbour School
- School type
- Academy, ages 5 to 19
- School size
- 123 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 5 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- The Harbour School website
- Email address
- recruitment@southern.education
The Harbour School is a special school for learners with Social, Emotional and/or Mental Health (SEMH) Needs and/or Medical Needs. The school operates from multiple sites situated across Portsmouth with provision extending beyond these physical locations.
As a trust, our ethos is encompassed in our vision “Learning together in pursuit of happiness”.
Arranging a visit to The Harbour School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email recruitment@southern.education.
School location
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