Teaching Assistant (Music and Arts)

Oak Grove College, Worthing, West Sussex, BN13 1JX

23 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  11 November 2026 at 12pm (midday)

• Date listed

  19 October 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Teaching assistant
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Key stage: Key stage 3, Key stage 4, Key stage 5
• Subjects: Art and design, Music
• Working pattern: Full time: 8.30am to 3.30pm, Monday to Friday. 32 hours per week.
• Contract type: Fixed term - Temporary until April 2027 with strong likelihood of extension
• Pay scale: NJC Grade 5, Points 7-8, £14.14 - £14.36 per hour

What skills and experience we're looking for

We are currently recruiting for a Music/Arts Teaching Assistant within our Arts Team – a dynamic, creative role that supports the delivery of inclusive, high-quality arts education. This position is ideal for someone with a strong passion for the music and the arts and a deep belief in their transformative power in education, especially for students with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

As a key member of the Arts Department, you will be instrumental in helping students access and engage with creative subjects through adapted, accessible and inspiring arts-based learning. You will work alongside specialist Arts Teachers to contribute to the planning, facilitation and assessment of artistic projects, performances, exhibitions, rehearsals and lessons. You will help foster students’ creative expression, cultural understanding and confidence through the arts.

We are looking for individuals with some of the following skills, knowledge and experience:

• a passion for music and an interest in arts education
• experience of playing a musical instrument, singing or performing arts
• experience of using music technology
• able to employ a wide variety of communication strategies
• confident in supporting young people with a range of learning needs, through music and the arts
• able to engage and motivate students
• flexibility to work across the whole college if/when required
• excellent organisational skills
• able to use initiative and work effectively in a team
• able to step in and lead lessons on occasions

What the school offers its staff

Oak Grove College is a community generic special school providing special education for 284 students with learning difficulties/disabilities from Year 7 to Year 14. We are part of the Thrive Federation of Schools which also includes Palatine Primary School, Herons Dale School and Cornfield School.

We are immensely proud of our college and our community. We are committed to providing the very best for young people while they are with us, helping them to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and aspiration to succeed throughout their lives. We have a staff team of about 180 people, and we believe in looking after everyone well. We know that our staff team make the college what it is today and are the key to a successful future.

Staff are well supported by the leadership team and are offered opportunities to progress. We know that each and every one of our staff have a pivotal role to play and we believe in supporting everyone to achieve their potential. We have been awarded the Gold School Mental Health award, and our staff wellbeing and mental health is paramount to the success of Oak Grove College. Oak Grove College is a rewarding place to work, and staff report high levels of job satisfaction.

We know that our staff work hard to do their very best each day for our students and we believe in looking after them well in return. We pay for an extensive health and welfare support service for all our staff which includes physiotherapy, counselling, mindfulness support, menopause support, chronic illness support, weight management and much, much more.

Oak Grove College has convenient road and rail links with good public transport available. It is a 15-minute walk from Durrington-on-Sea train station, there is a bus stop just by the entrance, a large car park for those travelling by car and good pedestrian access for those on foot. West Sussex County Council staff can also obtain 15% staff discount on Southern Rail daily, weekly, monthly and annual tickets and are entitled to a range of other travel discounts and incentives too.

As part of our growth and commitment to providing exceptional educational experiences for all our students, we are excited to announce plans to open a new satellite site less than 2 miles from our existing campus. Candidates joining our team should be ready to embrace the unique opportunities the new location will offer and be prepared to work at both sites. This is a fantastic chance to be part of an innovative chapter in our school’s development allowing us to continue to make a positive impact on student’s lives across our community.

New employees joining Oak Grove College are guaranteed a warm welcome from the community. Our motto is that ‘Everyone matters, every day counts’ and we strongly believe that this should include our entire college community. We look forward to getting to know you better and helping you to play your part in providing the very best to our young people.

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.

Purpose of the Role

To work with Arts Teachers as part of a professional team to support teaching and learning across music, drama, visual arts and creative projects within the Arts Department

Providing learning support to students who need help to overcome barriers to learning. Students may have a range of moderate, severe, profound and multiple learning difficulties and/or behaviour, social, communication, sensory or physical difficulties.

The post holder will provide support to the College in a range of duties.

Key Arts Duties:

• Support the planning, preparation and delivery of engaging arts-based lessons and workshops in music, drama, visual arts and cross-disciplinary creative practices, tailored to meet the diverse needs of our students
• Support students in the use of music technology, digital creative tools, including recording, composition and performance software
• Support the planning and delivery of concerts, productions, performances, exhibitions and other arts events throughout the academic year
• Facilitate participation in arts-based enrichment activities, such as school productions, carol concerts, exhibitions, performances and arts-based community projects.
• Contribute to the development of the arts curriculum under the guidance of the Arts Team.
• Assist in setting up and maintaining arts spaces, and creative resources.
• Under the direction of class teachers, following agreed arts lesson plans, rehearsals and performances and assist with the teaching and learning of individuals/ groups of students, using support strategies appropriate to the needs of students, providing feedback and liaising with colleagues over problems.
• Prepare, develop, maintain and deploy appropriate learning aids, materials and equipment, including IT, to assist in teaching under the direction of the Arts Teacher.
• Assist with the maintenance, storage and organisation of musical instruments and other arts equipment
• Lead planned lessons and activities in the absence of the arts teachers, in line with agreed schemes of work and departmental expectations.
• Deliver targeted music interventions and enrichment activities for individuals and small groups under the guidance of the Arts Team
• Support the Arts team in the monitoring, recording and assessment of student progress, arranging and contributing to specialist assessments as required. Ensure there are detailed and reliable records of individual’s progress. Assist teachers/line managers in the evaluation and revision of lessons and work programmes for individuals and groups of students.
• Support students in working towards accreditations and performance exams.
• Provide feedback to students in relation to attainment and progress under the guidance of the teacher.
• Provide individual or small group support to students, helping them participate fully in creative activities.
• Preparing resources for use in arts lessons.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across the arts department and wider college, as well as visiting practitioners.
• Overseeing resources and stock in the arts department, supporting with arts resource ordering.
• To be trained as an arts award advisor or be willing to undertake necessary training.
• Encourage students to explore cultural and artistic diversity, promoting creativity, personal voice and collaborative participation.

General Teaching Assistant duties

• Contribute to the development of a purposeful working atmosphere and implement and monitor the college’s behaviour and any related policies and procedures. Administer and invigilate tests and examinations as directed.
• Support students in social and emotional well-being, reporting problems to the teacher as appropriate.
• Co-ordinate, initiate and develop liaison with parents, carers and outside agencies, ensuring effective communication throughout.
• Support specific projects or activities as well as whole college events as required.
• Understand and support independent learning and inclusion of all students.
• Work with students on therapy or care programmes.
• Attend to student’s personal needs including toileting, hygiene, dressing and eating as well as help with social, welfare and health matters, reporting problems to the appropriate person. Physically assist students in activities including lifting/hoisting where mobility is an issue.
• Take part in swimming lessons if required.
• Administer medication in accordance with agreed plan under the direction of the healthcare professional.
• Escort and supervise students on educational visits and out of school activities.
• Maintain/update confidential student records.
• Break time supervision including facilitating games and activities.
• Advise and assist students in the use and deployment of complex personal learning aides and equipment.
• Ability to work across the college as required, including allocation to other teaching teams and departments.
• Attend relevant training courses and meetings.
• Support with photocopying and admin tasks as and when required.
• Be aware of and comply with college policies and procedures.
• Any other reasonable direction from the Headteacher.

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.

Additional documents

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

Music Teaching Assistant Candidate Information Pack.doc - 308 KB (opens in new tab)

About Oak Grove College

• Organisation type: Special school, ages 11 to 19
• Size: 274 pupils enrolled
• Age range: 11 to 19
• Ofsted report: View Ofsted report
• Website: Oak Grove College website
• Email address: recruitment@oakgrovecollege.org.uk
• Phone number: 01903708870
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/oak-grove-college

Oak Grove College is a generic special school providing education for students with complex special educational needs and disabilities from 11 to 19 years old.

School location

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Worthing and West Sussex