Swanshurst is a large, outstanding school for girls aged 11-19 years. We offer excellent support and CPD for staff at all stages of their career. Ofsted (May 2024) described our school to be “an exceptional place for pupils to learn”. They described the curriculum as “exemplary” and one which "explodes into life in the classroom". In relation to staff wellbeing, they noted that “The school is conscious of staff workload and well-being and is committed to achieving excellence in a sustainable way.” We are exceptionally proud to have been judged ‘Outstanding’ in two consecutive inspections. Our Ofsted report can be found here.
The school is part of the newly formed West Midlands Academy Trust (WMAT) which opened in January 2025. As one of the three founding members, the school has been integral to forming the Trust’s mission:
• Relentless focus upon delivering an excellent Quality of Education, resulting in strong progress and attainment for all groups of pupils.
• Emphasis upon personal development and well-being for staff and pupils.
Are you passionate, enthusiastic, motivated and committed to raising achievement of students with a range of additional needs and barriers to learning?
We are seeking to appoint a Raising Achievement Assistant who is highly motivated and innovative in their work with young people who have additional needs. The successful candidate will have the motivation and enthusiasm to raise the achievement and ensure that their barriers to learning are met appropriately, both in the classroom and through small group intervention.
You will be working in a vibrant team and will bring with you particular experience, skills or interests in working with students who may have the following barriers to learning:
• Specific learning difficulties, including dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia.
• Speech, Language and Communication needs including Autism and selective mutism
• Anxiety
• ADHD
• Literacy and numeracy.
• General cognition and learning needs with associated executive functioning needs
• EAL
• Hearing and visual impairments
Applications from candidates with experience or interest in supporting pupils with Autism, Dyspraxia, ADHD or numeracy difficulties including Dyscalculia are particularly welcome. Please detail your area of interest or expertise in your application.
Applications from graduates are very welcome.
Swanshurst School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020 which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’ so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.
Safeguarding is our top priority. We encourage all applicants to review our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy which outlines our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of students.
The successful applicant will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks including enhanced DBS, Prohibition Check, qualifications (where applicable), medical fitness, identify and right to work.
This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016). Therefore, the ability to speak fluent and spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.
To comply with Keeping Children Safe in Education, we will seek and scrutinise references prior to interviews.
Referees will be contacted to provide further clarification if needed. All information provided by referees will be compared for consistency against the information disclosed in your application form, and you will be asked about any discrepancies at interview.
Short listed candidates – an online search will also be carried out as part of due diligence on all short-listed candidates.