Job Description
Leigh Academy Strood are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic Teaching Assistant who will assist in the support and inclusion of SEN and EAL pupils within the school. Working within a class, our successful candidates will join a well-established team of Teaching Assistants who provide appropriate one-to-one support for an individual pupil, or a small group of pupils within class of any ability and in any curriculum area.
Our successful candidate will provide support for pupils who have a range of specific needs; an opportunity to make a real difference to their development. Applicants should be adaptable, personable and committed to providing an excellent service on behalf of the school and wider Trust, and above all else our appointed candidate will have a positive work ethic and can-do attitude. Experience of working with young people (particularly primary aged) with SEMH/SLCN and also delivering small group interventions would be desirable.
This is a really exciting time to be joining the team at Leigh Academy Strood as we have recently opened a state-of-the-art Special Resource Provision that caters for pupils with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). As part of the Trust’s and Strood Academy’s fully inclusive ethos, we believe that the SRP will be of great value to all students in the school.
This is a permanent opportunity offering an actual salary of £21,543 per annum (£25,185 full-time equivalent), working 37 hours per week, term time + 1 week of inset.
Working with us at Leigh Academy Strood
Leigh Academy Strood is a vibrant and inclusive school community where students are empowered to be kind, respectful, resilient, and inquisitive. Since opening in 2009, we’ve transformed educational outcomes in Strood, with a strong academic culture built on high expectations, a global curriculum, and a commitment to personal development.
We offer outstanding facilities, including purpose-built classrooms and exceptional sports spaces, designed to support learning at every level. As an IB World School, our curriculum fosters curiosity, lifelong learning and global citizenship.
Our recent Ofsted inspection confirmed that Leigh Academy Strood continues to be a ‘Good’ school, with particular praise for our ambitious curriculum and culture of high expectations. We are also proud to have been awarded ADHD Friendly School status—recognising our inclusive practices and support for neurodiverse students.
Staff benefit from regular coaching, dedicated CPD time, a sensible workload approach, and access to trust-wide resources. Our centralised behaviour systems allow for disruption-free classrooms, enabling teachers to focus on what matters most—teaching and inspiring students.
Join a passionate, forward-thinking team making a real difference—where your growth is valued, and your impact truly matters.
To find out more about Leigh Academy Strood, please click here.
Applying for this Opportunity
Thank you for your interest in joining us. If you’d like to find out more about this role or arrange a visit to the academy, please don’t hesitate to contact Amy Wenban (Recruitment Advisor): amy.wenban@latrust.org.uk / 01634 412 205.
To support your application, we recommend viewing the Job Pack by clicking here, which outlines the full role responsibilities and person specification. This will guide you in preparing a strong application and understanding what we’re looking for.
Early applications are encouraged, as we reserve the right to interview before the closing date. All applications must be submitted through our online application form prior to the deadline.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding, Equality & Diversity
Leigh Academies Trust and all of our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process across all academies and business units which is inline with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates - you can read more about it on our Careers site. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals, we all bring something unique to the role regardless of any protected characteristics which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise. We are committed to providing equality and fairness throughout our recruitment and employment practices and not discriminating on any grounds.