Learning Support Assistant

The Totteridge Academy (TTA) is a fantastic secondary school in North London. With approximately 900 students, and a Sixth Form which opened in September 2020, TTA is continuing to grow and develop. We are looking for passionate and enthusiastic staff to join our team.

We provide a high-quality education in a safe, caring, and focused environment. We teach skills and knowledge, enabling our students to become responsible, well-rounded citizens, equipped with the tools to make effective choices for their futures. We pride ourselves on our inclusive environment with a rich and nurturing culture. We celebrate our differences whilst standing together as a united learning community.

After a significant jump in GCSE results since 2016, we are continuing this upward trend. Our last Ofsted inspection, in April 2019, graded the school as ‘Good’ overall with ‘Outstanding’ behaviour and leadership. We have excellent academic results: 87% of A-level grades in 2022 were A*-C; 81% of students achieved a grade 4 or above in English and Maths at GCSE; over two-fifths (42%) of students were awarded the highest grades of 7 or above in English and Maths; our overall GCSE Progress score was +1.03.

Our school philosophy of kaizen (continuous improvement) enables our students and staff to aim high at all times so that every individual can attain his or her best. We celebrate and are proud of the achievements of all of our students, valuing individuality and nurturing happy, confident, and hard-working young people.

We have high expectations at TTA and reject the view that success in life is pre-determined or that our talents are fixed. We improve through practice; calm, focused classrooms led by knowledgeable, passionate teachers provide our students with the ideal environment for this practice to take place. Our students work hard, aim high, and take pride in their learning.

If you would like to find out more about TTA, CLICK HERE. Or, to read some testimonials from our current staff, CLICK HERE.

Learning Support Assistant

Contract:Term time only

Hours:37.5 hours per week - 8am to 4pm

Salary:From £23,466 to £26,000 FTE (dependent on experience)

Location: Barnet, London

Start Date: 1 September 2023

The Role

We are looking for an exceptional Learning Support Assistant to join our inclusion team. If you have high expectations of all children and are looking for an opportunity to make your mark in a school that has already made a huge transformation and continues to do so, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

The objectives of a Learning Support Assistant will differ according to the individual requirements of each student. Their overall function is to support students’ diverse Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) through the academic, personal and behavioural elements of school life.

This position provides the ideal opportunity for an ambitious and dynamic Learning Support Assistant with vision to help shape an ethos of care, respect, high achievement and challenge. The recent Ofsted inspection in March 2019 graded the school ‘good’ overall and ‘outstanding’ in the effectiveness of leadership and the behaviour, personal development and welfare of students. The final report included the following comments about the school:

• A harmonious and peaceful learning environment
• Every parent who was surveyed said that they would recommend the school
• The behaviour of pupils is outstanding
• The school is led by an inspirational principal supported by a strong and effective leadership team

Since 2016, results have increased dramatically from 39% to 76% of students gaining 5 good passes including English and Maths. Our progress 8 score has improved from -0.45 to 0.6 means we are now in the top 10% of schools nationally. We have also seen an increase in student numbers enrolled in Year 7 from 72 to 180.

As a Learning Support Assistant (LSA), you will support students on a 1:1 and group basis both in and outside of the classroom. This support will be within the four areas of SEND: Cognition and Learning, Communication and Interaction; Sensory and Physical; Social, Emotional and Mental Health. You will work closely with teachers to plan the support according to students’ needs in the classroom. You will also run intervention sessions as needed, liaising with the SENDCo, students, and parents to plan, run, and evaluate these effectively.

Working as an LSA will mean that you work closely with some of our most vulnerable students. LSA support must ensure that students are challenged and given scaffolds as needed. LSAs are expected to build student independence by moving around the room and working with a range of students. They also work with the teacher to develop learning support strategies for the specific subject. The support will follow the whole-school teaching and learning strategies and training is given on these.

To succeed in this role, you should have English and Maths grade 5 (or A to C or equivalent), be passionate about students’ success and well-being. You should be a team player and be able to communicate at all levels within the Academy including students, parents and staff.

At TTA we believe that the best staff are continuously striving to improve. We are committed to developing our people and, as part of the largest group of academies and schools in the country, United Learning, we offer unrivalled professional development and career progression.

This is an exciting time to join TTA; if you share our high expectations and are passionate about making a difference, we look forward to receiving your application.

CLICK HERE to watch a short video of TTA.

The school is fully committed to the safeguarding of children and all staff will be subject to an enhanced DBS disclosure and full child protection/safeguarding training. United Learning is an equal opportunities employer.