Teaching Assistant

Salary: Support Staff Pay Scale D: £19,652 to £19,964 pro-rata per annum (Actual) (£25,583 - £25,989 full time/full year equivalent)

Part Time: 32.5 hours per week over 5 days from Monday to Friday

Working Weeks: 39 weeks

Start Date: September 2026

We have an exciting opportunity for a Teaching Assistant to join our committed and hardworking team at Thetford Academy, supporting our students to achieve their full potential.

What You’ll Be Doing

• To undertake care and learning programmes and activities to support individuals or groups of pupils, including more specialised support for those with special education needs.
• To enable access to learning for pupils and assist the teacher in the management of pupils and the classroom.
• To promote good pupil behaviour, dealing promptly with conflict and incidents in line with established policy and encourage pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour.
• To assist with the supervision of pupils out of lesson times as required.
• To prepare, maintain and use equipment/resources required to meet the lesson plans/relevant learning activity and assist pupils in their use, including supporting the use of ICT learning activities and developing pupils’ competence in its use.
• To support pupils during routine tests and external examinations as required

About You:

You will be an enthusiastic and inspiring practitioner with recent experience of working in a secondary education setting. You will be passionate about raising achievement through motivating and inspiring students, and keen to contribute to the school’s visions and values. You will be motivated to enable access to learning for pupils, including specialised support for those with special education needs. You will be responsible for supporting effective pastoral care to support pupils' social and emotional progress as well as their learning.

Essential:

• Good numeracy/literacy skills
• Experience of working with or caring for children of relevant age
• Knowledge of relevant policies/codes of practice and awareness of legislation
• Basic understanding of child development and learning
• Ability to evaluate learning needs and actively seek learning opportunities

Desirable:

• Experience of working with pupils with SEND
• First aid training

Why Join Inspiration Trust

At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You’ll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration, and innovation. We provide opportunities for growth and empower you to make a real impact in schools across Norfolk and north Suffolk. As part of our thriving network of talented teachers, leaders, and support staff, you’ll receive a varied professional development programme designed to help you be the best you can be.

We offer:

• Generous annual leave, and access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) with excellent employer contributions
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs *
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts (including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships), and salary sacrifice options (including home technology). *
• Free parking at most sites
• Personalised CPD and development programmes
• A structured and specific induction programme.

*Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation.

About Us

Thetford Academy is a remarkable place to work and sits at the academic and cultural heart of its community. Our pupils follow a curriculum designed to prepare them for future challenges while fostering a deep appreciation and understanding of the world. They are supported in developing strong values and habits that empower them to make meaningful contributions to their community and beyond.

Joining Thetford Academy means becoming part of a committed, supportive, and ambitious team. Staff benefit from excellent professional development opportunities, collaborative networks, and the chance to make a real difference in the lives of young people. If you are passionate about education and inspiring students to achieve their full potential, this is the place to grow your career.

We are part of the Inspiration Trust, twice ranked as the country’s top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believe in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. We have strong networks across the Trust, with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities for our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country’s best educational thinkers and practitioners.

The Inspiration Trust is a Multi Academy Trust, committed to delivering the very best educational experience for the young people of Norfolk and Suffolk, across 17 schools. We are ambitious for our schools and communities and want to create Britain’s highest performing federation of 3-19 schools and transform education in the East. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding.

For information on what it is like to live and work in Thetford, click here. In its 2025 inspection, Ofsted confirmed that The Thetford Academy has continued to provide a high-quality education, with excellent behaviour, a well-sequenced curriculum and impressive personal development opportunities. Pupils are proud to attend the school, feel safe, and benefit from committed staff and strong leadership.

Next Steps

Before applying, please read the attached Recruitment Pack and Job Description, for more details about the role. We ask that you read this pack carefully, especially the “Planning your application” section from page 11. This will support your application ensuring you have the opportunity to tell us about your relevant skills, experience and qualifications that relate to the job description and person specification in addition to details of your references covering the last 5 years.

If you would like to know more about this exciting opportunity, then please contact Ilona Haye, PA to Principal (ilonahaye@inspirationtrust.org).

To apply for this role please click the Apply button to complete the online application form.

When you start your application, you will receive several emails from our application provider, Vacancy Filler. Please be aware that some email providers may mistakenly mark these messages as spam. To avoid missing important updates, we recommend checking your spam or junk folders regularly throughout the application process and marking these emails as safe.

Closing date for applications: 12pm on Sunday 28th June 2026

Interview date: Week commencing 6th July 2026

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.