Vacancies

Vacancies -  Teaching Assistant, ASC Leader & Assistant, Clerk to the Local Governing Body

Teaching Assistant: approx. 24 hours per week (4 full days Tues-Friday) Grade 5 SCP6, PCD5 (£25,183 per annum, pro rata, term time plus 1 week INSET & holiday entitlement – approx. £13.05 per hour). This post could be a job share between an Early Years and KS2 SEN teaching assistant but would work best with someone who was suitably qualified to undertake both roles. 

We are seeking an excellent part time teaching assistant to join our dedicated and hard working team, working in our Early Years unit (supporting Nursery pupils aged 2-4 years) and also in our Key Stage 2 team (supporting SEN pupils aged 9-11 years).  This is a temporary contract to the end of the academic year due to the hours being linked to Education Health & Care Plans and to fluctuating nursery demand, but is likely to continue longer term. 

The successful candidate will need to be:

•  A qualified teaching assistant (ideally with both level 3 Early Years qualification and 5-11 qualification) with recent experience with pupils aged 2-4 and 9-11 years, including those with additional needs

•  Calm and positive in managing pupils’ behaviour

•  Dedicated to ensuring the well being and progress of all pupils

•  Highly motivated, enthusiastic, flexible and caring; able to work as part of a strong team under the direction of the Early Years / Key Stage 2 teaching staff

•  Sympathetic to the Christian ethos of our school and be committed to our aims and values.

 The ideal candidate would also be willing to work as AFTER SCHOOL CLUB ASSISTANT on Tuesdays (1.5-2.25 hours per week, Grade 3 SCP3-4 £24,027-£24,404 per annum pro rata, approx. £12.45-£12.65 per hour), and AFTER SCHOOL CLUB LEADER on Thursdays and Fridays (1.75-2.5 hours, depending on need,  Grade 5 SCP6, PCD5 (£25,183 per annum, pro rata, approx. £13.05 per hour) 

For these posts we can offer:

•  Well behaved and polite children;

•  Enthusiastic, experienced and supportive staff who value each child and each other as individuals and as part of our school family;

•  Plenty of space in our classrooms, school hall and outdoor provision with a wide range of resources and an attractive environment;

•  Supportive and appreciative parents, Local Governing Body and local community;

•  A commitment to your professional development.

 Closing date:  applications will be considered on a rolling basis, as received, and interviews offered to suitable candidates with a view to appointing as soon as possible in January 2025.  Temporary and longer term candidates are encouraged to contact the school via email whilst school is closed from 20th December to 7th January and may not hear back in this period.  

Application forms and further details about the post are available below.  Visits to the school are welcome by prior arrangement with the Head of School, Donna Hawley, or Executive Headteacher, Jo Laker, who can be contacted via email: head@dean.cumbria.sch.uk or by phoning the school office on 01946 861408.  Please get in touch for an informal conversation or to find out more about the role(s) offered.

Clerk to the Local Governing Body: We are looking for an organised and friendly person to be our Clerk to the Local Governing Body to help prepare for and minute meetings.  Could this be you?  This is a  permanent post, paid for 2 hours per week (in term time) at about £12.18 per hour.  Further details can be found in the job profile below.  Please email or phone the school to arrange a visit or phone call to find out more. This is a rolling vacancy so interviews will be offered when we have suitable candidates come forward.

Please note that any applications must be on the school application form (CVs are not accepted).   


The Good Shepherd Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and wellbeing of its pupils across its family of schools. The Trust engages with young people and staff in policy and practice developments, proactively encourages feedback and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All posts involving direct contact with children are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974 and the successful candidate will be required to hold, or undergo a suitable enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service. Amendments to the ROA 1974 (Exceptions Order 1975 (2013 & 2020)) provide that certain spent convictions and cautions are 'protected'. These are not subject to disclosure to employers and cannot be considered. Guidance and criteria on the filtering of these cautions and convictions can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete a criminal record self-disclosure form to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered or protected, to be returned to school prior to the date of the interview. Applicants may be asked for further information about their criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure & Barring Service and DfE (where relevant) before your appointment is confirmed.

The school reserves the right to carry out an online search on shortlisted candidates. This will only include a search for information which is publicly available online and is required of schools (see the updated KCSIE 2023).

NOTE: it is an offence to apply for the role if the applicant is barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.