KS2 Teaching Assistant Apprentice

Information

AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 7 TO 18 IN THE HEART OF SURREY

Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant Apprentice

for prospective staff

About Freemen's

Our mission is to inspire our people to learn, to lead and to make a difference.

We believe that if we can motivate pupils and staff to always give their best, the School will continue to grow and thrive. Community engagement and our impact on the world beyond our walls are at the forefront of everything we do at Freemen’s.

The School was founded in Brixton in 1854 to provide an education for the orphaned children of Freemen of the City of London before moving to the present site, Ashtead Park, in 1926. We have a magnificent site with modern buildings alongside the original Main House set in a stunning 57 acres of parkland. This idyllic setting further supports the wellbeing of our students and staff, as being here, in the park, makes coming to work a pleasure. It looks striking in every season and we are lucky to have a vast array of wildlife living in our woods.

Today, Freemen’s is an independent day and boarding school for students aged 7-18, with a strong ethos of community and service in accordance with the values on which the School

was founded. We are proudly co-educational and have been since 1854, which was radical at the time, and we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with our forward-thinking, progressive approach.

You can expect stellar exam results and academic excellence, but that’s not all. The focus within the School is on every individual finding a path which is appropriate for them, be that in the classroom, on a sports pitch or in one of the many co-curricular activities we encourage our young people to throw themselves into. Our mission is built upon four pillars of the Freemen’s education: pastoral support, House activities, academic achievement, and our varied cocurricular programme (including sport) to ensure every student realises their potential to be able to learn, lead and make a difference. Freemen’s is a place where students are keen to learn and eager to engage in the wider aspects of life at our School.

Teachers at Freemen's embody our principles for excellent classroom practice, offering innovative and forward-thinking approaches, enabling us to be a beacon of learning and teaching. We take risks in the pursuit of excellence by being brave and radical, willing to challenge the status quo. Through our 1-1 iPad programme, we

Learn, lead and make a difference

aim to create discerning users of technology, so that staff and students can thrive in the modern dynamic world. We do all of this, in an environment where staff feel supported, by investing in life-long learning through research-led enquiry and building learning communities. The emphasis in the Junior School is on Kindness, Honesty and Fun and the Senior School picks up that message with a pastoral programme that emphasizes the importance of a strong, supportive community in which every member, staff and student, feels respected, supported and valued. As a result, we are able to support our young people to successfully navigate the tests of life they face every day.

The School is one of four independent schools managed by the City of London Corporation (The City). The City provides financial support in the form of bursaries and scholarships. Other links with the City of London and the Livery Companies are strong, which presents opportunities for staff to attend events at Guildhall and elsewhere in the City, as well as the possibility of gaining the honour of the Freedom of the City of London.

Transport links are good; the School is a mile from Ashtead station with regular services to Epsom and London and south to Leatherhead and Guildford. The M25 junction 9 is a seven-minute drive from the School.

The Junior School at Freemen’s

The Junior School at Freemen’s is a friendly, welcoming environment which fosters a strong team ethic.

There are three teaching members in each Year group in Key Stage 2, with the Head of Year coordinating the pastoral and academic welfare of pupils within the year group. The Head of Year works closely alongside colleagues to observe lessons and team teach in an effort to share the best working practices.

Accommodation and resources

The Junior School provides a bright, cheerful working environment. Each classroom contains full multimedia facilities (projection or interactive whiteboard, laptop/PC, Apple TV). Lesson-by-lesson schemes of work are available for all subject areas and a number of specialist rooms (Art, DT, FT, Science, the outdoor classroom, Library and our new STEM room) enable the youngest pupils to try their hand at a wide range of different activities.

All staff are given an iPad and every child in Years 4, 5 and 6 receives an iPad too. In Form 1 (Year 3) is a class set that is shared across the three forms.

Curriculum

The curriculum is largely National Curriculum based, with the flexibility to diversify where appropriate. Subject co-ordinators work closely with colleagues to ensure consistency and monitor pupil work.

Trips and visits

Junior School pupils benefit from the proximity to London and the South Coast by experiencing a diverse range of educational visits. They visit Bignor Roman Villa, along with visits to the Bough Beech reservoir, the Gunnersbury Museum and London theatres and museums. So too are there three residential trips through the year: skiing, High Ashurst, Osmington Bay to name a few.

Co-curricular

A willingness to be fully involved in the co-curricular life at Freemen’s is important. The successful candidate will take great pleasure from running activities during or after the school day, whether they be sporting or not.

Kindness, Honesty, Fun

We will particularly welcome applicants that offer interest/experience in outdoor learning, piano playing and games (particularly hockey and netball), but these skills are NOT necessary.

The most recent review from the Good Schools’ Guide summarises the Junior School thus:

"This friendly, grounded and well-run school takes the pressure off getting academically bright young things into senior schools and seems to have a knack of making challenging work seem fun.

‘Like a school within a school,’ as one parent put it. All this adds up to a be a wonderful place to work and learn, ever upholding the Junior School values of kindness, honesty, fun."

Information about the role

We are looking for a Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant - Apprentice. This is a full time role, starting in September 2024.

Reporting to: Head of Junior School via Director of Learning Support

Purpose of the post: Working closely with class teachers you will be helping pupils to expand their knowledge and play a positive role in school life. You will utilise your knowledge, communication skills and creativity to help pupils understand the information presented.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Supervise and provide learning support for pupils with or without special needs. Preparation and planning of lessons in accordance with year group schemes of work.

• Assist with the development of individual education and behavioural plans setting challenging expectations for pupils to achieve learning goals.

• Establish trusting relationships with pupils and interact with them according to individual needs and personalities.

• Encourage pupils to interact with the class and engage in activities.

• Provide feedback to pupils and teachers on pupil’s achievement, progress and any

problems that arise.

• Create and maintain an orderly and supportive environment, undertaking administrative tasks as needed.

• Promote good pupil conduct encouraging pupils to take responsibility for their behaviour.

• Support the use of technology in learning and develop pupils’ competence and independence in its use.

• Prepare resources required for learning activities and assist pupils in their use.

• Uphold policies and procedures relating to child protection and data protection.

• Supervise pupils before school, after school and on school trips.

Other

• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety of both themselves and others when carrying out their duties.

• Reporting all accidents to the Bursar via the School’s Accident Report Form procedure. Report forms are held in the Medical Centre.

• Informing the Bursar of any concerns regarding Health & Safety and safe working practices.

Job description - Key Stage 2 Teaching Assistant Apprentice

• Actively seek to implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and the objective to promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.

• To undertake any other duties that may reasonably be requested appropriate to the grade.

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Professional expectations of staff

Safeguarding

Staff will be kind, fair and respectful to students and each other, challenge others when they are unkind, unfair or disrespectful and have the highest regard for the students’ safety and their safeguarding duties, whether on or off the school premises.

Appearance

Smart professional dress, or appropriate co-curricular clothing, at all times.

Availability

Prompt attendance during the School’s operating hours and a commitment to completing School business is expected.

Awareness and use of Freemen’s policies

Staff will be able to access and use policies as necessary, and read and act upon them appropriately.

Behaviour

Staff will establish Freemen’s as a place of learning and will determine clear boundaries of behaviour, based on mutual respect and trust. Staff will have high expectations of students and will manage their behaviour effectively.

Collective responsibility

Staff share collective responsibility for Freemen’s standards, reputation and property, should treat them with respect and care, and insist others do likewise.

Communication

Staff will expect high standards of communication from students and will, in turn, demonstrate accurate, timely and appropriate communication when dealing with students, parents and colleagues.

Ethics and behaviour

Staff will uphold public trust in the profession and the reputation of Freemen’s by maintaining high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside School. They will be respectful and tolerant of the rights of others, including colleagues, and not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. They will ensure that their personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.

Learn, lead and make a difference

Leaders

Staff will be leaders in the School, exercising good judgement and modelling the behaviour and habits that are expected of the students.

Learners

Staff will show and share a passion for their subject or discipline(s). They will seek to develop as professionals and as specialists, will be open to feedback and will seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and engage with relevant research.

Planning

Teaching staff will have a sense of where the lesson fits within the scheme of work and plan well-structured lessons using an appropriate range of pedagogies.

Use of feedback

Staff will seek to use feedback for themselves and if appropriate, their students and will complete assessments and reports in a timely fashion in the appropriate manner and style.

How to apply

Applicants should send a covering letter and a completed application form to the Headmaster via CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk, by 9am on Tuesday 30 April 2024. As a day school with boarding we may have opportunities to join our boarding community with some roles coming with accommodation. Please do let us know in your application if you are interested.

Freemen’s acknowledges receipt of all applications, if you have not received confirmation of the safe receipt of your application within two working days please call the school or email CLFS-Recruitment@ cityoflondon.gov.uk to check on its status.

The successful candidate must be able to satisfy the City of London’s health requirements and a confidential medical assessment by the City of London’s Medical Officer is required. City of London Freemen’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (Enhanced Disclosure).

"Friendly was the single most uttered word used to describe the school by students, while parents report that their offspring are happy. ‘Kind’ and ‘non-judgemental,’ we also heard, with support on tap."

The Good Schools Guide

Your benefits

Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS)

Contributory defined benefit

Family friendly

Significantly enhanced maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement

Free lunch and refreshments

The option to join Supper Club at a subsidised rate

Fee remission

Up to 50% fee remission subject to the normal entry requirements.

Cycle to work scheme

Up to £3,000 salary sacrifice

Season Ticket Loan

Free parking on site

Access to on-site facilities

City of London benefits:

• CityBenefits - discounts and cashback.

• Wellbeing resources.

• Sponsorship to become a Freeman of the City of London.

Sports and Leisure:

• Discounted gym membership.

• Free use of the fitness suite.

• Staff social and sporting opportunities including pilates, yoga and five-a-side football.

• Free staff swimming and weekend family swimming for staff.

Learning and Development:

• Funding to obtain QTS/PGCE.

• Tailored CPD for all colleagues that includes a thriving internal CPD programme, as well as a range of external opportunities such as Masters and PhD support, Enquiring Teachers Programme and Chartered College qualifications.

Wellbeing:

• Up to 2 days’ paid leave for volunteering.

• Cash back on private health care treatment.

• Access to on-site Medical Centre.

• Staff Wellbeing Committee.

• Confidential Employee Assistance for staff and their families.

• Emergencies-only approach to out of hours email.

"A down-to-earth, friendly school that’s comfortable in its own skin rather than relentlessly trying to show off its most polished side – and is all the better for it. Just the ticket for parents after a high-quality, stress-free route for their academically bright sons and daughters from age 7 right through to 18. Almost unique around here."

The Good Schools Guide