Graduate Teaching Assistant

  • Harris Federation
  • Feb 07, 2026
Full time Education

Job Description


About Us

At Harris Academy Purley, you will join a dedicated team of teachers and staff supporting our excellent students. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow, inspire and develop, this may be the role for you. Working at Harris Academy Purley, you will make a real difference to the lives of young people and their families in South London who value the learning and school environment we offer. Our school is oversubscribed; we have families, from a number of boroughs, who choose us for the high standard of education we provide, and staff come from across London as well as Sussex and Surrey to come and work with us. You will be given ample opportunities to develop and progress your career, and all staff are encouraged to develop their interests and areas of expertise. Our professional development is tailored to ensure all staff are able to continue learning regardless of their role or stage of career.


Summary

Harris Academy Purley is looking for a Graduate Teaching Assistant to support teaching staff/tutor in class. You will play an important role in improving the outcomes of students with a variety of needs, including those with EHCPs and additional needs.

The actual salary for this role will be £24,748,-£25,102 (37.5 hours per week, 38 weeks per year).


Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

  • Working collaboratively with the class teacher and the SEN Department to enable students with a variety of SEN needs to positively engage in a classroom environment and with learning
  • Demonstrating a proactive approach to supporting all students in the classroom,
  • Understanding students' individual needs and the differentiation needed to meet their targets, while ensuring that students retain ownership over their learning
  • Engaging positively and proactively in CPD opportunities offered within the SEN Department and the wider Academy
  • Demonstrating a level of subject knowledge and applying this effectively in supporting teachers and students
  • Using academy behaviour management strategies to promote positive behaviour.
  • Liaising with relevant staff to make them aware of problems experienced by students

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

  • Qualifications to degree level or equivalent
  • Some knowledge of strategies in working with young people with challenging behaviours
  • Knowledge of some of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
  • Awareness of Health and Safety issues in the workplace.
  • Experience of working directly with young people in an education or training environment, supporting the learning of students.
  • Experience of establishing and maintaining positive working relationships with a range of stakeholders, at all levels.
  • Experience of managing and being responsible for own workload.

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.


Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.


Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.