Graduate Teaching Assistant

About Us

Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is a mixed Academy for 1,300 students aged 11-18, with a large sixth form of nearly 400 students. The Academy has four consecutive Outstanding judgments by Ofsted, with the most recent inspection in 2025 finding the Academy to be Outstanding in every category. We are a consistently high performing school. Our motto, 'All Can Achieve' encapsulates our vision that all members of the Academy community are supported and encouraged to achieve their absolute potential. We believe that a well-supported and valued staff body is the key to our success.

We are the 'Teaching School Hub' for Croydon and Sutton and we are able to offer all teachers an extensive programme of first class professional development. Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is part of the Harris Federation and this enables us to offer you a comprehensive induction programme and training and development opportunities to support your career development including Masters and other qualifications.

We welcome applicants at any point in their career and are open to full consideration of part time and job share requests.

Summary

Are you a passionate graduate eager to make a meaningful impact in education? Harris City Academy Crystal Palace is seeking dedicated Graduate Teaching Assistants to support students with a range of Special Educational Needs (SEN), including those with Educational Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). This is a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a dynamic secondary school environment and take the first step toward a rewarding career in teaching or SEN support.

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with teaching staff and the SEN Department to enhance student outcomes and engagement. You will receive comprehensive training and ongoing support from experienced colleagues to help you thrive in your role.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Collaborating with teachers to support students with diverse SEN needs, ensuring they make expected progress
• Creating an inclusive and engaging classroom environment that fosters learning and participation
• Applying Quality First Teaching strategies and implementing Student SEN Profiles
• Adapting learning materials and approaches to meet individual needs while encouraging student ownership of their learning
• Demonstrating a proactive and empathetic approach to supporting SEN students
• Participating in professional development opportunities within the SEN Department and across the Academy
• Supporting other students in the classroom as needed
• Applying subject knowledge effectively to assist both teachers and students
• Using consistent behaviour management strategies aligned with Academy policies and student profiles
• Reflecting on and improving your practice through self-evaluation and CPD.
• Communicating effectively with staff to address student concerns

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to degree standard or equivalent
• An excellent standard of written and spoken English
• Previous experience of supporting learning of students
• Basic knowledge of SEND and learning barriers
• Some knowledge of working with young people with challenging behaviour
• Knowledge of some of the social issues facing students from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Good computer skills, including a working knowledge of MS packages
• Experience of working with young people in an educational or training environment
• Experience of establishing and maintaining working relationships with a range of people

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.