Higher Level Teaching Assistant Apprentice - St Cuthbert’s RC High School

Summary

St Cuthbert’s RC High School is looking for a Level 3 qualified Teaching Assistant to join as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant Apprentice. You’ll support teaching and learning, lead small group sessions, and help with planning and assessment while working towards your HLTA apprenticeship.

Annual wage

£28,899 a year

Minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

£14.82 per hour

Training course: Specialist teaching assistant

Hours: Monday to Friday, term-time only Typical hours: 30+ per week (to be confirmed with school)
37.5 hours a week

Start date: Friday 16 January 2026

Duration: 24 Months

Positions available: 2

Work

As an apprentice, you’ll work at a company and get hands-on experience. You’ll gain new skills and work alongside experienced staff.

What you’ll do at work

As a Higher Level Teaching Assistant Apprentice at St Cuthbert’s, you will work under the guidance of teachers and senior staff to support pupils’ learning, deliver structured interventions and contribute to planning, teaching and assessment activities.

Key Responsibilities:

Supporting teachers in planning and delivering learning activities
Leading small group support sessions and targeted interventions
Covering classes in the absence of a teacher (where appropriate)
Assisting with assessment of pupils’ progress and recording outcomes
Working with pupils with diverse learning needs, including SEND and EAL
Supporting behaviour management and promoting a positive learning environment
Preparing resources, materials and classroom displays
Contributing to pastoral care and wellbeing of pupils
Supporting learning across a range of subjects and year groups
Working collaboratively with teachers, pastoral teams and support staff
Taking part in professional development as part of the HLTA apprenticeship

This role is suited to individuals with proven experience working in a school setting who are ready to take the next step in their career.

Where you’ll work

Shaw Road, Rochdale, OL16 4RX

Check your travel to work

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Training

An apprenticeship includes regular training with a college or other training organisation. At least 20% of your working hours will be spent training or studying.

College or training organisation

ROCHDALE TRAINING ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Your training course

Specialist teaching assistant

Equal to Level 5 (Higher national diploma)

Course contents

Act in line with policies, processes, and procedures related to statutory frameworks and non-statutory guidance, including safeguarding, implementing the setting’s behaviour policy.

Establish a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment for learners.

Establish nurturing, effective working relationships with learners, parents or carers and stakeholders.

Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity and sustainable development.

Undertake dynamic risk assessment of the learning environment.

Respond to and mitigate potential hazards that may adversely affect a learning environment.

Contribute to the planning of learning and assessment activities.

Apply teaching strategies to advance learning, for example scaffolding.

Select and use safely, appropriate equipment and resources to advance learning.

Apply an appropriate range of assessment methods, including formative, summative and individual needs-based assessments.

Analyse assessment outcomes to inform reporting and future planning.

Provide ongoing feedback to learners and support them to respond to feedback.

Record and report information related to learners’ progress to a range of stakeholders.

Collaborate with colleagues and other professionals.

Advocate for and champion the needs of learners.

Use a range of research to critically evaluate teaching and assessment approaches and practices.

Critically evaluate a variety of teaching and assessment methods depending on the learning environments and learners’ needs.

Improve own practice by undertaking continuous self-reflection including seeking and responding to feedback from varied sources.

Update and maintain their own knowledge and skills as part of managing their own continuing professional development.

Communicate information and analysis in a variety of forms to reflect the needs of the audience, for example by providing appropriate advice and guidance to parents or carers.

Support the development of effective practices in others, for example through mentoring and coaching colleagues.

Identify, action, and challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.

Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the appropriate actions required to minimise risks to professional well-being.

Implement strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.

Select and use technologies safely and effectively to promote learning.

Prioritise and manage own workload, for example recognising the importance of capacity.

Implement national and local SEND policy, practices, processes, and procedures.

Apply approaches to the assessment and early identification of SEND.

Apply strategies to adapt provision and practices to support learners with SEND.

Implement national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to social and emotional well-being.

Identify and signpost learners in need of social and emotional well-being intervention.

Apply strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.

Implement national and local policies, practices, processes, and procedures related to the specific curriculum provision.

Adapt planning and assessment to support learning and progress in the specific area of curriculum provision.

Support colleagues by advocating for the specific curriculum provision.

Act in line with policies, processes, and procedures related to statutory frameworks and non-statutory guidance, including safeguarding, implementing the setting’s behaviour policy.

Establish a safe, stimulating and nurturing environment for learners.

Establish nurturing, effective working relationships with learners, parents or carers and stakeholders.

Demonstrate understanding of equality and diversity and sustainable development.

Undertake dynamic risk assessment of the learning environment.

Respond to and mitigate potential hazards that may adversely affect a learning environment.

Contribute to the planning of learning and assessment activities.

Apply teaching strategies to advance learning, for example scaffolding.

Select and use safely, appropriate equipment and resources to advance learning.

Apply an appropriate range of assessment methods, including formative, summative and individual needs-based assessments.

Analyse assessment outcomes to inform reporting and future planning.

Provide ongoing feedback to learners and support them to respond to feedback.

Record and report information related to learners’ progress to a range of stakeholders.

Collaborate with colleagues and other professionals.

Advocate for and champion the needs of learners.

Use a range of research to critically evaluate teaching and assessment approaches and practices.

Critically evaluate a variety of teaching and assessment methods depending on the learning environments and learners’ needs.

Improve own practice by undertaking continuous self-reflection including seeking and responding to feedback from varied sources.

Update and maintain their own knowledge and skills as part of managing their own continuing professional development.

Communicate information and analysis in a variety of forms to reflect the needs of the audience, for example by providing appropriate advice and guidance to parents or carers.

Support the development of effective practices in others, for example through mentoring and coaching colleagues.

Identify, action, and challenge issues and undertake difficult conversations where appropriate.

Recognise signs of vulnerability in self or colleagues and the appropriate actions required to minimise risks to professional well-being.

Implement strategies to support the social and emotional well-being of learners.

Select and use technologies safely and effectively to promote learning.

Prioritise and manage own workload, for example recognising the importance of capacity.

Your training plan

Level 5 Specialist Teaching Assistant Level 5
Training delivered in partnership with Rochdale Training through structured off-the-job learning and in-school mentoring

Requirements

Essential qualifications

GCSE Maths and English (Grade Grade 4/C or above) essential
A Level Teaching Assistant (Grade Level 3) essential

Let the company know about other relevant qualifications and industry experience you have. They can adjust the apprenticeship to reflect what you already know.

Skills

Communication skills
Organisation skills
Patience
Classroom Management
Professional and reliable
Empathy

Other requirements

Candidates must have experience working in a school environment.
Role involves working with pupils with varying needs and behaviours
You will be required to follow safeguarding procedures at all times
A DBS check will be required before starting

About this company

St Cuthbert’s RC High School is a large, inclusive and high-performing secondary school in Rochdale that provides a supportive and ambitious learning environment for all students. The school is committed to academic excellence, strong pastoral support and helping every learner reach their full potential. This apprenticeship offers a rare opportunity for someone with existing school experience and a Level 3 qualification to progress into a Higher Level Teaching Assistant role. Working alongside experienced teachers and support staff, the successful apprentice will gain advanced skills in planning, delivering, and assessing learning within the classroom.