Teaching Assistant

Job Description

Be a Part of a Community Driven by Opportunity at Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Are you an enthusiastic individual ready to empower students to Be Kind, Be Ready, Be Responsible? Do you want to be part of a community where every professional is dedicated to care, support, and excellence?

At HDHS, we are driven by opportunity and a powerful belief that every student matters. We work to support the young people of Harwich and the surrounding villages, dedicated to maximising their life chances and levelling any inequalities. We are looking for a dedicated Teaching Assistant to become a vital part of our professional body and help us create an environment where every student knows, understands, and believes that the opportunity is here for them.

Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your career, we offer a dynamic and stimulating environment where you can truly thrive.

• The successful candidate will work 27.5 hours per week
• This is a 39-week-per-year role, which includes term time, non-pupil days.

A Day in the Life:

You'll be responsible for bringing your passion and expertise to the following areas:

• To understand the individual needs of students by being fully aware of their One Plan.
• To liaise with SENCo and classroom teachers, so that classroom support is targeted so as to impact positively on progress and outcomes.
• To facilitate reading programmes, and other directed interventions, update intervention records and inform the SENCo about students' progress.

What We are Looking For:
You are the perfect fit for our team if you have:

• GCSE or equivalent in English and Maths.
• Seizes opportunities and takes the initiative to move things along in a positive way.
• Co-operates and works well with others in pursuit of team goals, sharing information and supporting others

Why Choose The Sigma Trust?
We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life.

Professional Development:

• A robust CPD training program that empowers you to flourish.
• Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships.

Employee Benefits:

• A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme.
• A Health Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme for your well-being.
• Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, discounted gym memberships, cinema tickets, and eligibility for a Blue Light Card.

Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision 'To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts', where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.

To Apply:

Ready to take the next step? Find out more about the role and apply by 15th October 2026 at Midnight via the following link: https://mynewterm.com/jobs/145061/EDV-2026-HADHS-88275.

Nb: Only fully completed application forms will be accepted. We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a large number of applications.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive an

overwhelming response. Candidates may be invited to interview prior to the closing date, so an early application is advised.

Information about the School

About Harwich and Dovercourt High School

Harwich & Dovercourt High School is a co-educational secondary school aged 11–16 across the Harwich peninsula in Essex. The school converted to an academy in 2012 and later joined The Sigma Trust in 2017, placing its rich local history within a supportive framework of regional educational collaboration.

As part of the Sigma Trust family, we truly believe in 'Ambition for all.' Our school is a vibrant, forward-thinking place where we're dedicated to helping our young people be the absolute BEST they can be—empowering them academically, socially, and personally for a fulfilling future. Guided by strong values we support every student to tackle challenges and reach their full potential. We're on an exciting journey of rapid improvement with the backing of a respected multi-academy trust, making this a fantastic time to be part of our community.

Harwich and Dovercourt High School, as a member of The Sigma Trust, values and positively promotes the following attributes:

• Integrity – be honest, transparent, trustworthy and true to your beliefs.
• Passion – be positive and enthusiastic about what you are trying to achieve.
• Aspiration – aim for your best and set high, realistic goals.
• Resilience – never give up and strive to improve.
• Accountability – take responsibility for your words, thoughts and actions.
• Respect – for yourself, your environment and other people.

As a school we want the very best for our pupils. We have high expectations and endeavour to provide the very best opportunities for all students through established routines.

• Do you want to work in a school with fantastic young people and staff who work hard and have a great community spirit?
• Do you want to work in a school that prioritises evidence-based research when developing its curriculum?
• Do you want to work in a school with excellent, research led professional development opportunities for staff?
• Do you want to work in a school with a clear, systematic and centralised approach to student support, safeguarding, inclusion and behaviour?
• Do you want to work in a school which is part of a large yet locally based Trust, which opens up a whole myriad of possibilities?

If the answer to these questions is yes, then please consider Harwich and Dovercourt High School as a place to make your mark and develop your career.