Graduate Learning Support Assistant Recruitment Pack
November 2025
Together, stronger
• Letter from our CEO Page 3
• Letter from our Executive Principal Page 4
• About us Page 5
• Our sponsors Page 6
• Role Description Page 8 - 9
• Person Specification Page 10
• Why Haberdashers? Page 11 - 12
• Recruitment process Page 14
• Contact details Page 15
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Contents
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Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in the post of Graduate Learning Support Assistant.
We are a Trust of nine schools, all based in South East London. Whilst each of our schools maintains its individuality, we share a common mission: to ensure that every single child and young person in our care is successful at school so that they can flourish and be successful in their lives. We are committed to ensuring this success from 3 to Forever, under our mantra of ‘once a Haberdasher, always a Haberdasher’.
Our People Strategy is key to our success and integral to this is our commitment to equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion . Bringing this to life is the responsibility of every member of staff. We take seriously any behaviour which undermines it. Anyone applying to work with us, should share this commitment.
Please take a look on our website for more information. We want the best people to join our Haberdashers’ community and are committed to a diverse and inclusive student and staff body.
If you are passionate about making a difference and feel that you have the right experience and expertise, I encourage you to apply to join us on our journey.
For a confidential discussion regarding this post, please contact knightshr@habstrustsouth.org.uk.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Jan Shadick Chief Executive Officer Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South
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Letter from D
r T esca Bennett, Executive Principal
Dear Candidate,
Thank you for your interest in the Graduate Learning Support Assistant position. This is an exciting opportunity to play a vital role in supporting the Academy’s continued success. We are looking for a dedicated Learning Support Assistant to help maintain high standards and aspirations across the school. You should be committed to supporting high-quality teaching and learning, working closely with teachers to ensure every student makes progress. The role will involve providing individual and small group support, helping to remove barriers to learning, and encouraging all students to achieve their full potential.
Haberdashers’ Knights Academy is a vibrant, diverse 11–18 school community with a relentless focus on high expectations and aspirations. We are committed to our vision of ensuring that our children get the best start in life ‘to achieve their full potential personally, academically and socially’. We achieve this vision through our shared ‘ASPIRE’ values of Accountability, Self Discipline, Partnership, Integrity, Respect and Excellence, helping pupils to turn their ambitions, into success. We have high expectations of our pupils, celebrating the success of the collective and each child as an individual, in equal measure. This means as well as maturing into well-rounded, healthy young people, our pupils develop their confidence, passion for learning and curiosity for life.
We are part of the Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South, which has been educating children in South East London since 1876. In January 2023, Ofsted judged that we continue to be a ‘Good ‘school, enabling pupils’ to succeed through an engaging and stretching curriculum, high-quality teaching, and a vast range of extracurricular and culturally rich opportunities.
The scale of expertise and leadership across our Trust gives us enormous capacity. It is this capacity that has resulted in the success of the Trust and allows us to mount new ventures and allows our staff to take on new opportunities and rapid development trajectories.
Our school and our Trust are uniquely exciting places to be and I hope that you decide to join us in our current phase of rapid development and growth. I look forward to receiving your application and welcoming you into our Knights Academy school community.
Dr Tesca Bennett Executive Principal Haberdashers’ Knights Academy
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Federation-wide vision
VISION 2026
Every School an Excellent
School
It is the Trust’s vision for all of
our schools to be excellent
schools. Our mission is to
ensure that every one of our
children and young people
flourishes at school so that
they can be successful in their
lives.
Our three main objectives are:
• Excellent outcomes for all
children and young people
so that they can be
successful in their next steps
and future lives;
• To be regarded as a great
employer, attracting,
retaining and developing the
best staff;
• To be the Trust of choice and
a welcome presence in our
communities.
To find out more about our
Vision and Strategy, please
visit:
https://www.habstrustsouth.or
g.uk/Our-Vision-and-Strategy
About Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South
At Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South, we transform lives through education, empowering children and young people across south-east London to dream big, grow with confidence, and create a brighter future. We build knowledge, confidence, and character in every learner, ensuring they thrive at school and beyond, no matter their background.
As part of the Haberdashers’ family, our schools benefit from a unique blend of state and independent education, creating life- changing opportunities and experiences that inspire ambition and prepare learners for tomorrow’s world.
We are proud to be a diverse and inclusive community, guided by our commitment to Equity, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EEDI): • Equity: Supporting individuals according to their needs. • Equality: Valuing and treating everyone fairly. • Diversity: Celebrating uniqueness and the strength it
brings. • Inclusion: Ensuring everyone feels they belong and can
contribute.
All members of our community are expected to uphold this commitment, challenge discrimination, and help build a safe and welcoming environment.
Together, we live our values of Dream, Grow, and Create, shaping a community where potential is realised and futures are transformed.
To find out more about Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South,
please visit: www.habstrustsouth.org.uk
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Our Sponsors
Our sponsors are a huge part of the culture within our schools. The links with our sponsors are a unique and special part of what makes our Trust and schools what they are today.
The Worshipful Company of Haberdashers
Our main sponsor is the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers, one of the Great Twelve Livery Companies of the City of London. Education is hugely important to the Haberdashers’ Company and today there are more than 12,000 children and young people in its’ family of 19 schools. The Haberdashers’ network of maintained and independent schools stretch across the country, covering north London, Shropshire and Monmouth and our own Trust, in south London and Kent. We have regular opportunities to collaborate with the wider network of Haberdashers’ schools on a number of initiatives and events.
The Haberdashers’ Company supports our pupils in many ways. There are a number of educational and careers initiatives that are organised by the Company, such as the Livery Academy Awards, Monmouth - City of London Work Experience, Haberdashers’ Musician of the Year, an annual Year 7 visit to the prestigious Haberdashers’ Hall, cross school sporting competitions, mentoring, trips and much more. Each year, a number of Year 13 pupils receive scholarships that will support them financially through university and the Company fund a number of projects throughout the school year. The relationship with the Haberdashers Company is central to the success of the Haberdashers’ Advantage enrichment programme, and pupils, parents and staff are proud of this relationship.
Being part of the Haberdashers’ community is very important to us as a school. The Haberdashers’ come and visit us each year to hear from the children, to see what has been happening in our school and to celebrate our achievements. The Haberdashers’ Company supports pupils, past and present, as they progress through their educational and professional journey, which offers our pupils something truly unique.
Find out more: www.haberdashers.co.uk
Temple Grove Schools Trust
Temple Grove Schools Trust is a charitable trust dedicated to raising standards for primary education. The Trust was founded some 50 years ago and springs from one of the country’s oldest prep schools, Temple Grove founded in 1810. The Trust seeks to provide all children with a breadth and depth of learning opportunities in order to realise individual aspirations and potential.
Our primary schools are extremely fortunate to have a partnership with the Temple Grove Schools Trust. Schools benefit from bursaries that allow us the opportunity to give our children learning experiences they may not get at other schools; including music lessons, professional coaches and multiple trips.
Find out more: www.templegrove.org.uk
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“Being a member of the team at Knights makes you feel a part of something that will actually change the lives of our young people.
Every single person is determined to make a difference and that’s what makes us special”
Executive Assistant to the Executive Principal Haberdashers’ Knights Academy
Role Description
About the role The purpose of the role is to be responsible to the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator (SENDCO) and to support children’s learning in all it’s aspects.
We are determined that our pupils are taught by individuals who are committed to their academic progress and ensure none fall behind. We are looking for an individual who understands that all children are entitled to be successful and one who will be relentless in ensuring all children are literate and motivated learners.
We are looking for calm, organised and flexible individuals to fulfil the important role of Graduate Learning Support Assistant within our Academy. You will be required to provide support the high quality teaching in class, small groups and 1:2:1 interventions and will need to demonstrate the same level of professionalism and dedication as teaching staff in order to succeed in this role. Graduate Learning Support Assistants play their part in the education of our pupils.
This role would suit either those thinking of a career in teaching or someone who just enjoys working with young people.
The role is offered on 35 hours per week on a 42-week basis. Office hours are 08:00 – 16:00, Monday to Friday.
Accountable to: Assistant Principal Inclusion.
Staff Development
Our staff are important to us. We know that without great staff, our children will not be as successful. Therefore, Professional Learning is key to our success. As a new employee within the Trust, you will be supported by the Senior Directors of People and Professional Learning, alongside your line manager to realise your full potential.
We are proud to be a London Living Wage employer.
Job Title: Graduate Learning Support Assistant Contract Type: Permanent Salary: Band 3 S9-S12 (£21,688- £23,274) School/Service: Haberdashers’ Knights Academy Location: BR1 5EB Hours Per Week: 35 hours per week, 42 week-contract Accountable to: Assistant Principal Inclusion
Role description continued
Key Responsibilities
The Graduate Learning Support Assistant will:
• To support named pupils to enable them to be fully included in the lesson and make expected progress
• To ensure that the pupils have the appropriate resources to complete the tasks. • To respond to queries the pupils may have about the work and help them by clarifying the task
where appropriate. • To ensure a good standard of behaviour by following the Academy’s behaviour procedures. • To establish productive working relationships with pupils, act a s a role model and set high
expectations • To employ strategies to recognise and reward achievement of self-reliance, providing feedback to
pupils in relation to progress and achievement. • To liaise with Teachers, Pastoral Heads other support staff health and education specialist, parents,
visitors and volunteers to ensure learning is always of a high standard. It is important that the Learning Support Assistant is aware of the strategies to support pupils with learning difficulties
Although the post is primarily to support lessons in the classroom, additionally, Graduate Learning Support Assistants will be required to carry out the following:
• Undertake break and lunch-time duties • Carry out first aid • Keep up-to-date records as agreed with the SENDCo or class teacher • Meet deadlines • Invigilating examinations. • Supporting specific pupils in class. • Supporting school visits. • Staffing the Inclusion Room • To assist in the induction/enrolment of new pupils into the Academy, working with the academic
and pastoral staff responsible for each year of entry. • Other project work as allocated by the Line Manager. • Any other duties commensurate within the grade in order to ensure the smooth running of the
SEND curriculum area.
Other responsibilities • Keep up to date with developments in your area of responsibility • Take responsibility for your own professional development in discussion with your line manager. • Ensure the consistent implementation of school and Trust policies and procedures throughout the
subject areas. • Work collaboratively with the other academies and colleagues within the Trust.
General Responsibilities • To work within the Academy framework with regard to Health and Safety • Complete a 3 day First Aid course and support the wider school First aid duties. • To promote equal opportunities in the Academy • To promote the ethos of the Trust and Academy • Be aware of and assume the appropriate level of responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the
welfare of children. • To support the Academy’s commitment to the continued professional development of all staff • Report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with the Trust’s safeguarding policies • To undertake any additional duties as may reasonably required by the CEO or Executive Principal
The job description may be subject to review, modification or amendment at any time after consultation with the postholder.
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Federation-wide vision
Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria Method of Assessment: Application (A) Interview (I) Assessment (AS) References ( R)
Education & Qualifications
• GCSE Maths and English Grade C or above (or equivalent)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Will hold a Degree 2:2 or above (or equivalent qualification)
• Experience working with children
A, I
A, I, AS
A, I
Knowledge & Experience
• Has keen organisational skills and the ability to multitask
• Demonstrates good clear plain English in a business/office setting
• Will demonstrate high level communication and literacy skills
• Be able to think on your feet, react quickly and effectively in sensitive situations
• Use your initiative on a continuous basis to communicate confidently and effectively with pupils and staff
• Ability to multitask, work under pressure and handle a diverse workload
• Experience of working in a school based environment and/or in an office environment is desirable
• Can demonstrate substantial experience of leading and managing people in multi- disciplinary teams
• Experience of benchmarking -Competent at using Microsoft Office packages, skilled and regular user of Word and Excel for the production of office work, intermediate (or better) user of the Microsoft Office suite
• Working across a partnership of schools or across schools within a Multi- Academy Trust setting
• Experience using ARBOUR
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
Personal qualities • Clear commitment and understanding of the Trust ethos, vision and values and an ability to uphold them
• Belief in equality and opportunity for all, ensuring that all staff feel included and listened to
• Proactive and positive approach to finding solutions.
• Resilient in face of challenges • Highly flexible and adaptable, willing to
respond to evolving need
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R A, I, AS, R
Person specificationPerson specification
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Federation-wide vision
Essential Criteria Desirable Criteria Method of Assessment: Application (A) Interview (I) Assessment (AS) References ( R)
Personal qualities • High level of interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to build relationships and influence at all levels – engaging with a range of stakeholders successfully
• Commitment to collaborative working and driven to achieve team goals
• High expectations of achievement, conduct and behaviour and a willingness to address situations where these fall short
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
A, I, AS, R
Person specificationPerson specification (contd)
Staff Benefits
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W hy H
aberdashers? At Haberdashers’ Academies Trust South, we believe that investing in our staff is crucial for our success. That’s why we offer a range of benefits that cater to your professional growth, well-being, and financial security.
Here are some of the benefits you can expect when you join us:
Perkbox: Our cutting-edge reward and benefits platform empowers you to acknowledge your colleagues’ accomplishments through its celebration tool. You can gain flexi and reward points, which can be redeemed at various high street and online retailers for treats and every day essentials. Additionally, you have the option to make charitable donations.
Pension Scheme: (eligible and enrolled participants): From 1 April 1 2024, for teachers, the Trust will contribute 28.68% to your pension fund. Support Staff will receive a 19.80% contribution to their pension pot from the same date.
Professional Learning: Our dedicated team at Habs Institute for Professional Learning is devoted to nurturing your professional growth. We offer excellent training opportunities for all staff throughout the year and provide partial funding for qualification pursuits.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Our EAP encompasses a 24-hour, free, and confidential counselling service. It includes access to online cognitive-behavioural therapy and management consultations to support Line Managers.
Well-being: Enjoy complimentary access to the award-winning Headspace app, along with free mindfulness courses to enhance your overall well-being.
Staff Development: Explore secondment opportunities within the Trust or external organisations, providing valuable experiences for your professional development.
Ride to Work and Cycle to Work Schemes: Take advantage of substantial discounts through tax allowances for either purchasing a bike or opting for bike hire, promoting a healthier and more sustainable commute.
Season Ticket Loans: Enjoy discounted annual travel fares through our salary- deductible Season Ticket Loan and save on your travel overall.
We are committed to helping you thrive in your career and personal life. Join our team and enjoy the benefits of working with a supportive and forward-thinking organisation.
Staff Incentives
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W hy H
aberdashers? We know that staff are our greatest asset in achieving our vision for every school to be an excellent school and for our children and young people to flourish and succeed.
To incentivise like-minded and talented people who care about the work we do at the Trust, to join us and stay with us, we have recently introduced :
Talent Connect Bonus
Refer a friend or connection to apply for a role at the Trust and receive a £300* bonus when they successfully complete their probation period.
Welcome Reward
Those employed in ‘hard to fill’ roles to receive a Welcome Reward of £500* after successfully completing their probation period.
Milestone Appreciation Award
Long-serving members of staff to receive a £500*** reward and congratulatory letter from the CEO for reaching 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25-year anniversaries with the Trust. .
* subject to tax and National Insurance contributions, and other terms and conditions. Some senior leaders will be exempt from receiving the Talent Connect Bonus.
“When you join as a member of staff at Knights, you become a part of the 'Knights family'. The welcome and support I received upon joining, from every corner of the academy, helped me to settle in quickly and feel successful straightaway. Our students are curious and ambitious, and they help make the school a great place to work.”
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Teacher of English Haberdashers’ Knights Academy
Recruitment process and additional recruitment information
Closing date: Monday 1st December 2025 Interview date: Friday 5th December 2025 Start date: As soon as possible
Recruitment Process: Once you have submitted your application, it will be assessed against the criteria in the person specification. If you score well against this criteria, you will then be invited to attend an interview. Details will be made available when selected, but the interview is likely to include: • A written task • Classroom visit with staff and students • Panel interviews on a variety of topics
Special Requirements: If you require reasonable adjustments prior to your interview, these can be arranged by emailing knightshr@habstrustsouth.org.uk Equality and Diversity: We recognise the benefits of a diverse workforce. We are committed to eradicating discrimination in the workplace, becoming an employer of choice, for all staff to believe that they have a voice and be empowered to make a difference
References: We will obtain references from your referees if you are successful at interview. In order to prevent any delays, please ensure that the reference section of the application form is accurate and completed in full.
Right to work in the UK: Section 8 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2006 makes it a criminal offence for an employer to take on a new employee whose immigration status prevents him/her from taking up employment. If you are invited to attend an interview, you will be asked to produce original and up to date documentary evidence of your right to work in the UK.
Data Protection: Any data about you will be held securely with access restricted to those involved in dealing with your application in the selection process. By signing and submitting your application form, you are giving consent to the processing of your data.
Criminal Convictions: All education establishments in the UK are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. In practice, this means that all shortlisted applicants must inform on all spent and unspent convictions on their application form and when completing a Disclosure and Barring form. Failure to provide this information may result in dismissal. List 99 is also obtained on anyone who will be working or coming into contact with children; and must be received by the School before employment can commence.
For a confidential discussion about this post or to arrange a visit to our school, please
contact the office on 020 8461 9240 or email knightshr@habstrustsouth.org.uk
Thank you for your interest in Haberdashers’ Knights Academy.
We look forward to receiving your application.
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Haberdashers’ Knights Academy Launcelot Road, Bromley BR1 5EB
www.habsknights.org.uk
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