DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation
Salary:Starting salary - Grade R2 Scale point 9 (FTE: £27,076; Actual: £20,931.04 per annum)
On successful completion of probation (at 6 months) – Grade R3 Scale Point 12 (FTE: £28,226; Actual: £21,820.05 per annum)
On successful completion of Level 1 Standards – Grade R3 Scale Point 14 (FTE: £28,741; Actual: £22,218.16 per annum)
On successful completion of Level 2 Standards – Grade R3 Scale Point 16 (FTE: £29,163; Actual: £22,544.39 per annum) and eligibility to complete Level 3 Standards and therefore apply for specific Level 3 posts.
Location: St Dominic’s School, Hambledon, Nr Godalming, Surrey GU8 4DX
Working Pattern: 32.5 hours per week, 08:30 – 16:00 Monday to Friday, Term Time only
St Dominic’s School is a highly regarded special school in Surrey, set within 56 acres of serene, wooded grounds offering plenty of space for recreational activities. The school caters to pupils and Sixth Form students aged 7 to 19, supporting a diverse range of academic abilities and complex needs.
Our school is proud to offer a comprehensive range of in-house therapeutic services, including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Sensory Integration, all delivered by a team of qualified professionals. This extensive therapeutic support ensures that each student can access the curriculum at a level that suits their individual needs, helping them reach their full potential. Additionally, we provide purpose-built medical facilities with qualified nursing staff on site every day.
St Dominic’s has earned recognition for its commitment to excellence, achieving Advanced Autism Accreditation, the prestigious Arts Council ‘Artsmark’ Silver Award, and the prestigious Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) which celebrates our commitment to excellence in primary science.
We are looking for a positive, dedicated, and enthusiastic Teaching Assistant to join our fantastic team. This is an exciting opportunity to work with children and young people aged 7 to 19, supporting a diverse range of academic abilities and complex needs. You’ll be part of a supportive, forward-thinking environment where every day brings new challenges and rewards. We’re looking for someone who enjoys working collaboratively, takes pride in helping others achieve their potential, and brings energy, creativity, and compassion to everything they do.
Key Responsibilities:
•Assist the teacher in the preparation of differentiated lessons and gain familiarity with the work to be covered, design appropriate teaching aides, prepare materials and the classroom to ensure an effective learning environment.
•Support all pupils/students in their planned work in all curriculum areas, both in small group situations and individually, clarifying and explaining instructions as required to enable them to complete the work to their full ability.
•Assist the teacher in keeping a record of events and progress, bringing issues of concern to the class teacher to ensure full pupil/student data is available to inform assessment and future planning.
•Create learning materials as agreed with the teacher to ensure maximum access to the lesson material for pupils/students.
•Provide group and/or individual activities, planned by the teacher, working alongside the teacher according to the published timetable and for specific programmes of support to achieve learning objectives.
Key Requirements:
•GSCE or equivalent in maths and English
•Experience working as part of a team
•Ability to think, write and speak clearly and concisely
•Ability to communicate well with parents, pupils, care workers, outside agencies
•Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team
OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
•Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
•Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
•Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
•Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
•Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
•Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Find out what makes OHCAT a truly rewarding place to work - visit our ‘Work for Us’ page to hear from our Chief Executive Officer, John Prior, and watch inspiring messages from students and parents about the difference our staff make every day.
Our Trust
St Dominic’s School is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please visit our website.
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential.
As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities.
It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment.
If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged.
Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.
To apply for this role, please click ‘Fast Apply’, you will then be directed to a ‘Login’ page, once signed in, please complete and submit the Application Form.
Please note that CV applications cannot be considered.
Closing Date: 2nd November 2025 at 11:59pm
Interviews will be held the following week
Safeguarding Statement
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.