There is an exciting opportunity to join the Northumberland Pupil Referral Unit, at a time of change, growth and development.
Currently based in Seghill and accommodating 70 key stage 3 and 4 students, a new second site will open in October 2026 in the west of the county as part of our expansion developments. This will enable a capacity increase for a further 40 pupils.
This post will require successful applicants to flexibly work across both sites based upon school need if required.
Our vision is one of ‘Inclusion in its broadest sense’ in which we aim to provide a high quality educational and therapeutic community, which offers life-changing opportunities in preparation for adulthood, within a safe, creative and exciting environment. All students have their Learning, Social and Community Capital baselined, with an ambitious structured personalised programme to close gaps in academic and social norms, ensuring that all students are ready for the next stage in their lives. This underpins a broad, balanced and ambitious curriculum dependent upon each individual students’ personalised pathway for learning.
We aim to achieve our vision by being an excellent employer who ensures that all staff within and across our schools work together with high levels of moral integrity. Our school improvement strategy is directed via the ethos of how will things further improve for our young people as a result of our systems, interventions and plans?
Both of Northumberland PRU’s sites will share one vision and implement the same policies. Staff will collaborate within and across both settings. We are committed to continually developing all staff so that they have high levels of satisfaction and are motivated to provide the best possible teaching and support to our students. We have the organisational expertise to support our schools and to support the sustainable growth of Northumberland PRU.
We are committed to the recruitment, retention and development of excellent staff, who are passionate about building positive relationships and improving the life chances of our young people.
Northumberland PRU recognises the barriers and challenges which our learners have experienced and face, but we also see the huge potential in our students, we have high expectations and insist on high standards for all.
Northumberland Pupil Referral Unit was judged ’good’ in all areas by Ofsted (May 2025):
* Pupils grow and feel safe in this welcoming school
* Staff strive and succeed in putting pupils back on the path to engaging with education
* Pupils settle quickly into the positive atmosphere that exists in classrooms. They are supported well by staff to do so. Strong relationships between staff and pupils mean pupils feel understood and supported. Pupils know adults are available to help them. Staff have regular check-ins with pupils, which contributes to their engagement with the ambitious learning on offer, so they achieve well
* The school has very high expectations of pupils’ behaviour. Pupils rise to meet these. They actively contribute to the open and respectful culture that exists throughout. This is despite the past disruption that almost all pupils have experienced in their education
We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, inspiring Higher Level Teaching Assistant – HLTA (Band 5) who can spark an interest and thirst for knowledge in young people.
Key Responsibilities
* Take responsibility for agreed learning activities under an agreed system of supervision
* Work with identified curriculums and supporting specific subjects as well as helping with lesson planning
* Develop learning resources, delivering lessons and supporting the assessment of learning
* Support extra-curricular activities such as education visits and recording/reporting pupil outcomes
* At times, be the lead practitioner in the class delivering whole class teaching without the teacher present
We are looking for someone who has:
* Experience supporting and delivering learning to pupils in an educational or care setting
* Has proven successful experience of working with SEMH pupils and pupils with a range of SEN, including ASC and ADHD
* Awareness of safeguarding, behaviour management, and SEND principles
* The ability to support teaching and learning effectively under supervision
* Patience, empathy, adaptability, and a positive attitude
* Has knowledge, understanding and successful experience of a wide range of behaviour management techniques and strategies to promote a positive, caring classroom community that encourages student learning, positive peer and teacher relationships and self-motivation
* An understanding of how trauma and loss may impact on pupil progress.
* High expectations of themselves and the children they support
* Has an innovative and creative approach to the curriculum that ensures pupil engagement
* Has the commitment to work alongside and value and respect the contribution of parents and carers in the education of their children
* Is able to contribute to wider school life
* Has considerable resilience
We offer:
* The opportunity to work with other highly successful teachers and experienced pastoral team
* Support to grow within an organisation that wants you to be happy and successful, and implements really innovative strategies to support this
* This is an excellent opportunity for the right candidate to develop their practice in a supportive and aspirational environment.
Applications from colleagues from all subject backgrounds are welcome.
Closing date for receipt of applications is midday on Monday 1st June 2026.
Applications should be returned to Tina Holliday at admin@pru.northumberland.sch.uk
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Northumberland Pupil Referral Unit is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to an enhanced DBS check.