DescriptionSupporting documentsEmployerLocation
Salary: Scale 4/5 £25,927-£29,099 per annum (FTE £30,279-£33,983)
Location: Unified Academy, Chart Lane South, Dorking, RH5 4DB
Working Pattern: 36 hours per week, Term Time Only
Unified Academy, located in Dorking, is a special school for boys aged 9 to 16, who have social, emotional, and mental health needs. Many of our students also face moderate learning and attachment difficulties.
The school takes a highly personalised approach to education, with small class sizes and carefully tailored lessons that consider the individual needs, interests, and abilities of each student. This ensures that their learning is purposeful, engaging, and relevant.
The team at Unified Academy are driven to secure the best possible outcomes for their students by nurturing them to become well-rounded, confident adults with high aspirations for their future. To find out more about us visit our school website.
We are seeking a team member with drive and enthusiasm to work as a Pastoral Support Assistant as part of our Pastoral Team. You will provide behaviour support to students to facilitate learning, reduce barriers to learning, improve attainment and educational outcomes. You will promote self-confidence and resilience and support the emotional well-being of students. A key focus will be to support the education team to deliver learning pathways and encourage student engagement in learning. You will contribute to school wide knowledge and skills in behaviour management
Key Responsibilities:
•Guide and mentor students so that targeted, measurable and significant improvement is secured both in and outside of the classroom.
•Assist with the development and implementation of positive behaviour plans (PBSs), risk assessments and therapy programmes.
•Establish positive relationships with students and interact with them according to individual needs. Provide 1:1 support via reflective and restorative practice, where necessary.
•Liaise with teachers, staff and parents or carers about the needs and progress of students receiving support.
•Promote the safety, safeguarding and well-being of students, by following the latest requirements of Keeping Children Safe in Education and the School’s child protection policy.
Key Requirements:
•GCSE grade C or Level 2 equivalent functional skills in English and Maths
•Experience of working with young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties and/or challenging behaviour
•An understanding and knowledge (practical and theoretical) of behaviour management strategies
•Effective and professional communication skills with the ability to engage young people
Please see the attached job description and person specification for full details on the role and the skills, experience and knowledge we are looking for.
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
Unified Academy 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: Friday 21 November 2025
Interviews will take place on: w/c 8 December 2025
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.