Fixed Term - From 1st September 2026 until 31st August 2027
Full Time - Term TIme Only plus 5 INSET Days
Grade JG4, SCP Range 7, £26,403 – 11, £28,142 pa
Actual annual pro-rata salary - £23,191 - £24,718
The School
Gordano School, part of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, is a large and successful 11-18 comprehensive secondary school approximately eight miles outside Bristol. We are the sole secondary school serving the popular town of Portishead and benefit greatly from being a central part of our community.
This is an exciting time to join the Student Support Team at Gordano school as it is developing and expanding its SEND provisions. The Compass (year 7 provision) opened in September 2025, The Compass South (year 8 provision) and The Harbour (Autism hub) both opening in September 2026. The Compass North (year 9 provision) is due to open in September 2027.
We view education as something bigger than just academic achievement. We have a record of considerable academic success but wholeheartedly believe that a student's education should be about preparing young people for their future lives in the complete sense, developing our young people’s key skills and behaviours that set them up for a successful future pathway. As well as consistently strong outcomes at GCSE and A Level, we place great emphasis on the opportunities available to our students including developing student leadership across our student body, offering an unparalleled extra-curricular programme and ensuring clear guidance for students when considering progression to their next steps of their educational journey
We pride ourselves on high-quality support for colleagues at all stages of their career through internal and external CPD, including our membership of the Lighthouse Schools Partnership, with staff involved in a range of developmental opportunities across schools in the Trust as well as supporting staff in bespoke training such as completing different levels of the NPQ programmes. We maintain significant involvement in Initial Teacher Training and deliver a comprehensive ECT induction in association with the Five Counties Teaching School Hubs Alliance and Ambition Institute. Our very large staff body allows regular opportunities for progression into leadership roles at all levels.
Importantly, beyond the wider experiences on offer to our student body, we seek to be a very happy school community with a big heart. This has never been more evident than through our recent work in delivering our core principles of ‘Dream big, do your best, give back’, fostering a community filled with kindness and respect.
The Role
The successful candidate will join an experienced, supportive and highly proactive team, to provide outstanding in-class support to a range of SEND students. You will be working under the direction of the SENDCO and subject teachers to provide high quality support in SEND provisions or within main classrooms.
To be considered for this position you will have experience of supporting students with a range of SEND needs and you will be able to demonstrate that you are a strong advocate. You must be passionate about supporting inclusion and independence for individuals within the school community. You must be able to demonstrate resilience and strength, balanced with a nurturing approach for young people to support them towards their individual outcomes, and help to them to celebrate each step of success.
It is important that applicants recognise the safeguarding responsibilities that all adults in schools hold, and the checks that are needed to allow all adults in school communities to work there. The role will involve contact with students in the school, and the successful applicant will need to fully understand, and undertake regular training updates on, our safeguarding protocols and how to report on these if needed.
Gordano School offers an excellent benefits package including contributory pension scheme, a comprehensive employee assistance programme and benefits (offering discounts on shopping), cycle to work scheme, discounted on-site gym membership and on-site parking.
Closing date: 23:59 Sunday 31st May 2026
Interviews: Thursday 18th June 2026
Early applications are encouraged. Gordano School reserves the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date of the advertisement, should the School be able to identify an appropriate candidate.
Gordano School supports Equal Opportunities Employment.
We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates, particularly those from under-represented groups.
The Lighthouse Schools Partnership - Gordano School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all in its community to share this commitment. Suitability to work with children and young people will form part of the selection process. As part of the shortlisting process an online search will be carried out. All appointments will be subject to vetting, including an enhanced DBS check.
A copy of the Safeguarding Policy and Recruitment Policy can be found on the Lighthouse Schools Partnership website.
Please note that for all roles that require regulated activity it is an offence to apply if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity.
The LSP Privacy Notice for Job Applicants can be found at www.lsp.org.uk/policies