Teaching Assistant

• Dec_2025_-_Teaching_Assistant_JD
• Dec_2025_-_USP_Candidate_Information_Pack

To apply, please visit https://candidate.unitysp-careers.co.uk/298818HSJ

The Compass School

London Road, Romford, Essex RM7 9NX

Tel: 01708 393247

Email: info@thecompassschool.org

Teaching Assistant

Hours: 36.82 hours per week / 38 weeks per year

Salary: Scale 3 Points 5 - 6 (FTE £29,434 - £29,855. Actual salary £24,611 - £24,963 per annum)

Contract: Permanent

Start date: TBC

Are you ready to change the course of children's lives?

We are looking for great people to join the amazing team at The Compass School, a small school for pupils with Social Emotional and Mental Health needs. We are growing and are looking for excellent support staff to join us.

We are looking for staff who can be flexible and work in both primary and secondary. We are looking for inspirational Teaching Assistants with a passion for SEN and a creative, innovative approach and who can support our young people and believe in our ethos “True Navigation Begins in the Human Heart”. Join us to make an impact on the learning and life chances of our pupils.

We are looking for candidates with the motivation, resilience and determination to ensure that students make progress, improve their experience of education and to prepare them to lead fulfilling lives. We educate young people between the ages of 7-16 who have a wide range of Social Emotional and Mental Health needs, some of who may also be on the Autistic Spectrum. The school serves a catchment area that covers Havering and surrounding areas of East London and Essex.

The school is part of the Unity Schools Partnership network of special schools, alongside Sir Bobby Robson School, Ipswich, The Bridge School, Ipswich and Churchill Special School, Haverhill and Sir Peter Hall School, Bury St Edmund’s. You will be supported in your role by experienced SEMH staff who will be available to offer advice and guidance. Significant training and development are available through opportunities for professional development, research, teacher training and collaboration between schools and across phases.

Why work for us?

• We offer termly supervision for all staff to support with your well-being
• There is an extensive CPD programme, bespoke to our pupils with Social Emotional and Mental Health needs
• We offer a well-being day to be taken during term time and two-week autumn half term
• Pupils leave earlier on a Thursday to make sure all staff can do training together
• Unity Schools Partnership (The Trust) offer staff benefits such as the Cycle to Work Scheme and access to staff support through TELUS.

For more information, to arrange a visit or an informal discussion about the role please contact the Headteacher, Catharine Wensley by email cwensley@thecompassschool.org

We will also be holding a recruitment event on Thursday 8th January 2026 between 4:30pm – 5:30pm.

This will be an opportunity to meet key members of staff, hear about the school and our vision and of course have a tour of the school. If you would like to attend this event, please email our main office admin@thecompassschool.org so we can add you to the list. We hope to see you there.

Please apply via the following application link: https://candidate.unitysp-careers.co.uk/298818HSJ

Closing Date: 09:00am, 12th January 2026

Interviews: W/C 12th January 2026

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date.

We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.

In line with safer recruitment, we are unable to accept CVs. Failure to complete an application form satisfactorily may result in not being shortlisted for the post.

Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks. We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.

We care deeply about inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you’d prefer to work part-time or as a job-share, we’ll facilitate this wherever we can – whether to help you meet other commitments or to help you strike a great work-life balance. We’re keen to ensure we’re designing an organisation that works for everyone, so we particularly encourage applications from different under-represented groups.