Learning Support Assistants

Mary Astell Academy
Linhope Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
Tyne and Wear
NE5 2LW

Permanent and fixed term (to 31.08.2026) opportunities available

Please note that applicants to the recent advert which closed on 23.02.2026 need not reapply.

Passionate about helping every child succeed? You might be an ideal candidate for the Learning Support Assistant positions at Mary Astell Academy.

This role is perfect for a positive and professional individual with:

• GCSEs Grade C+/4+ (or equivalent) in Maths and English
• Relevant transferable experience. For example: working with children in education, health or care settings
• A clear vision of how the role can be used to ensure pupil progression and effective delivery of their learning
• The ability to work constructively as part of a Team

As a valued member of our team, you will:

• Assist in providing classroom support to pupils with additional needs
• Assist the teacher and other professionals with the development of specialist support and communication skills
• Take a responsive approach to children's needs to help address barriers to learning and well-being
• Demonstrate a calm, confident and professional manner

Does this sound like the perfect role for you?

Mary Astell Academy is an alternative provision academy established in September 2018. Based in the West End of Newcastle, the academy works with young people aged 11 to 16 who have been permanently excluded from mainstream education. We provide access to a full-time, broad and balanced education appropriate to pupils’ potential and educational needs and encourage their reintegration back into a mainstream school setting wherever possible.

Our young people are also able to access a wide range of therapeutic interventions to support them in recognising and understanding triggers for their behaviours and explore strategies that support them in dealing with these. We recognise that ACEs and traumatic experiences have often impacted upon the lives of our young people and that for many of them not only have they survived but have shown great strength in doing so. At Mary Astell we seek to restore them and help individuals return to a path towards happy and fulfilling adult lives.

To learn more about Mary Astell Academy and Prosper Learning Trust , please visit the websites.

Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 to help vulnerable young people succeed against the odds. Four core values underpin everything we do as a Trust, these are Aspiration, Integrity, Resilience and Kindness. We are looking for staff who share those values and want to support our young people.

The Trust currently have 5 schools in the region:

• Newcastle Bridges School – Alternative Provision academy offering education to pupils unable to access mainstream school due to medical needs including hospitalised children and young people (3-19 years)
• Mary Astell Academy – Alternative Provision academy offering education to permanently excluded pupils and pupils who are struggling in mainstream school (11-16 years)
• Thomas Bewick Special School – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (3-19 years)
• Harry Watts Academy – Special School academy for pupils with a diagnosis of autism (5-16 years)
• Gilbert Ward Academy – Special School academy for pupils with SEMH or a diagnosis of autism (11-16 years)

Prosper Learning Trust was also recently named as the lead partner in the opening of a new Free School in Jarrow, South Tyneside. This school will be a Special School academy for pupils with SEMH (4-11 years).

The successful candidate will be deployed initially at Mary Astell Academy but will be expected to work at any Prosper Learning Trust site should the need arise.

Benefits of working for Prosper Learning Trust

The Trust is proud to say that we match the Real Living Wage and we also offer successful candidates:

• A friendly and supportive team of staff who are willing to share expertise and learn from one another
• Opportunities for career development and support with development through Trust wide Continuing Professional Development (CPD) programmes
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme and support from the Trust's Wellbeing Network Group
• Access to either Teacher's Pension or Local Government Pension Scheme, each with favourable employer contribution rates
• Employee centred policies that support you in and beyond the workplace
• Funded eye tests for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
• Bike 2 Work scheme

When completing your supporting statement, please consider the following prompts to help us to understand your skills and experience.

• Supporting Learning: Have you helped someone achieve a goal or overcome barriers?
• Engagement: How have you kept individuals or groups focused?
• Behaviour & Emotional Support: How do you stay calm and build positive relationships?
• Communication: How would you adapt your approach for different people and to respond to children's needs?
• Technology & Resources: Have you used ICT/ how would you prepare resources that meet pupils’ needs and interests?
• Safeguarding: What does it mean to you, and how would you contribute to a healthy, safe, and secure environment for pupils?
• Teamwork: How have you worked constructively with others?

You do not need previous experience in education to apply—what matters most is finding the right person with the right values and transferable skills. If you’ve worked in roles requiring patience, communication, and support you can draw on those experiences. Examples can come from your current or previous profession and will help us see how your skills could make a difference to pupils with additional needs at Mary Astell Academy.

If you would like to discuss the post before applying contact, Francesca Brown, Deputy Headteacher at Mary Astell Academy on 0191 267 4447 to arrange an informal chat.

For more information on why we think you should work for us see our Trust website , where you will also find videos of what our current staff think.

The successful candidate will be welcome into the Trust, so if this sounds like the job for you please don't hesitate to apply.

Please note that all successful candidates will be required to complete an online pre-employment medical questionnaire.

Safeguarding Information
Prosper Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, as well as vulnerable adults, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to apply for Disclosure from the DBS.

The Trust actively promotes equality of opportunity with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcomes applications from a wide range of candidates. The Trust selects all candidates for employment based on their skills, qualifications and experience, in comparison against the person specification.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. If you are invited for interview, you will be required to disclose convictions that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. Certain spent convictions and cautions will be ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed. Full details on protected convictions and information about which convictions must be declared during job applications can be found on the Ministry of Justice website. You will be asked for further information about your criminal history during the recruitment process. If your application is successful, this self-disclosure information will be checked against information from the Disclosure and Barring Service before your appointment is confirmed. This role will include Regulated Activities and an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure is required for this post. Please note that in all cases written references will be taken up and made available to interviewers before the final selection stage; even if you indicate otherwise.

Online vetting checks will be carried out for candidates who are shortlisted.

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