Key Role Information

Salary
32,916.00 - 51,048.00
Job type
Full Time
Contract type
Permanent
Closing
20/04/2026 12:00
Interview
29 April 2026
Start
1 September 2026
Contract term
AYR - All year round
Pay grade
Main/Upper Pay Scale | M1 - UPS3
Department
Teacher
Key stage
Not Applicable
Hours per week
32.44
Weeks per year
52.000
Visa sponsorship
No

Your Role

Permanent and fixed term maternity opportunities available. Maternity cover until the 21.07.2027 or subject to the return of the post holder.


Pay Range: MPS/UPS £32,916 - £51,048 FTE per annum depending on relevant teaching experience, plus SEN 1 allowance £2,787



Are you passionate about working with children with autism?

 

We are looking for outstanding teachers who will ensure the vision, values and ethos of Prosper Learning Trust are at the core of their practice, whilst having high standards of achievement for all of our pupils.

 

We are looking for outstanding candidates who will:

 

  • Be a strong classroom practitioner
  • Have strong understanding and knowledge of appropriate curriculum with pupils with additional needs
  • Knowledge and understanding of pupils with a range of additional educational needs
  • Take responsibility for a subject or aspect of whole school development
  • Secure understanding and effective application of assessment systems
  • Strong ability to communicate with all stakeholders
  • Understands the framework for inspection of schools
  • Can teach other subjects or general subjects appropriate to the curriculum for pupils with additional needs

 

Our pupils are all completely unique and utterly amazing, therefore a good working understanding of the Engagement Model up to Pre Key Stage standards is essential. An excellent understanding and proven experience of working with Autistic children with a learning disability is a core requirement of the role. All teachers do have subject co-ordinator responsibilities; therefore, please state your particular curriculum strengths in your application.

 

The successful candidates will have experience in a similar role.

 

Some of the main duties of the role include:

  • Establish a purposeful and safe learning environment and manage learners’ behaviour constructively
  • Contribute to monitoring and development of the required subject/s area to ensure suitable opportunities
  • Plan effectively in the short, medium and long-term
  • Be aware of and apply a range of teaching and learning strategies

  

Harry Watts Academy is a specialist free school in Sunderland opened in September 2020 for autistic pupils aged between five and sixteen years. We pride ourselves on having a shared belief that all children have a right to the best education that can be provided and a learning and working environment where all are respected, valued and achievements celebrated.

 

Harry Watts Academy is a split site school, with locations in both Sunderland (Redhouse) and Washington (Harraton). Currently, our Engage and Explore pathways are based at Redhouse and our Discover pathway is based at Harraton. You will therefore be willing to support the teaching and learning of pupils on any of our three pathways on either of our sites.

 

To learn more about Harry Watts Academy and Prosper Learning Trust, please visit our 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 Harry Watts 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 

 

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 welcomed 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.

Qualifications

DFE recognised teaching qualification and QTS or equivalentessential
Further professional developmentdesirable

Harry Watts Academy

Catherine Bhatti

admin@harrywattsacademy.co.uk


Ramillies Road
Sunderland
Tyne and Wear
SR5 5JA

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.