Teachers
-
School:
Prosper Learning Trust -
Location:
Sunderland -
Salary:
MPS/UPS £32,916 - £51,048 FTE per annum depending on relevant teaching experience, plus SEN 1 allowance £2,787 -
Hours:
32.44 per week -
Contractual Status:
Permanent -
Closing Date:
20th Apr 2026
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.
Prosper Learning Trust
Prosper Learning Trust was established in January 2018 with Newcastle Bridges School and Mary Astell Academy. Thomas Bewick School joined the Trust in April 2019, Harry Watts Academy in September 2020 and Gilbert Ward Academy opened in September 2023. We are striving to build further collaboration across the academies and grow as a multi-academy trust, whilst continuing to strengthen our relationships with schools outside the MAT for the benefit of our pupils.
Prosper Learning Trust was formed to help vulnerable young people succeed. Many children and young people face challenges in their lives that many adults will happily never experience, Prosper Learning Trust’s range of academies are here to support them in doing so.
Wherever possible we will help these young people to thrive in a mainstream educational setting. Where that cannot happen, we will provide a safe space for them in one of our Alternative Provision schools until they are ready to return or move on.
Our Specialist Academies offer autistic children and young people the opportunity to learn in a supportive environment, where differences are celebrated, and every pupil is valued and encouraged to achieve their full potential.
Through our academies, we provide high quality teaching, curriculum and care in a range of environments. We provide education from 0 to 18 years old, in normal school settings, in hospitals, and via outreach work and support transition between them at every stage.
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