Apprentice Teaching Assistant

Do you have the drive, passion and commitment to deliver outstanding support to help young people in a disadvantaged community? If so, joining the Star support team might just be the best career move you ever make. This is your opportunity to join a dedicated team of support staff who are committed to providing the best possible education for our pupils.

About Highfield Leadership Academy

Highfield Leadership Academy is a state-of-the-art mixed secondary school for 11 to 16-year-olds in Blackpool. We joined Star Academies in 2016 and, like all Star schools, we have a leadership specialism.

The school was inspected by Ofsted in September 2026, securing ‘Strong standard’ in two areas and ‘Expected standard’ in four areas. Ofsted described the scale and pace of improvement since the previous inspection as ‘remarkable’.

We provide a knowledge-based academic curriculum alongside a rich and diverse leadership programme that grows character and inspires charitable and social action. Our pursuit of educational excellence is based upon our fundamental belief that every pupil has the capacity to become a successful and inspirational leader.

Who we’re looking for

We’re looking for a dedicated individual to provide tailored support to our pupils. You will be committed to making a positive difference to young people’s lives and in supporting and developing their learning. Your intervention will help enable an outstanding learning environment for our young people, providing the support they need to succeed.

The successful candidate will be a committed team player with excellent organisational and technical skills. You will have the ability to effectively support learning and teaching, and to develop relationships across our school and the Star community.

You will have:

• 5 GCSEs including English and Maths at grade 9-4/A*- C.
• The ability to maintain positive relationships with students and other adults.
• The ability to work effectively within a team.

About Star Academies

Star Academies is a high-performing multi-academy trust that runs more than 30 primary and secondary schools. We are a values-based organisation that works to improve the life chances of young people in areas of social and economic deprivation to help them succeed at the highest levels of education, employment and the professions. Every single day you’ll be rewarded with the opportunity to shape a young person’s future - our STAR values embody what we believe is needed to succeed.

Professional development is key to our ongoing success, so we continually invest in our employees through our professional development hub, Star Talent Academy. With a wealth of training, mentoring and progression opportunities across a large, growing group of academies, joining our team of leading education experts could propel your career to the next level.

We can also offer you a range of rewards and benefits, including competitive salaries and pension schemes, generous holiday entitlements and healthcare cash plans.

Find out more

All applications are subject to standard and enhanced eligibility checks including but not limited to identity, vetting and due diligence checks. On occasion, these checks may include the apprenticeship training provider contacting you on the contact number you have provided. Star Academies will handle all data in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Details of this can be found on our website. By submitting this application, you consent to these checks and processing of your data for the stated purpose.

Please download the job description and person specification below for further information about the role. For an informal and confidential discussion about the role please call us on 01253 965750.

Key Dates

Closing Date: Friday, 20 November 2026 at midnight.

Interview Date: Tuesday, 1 December 2026.

Proposed Start Date: Friday, 1 January 2027.

Application Process

To apply for this vacancy please use the 'Apply for job' link below. You should ensure your application form and supporting statement address all elements of the person specification. We will only consider candidates who meet the vast majority of the essential criteria outlined in the person specification.

Our Commitment

Star Academies 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.