Supply Teaching Assistant – Pre-Prep

Job Type: Casual

Salary: £16.40 per hour

Department: Pre-Prep

Reporting to: Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Location: Highgate, North London

Start: ASAP

Closing Date: 21 September 2026 at 9:00 am

Are you a skilled Teaching Assistant looking for a new opportunity to work in a leading coeducational independent school? We are looking for 3 Pre-Preparatory Supply Teaching Assistants. The role is based in our friendly and dynamic Pre-Prep School working in a supportive and exciting environment with a dedicated team of staff. Under the direction of the Class Teacher, you’ll support our pupils and be committed to providing a quality learning experience, as well completing a range of duties both inside and outside the classroom.

The Department Highgate Pre-Preparatory School is an academically selective, coeducational school with approximately 180 pupils in 9 classes from Reception to Year 2. The Pre-Preparatory School is housed in its own building in Bishopswood Road, adjacent to the school’s playing fields. Visitors invariably remark on our high standards of work and behaviour, and warm and friendly atmosphere. Highgate's modern teaching and outlook ignites our pupils' learning within a purposeful and exciting curriculum. Our pupils are happy and confident children who are encouraged to take risks.

Highgate is strongly committed to inclusion and is an equal opportunities employer. We aim to create a welcoming, respectful and safe environment for all members of our community, from every ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability/disability, religion and background. We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make any reasonable adjustments, please let us know when you submit your application whether you have any special requirements.

Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.

At Highgate, we constantly think of creative ways to make our whole learning experience inspiring. If we develop this pattern early on, we ignite a spark for the love of learning which can be taken through life.

Benefits:

• Location: Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
• Pension: AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 26% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 16% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
• Personal development: Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
• Leisure facilities: Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
• Lunch: A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
• Help with sustainable travel: Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
• Family-friendly policies: Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks' full pay, then 10 weeks' half pay) and paid dependant leave.

Working at Highgate:

A culture of community, kindness and belonging. Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals. Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.

Staff wellbeing: Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool. The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders. We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount.

Application procedure:

Closing Date: 21st September 2026

In-Person Interview: 24th September 2026

Contact: The Recruitment Team is happy to answer any questions about this post. Early Application: Applications will be considered 'as and when' received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.

Inclusion: We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.

Safeguarding: As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate's Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy.