At a Glance
- Tasks: Teach and support KS3/KS4 students with diverse needs in a calm, nurturing environment.
- Company: Join a specialist SEND setting focused on rebuilding confidence and fostering relationships.
- Benefits: Weekly pay, free CPD access, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Flexible, reflective educators passionate about SEND will thrive in this role.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in students' lives while enjoying small class sizes and supportive leadership.
- Qualifications: Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and at least one year of teaching experience required.
Looking for a teaching role where relationships matter just as much as results? This could be the change you’ve been waiting for. We’re working with a specialist SEND setting supporting pupils aged 6–16 with Autism, ADHD, SEMH needs and communication differences. Many pupils have experienced disrupted education, so the focus is on rebuilding confidence, creating consistency, and helping young people reconnect with learning in a calm and supportive environment. This is teaching with purpose. Small classes. Real relationships. Time to actually teach.
The Role
We’re looking for a reflective and committed teacher to work across Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, delivering a personalised curriculum within a specialist SEND setting. You’ll teach small classes with consistent Learning Support Assistant support, helping pupils work towards outcomes that are ambitious, realistic, and genuinely meaningful to them. The curriculum includes pathways such as:
- Functional Skills English and Maths
- Entry Level qualifications
- AQA Unit Awards, EDUCAS and ASDAN pathways and similar accreditation pathways
You’ll balance academic progress with communication, emotional regulation, independence, and confidence-building, because for many pupils, those wins matter just as much.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Planning and delivering engaging lessons across KS3 and KS4
- Adapting learning to meet a wide range of needs and learning styles
- Supporting pupils through accredited pathways and personalised targets
- Using low-arousal, relational and trauma-informed approaches
- Embedding communication strategies including visuals, modelling and scaffolding
- Working closely with LSAs and wider professionals
- Monitoring both academic and developmental progress
- Supporting documentation including regulation plans, APDRs and risk assessments
- Working collaboratively with the SENCo and wider leadership team
What the Setting Offers
- Very small class sizes
- Consistent classroom support from LSAs
- A structured and well-planned curriculum model
- A strong focus on staff wellbeing and sustainability
- SEND-focused CPD and ongoing development opportunities
- Supportive leadership that’s visible and approachable
- Opportunities to build KS4 accreditation experience
- A calm learning environment with access to outdoor learning
Who This Role Would Suit
This opportunity could be ideal for:
- Teachers with KS3 and/or KS4 experience
- SEND or SEMH practitioners
- Teachers with Functional Skills or Entry Level experience
- Secondary teachers looking for a more personalised approach
- Primary teachers interested in developing KS4 experience
- Educators transitioning from mainstream into specialist SEND settings
What We’re Looking For
- Hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS)
- Have at least one year of teaching experience
- Be confident adapting curriculum and learning approaches
- Be reflective, flexible and emotionally intelligent
- Understand the importance of communication and emotional regulation in learning
- Be committed to developing specialist SEND practice
- Embrace a trauma-informed and relationship-led approach to education
Why Work with Protocol Education?
- Weekly pay through PAYE, no umbrella companies
- FREE access to our online CPD Academy
- Personalised support from a dedicated consultant
- Opportunities across mainstream, SEND and alternative provisions
- Streamlined registration process
- Referral scheme with rewards for recommending friends
Interested? Apply today and let’s chat about whether this role feels like the right fit for you. All applicants will require the appropriate qualifications and training for this role. Please see the FAQs on the Protocol Education website for further details.
All pay rates quoted will be inclusive of 12.07% statutory holiday pay. This advert is for a temporary position. In some cases, the option to make this role permanent may become available at a later date.
Protocol Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. We undertake safeguarding checks on all workers in accordance with the DfE statutory guidance ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’, this may also include an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted applicants. We offer FREE online safeguarding and Prevent Duty training to all our workers. All candidates must undertake or have undertaken a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and subscribe to the DBS Update Service. Full assistance provided. For details of our privacy policy, please see visit the Protocol Education website.
KS3 / KS4 Specialist Teacher employer: Protocol Education
At Protocol Education, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment for our KS3/KS4 Specialist Teachers in Shrewsbury. With a strong emphasis on staff wellbeing, ongoing professional development, and small class sizes, we empower educators to make meaningful connections with students while delivering a personalised curriculum. Our approachable leadership and commitment to SEND-focused training ensure that you will thrive in your role, making a real difference in the lives of young people.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land KS3 / KS4 Specialist Teacher
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to fellow educators, attend local teaching events, and connect with people in the SEND community. Building relationships can lead to job opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills in interviews! Prepare examples of how you've adapted lessons for different needs or supported students emotionally. We want to see your passion for teaching and how you make a difference.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere—apply through our website! It’s streamlined and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are keen on joining our community.
✨Tip Number 4
Be ready to discuss your approach to trauma-informed education. This is key in SEND settings, so share your strategies and experiences. It shows you understand the unique challenges our pupils face.
We think you need these skills to ace KS3 / KS4 Specialist Teacher
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Teaching:When you write your application, let your passion for teaching shine through! Share specific examples of how you've made a difference in your students' lives, especially in SEND settings. We want to see that you care about building relationships just as much as achieving results.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to tailor your application to the role. Highlight your experience with KS3 and KS4, and mention any relevant qualifications or training. We love seeing candidates who understand the unique challenges and rewards of working in a specialist SEND environment.
Be Reflective and Honest:We appreciate honesty and reflection in applications. Talk about your teaching philosophy and how you adapt your methods to meet diverse needs. If you've faced challenges, share how you've learned from them. This shows us you're committed to growth and development.
Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you get all the latest updates. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Protocol Education
✨Know Your Pupils
Before the interview, take some time to understand the specific needs of pupils with Autism, ADHD, and SEMH. Familiarise yourself with strategies that support emotional regulation and communication. This will show your commitment to creating a calm and supportive learning environment.
✨Showcase Your Flexibility
Be prepared to discuss how you adapt your teaching methods to cater to different learning styles. Share examples from your experience where you've successfully modified lessons for small classes or individual needs. This demonstrates your reflective and flexible approach.
✨Emphasise Relationships
Highlight your belief in the importance of building relationships with students. Discuss how you’ve fostered connections in previous roles and how this has positively impacted learning outcomes. This aligns perfectly with the role's focus on relationships as much as results.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about handling challenging behaviours or supporting pupils through trauma-informed practices. Think of specific scenarios from your past experiences and how you approached them. This will showcase your emotional intelligence and commitment to SEND practice.
