Teaching Assistant - graduate position in Sunderland

Protocol Education is working in partnership with a large and ambitious secondary school in Sunderland to recruit a Teaching Assistant to join their supportive team from September 2026. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to begin a career in education. The school welcomes applications from experienced Teaching Assistants, recent graduates considering a future in teaching, and candidates with transferable skills who are passionate about supporting young people to succeed.

The school serves a diverse and vibrant community and has a strong reputation for promoting high aspirations, positive relationships and excellent pastoral support. Staff are committed to creating an inclusive environment where students feel safe, valued and motivated to achieve their potential.

As a Teaching Assistant, you will work closely with teaching staff to support students both inside and outside the classroom. You will help to remove barriers to learning, encourage student engagement and contribute to a positive learning environment.

Responsibilities:

• Supporting students in lessons across a range of subject areas.
• Providing one-to-one and small-group interventions.
• Assisting teachers with classroom preparation and learning activities.
• Encouraging positive behaviour and engagement in learning.
• Supporting students with additional learning needs where required.
• Contributing to the wider pastoral and academic support offered by the school.

We are looking for candidates who:

• Have a genuine passion for working with young people.
• Are considering a future career in teaching or education.
• Have strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Are patient, resilient and able to build positive relationships.
• Can work effectively as part of a team.
• Hold a degree or relevant experience working with young people (desirable but not essential).

This role would be particularly suitable for:

• Graduates seeking classroom experience before teacher training.
• Aspiring teachers looking to develop their skills in a secondary school setting.
• Individuals with youth work, coaching, mentoring or support work experience.
• Entry-level candidates with a strong interest in education and supporting student achievement.

Why apply through Protocol Education?

• Competitive rates of pay.
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities.
• Dedicated consultant support.
• Valuable school-based experience within a highly supportive environment.
• Potential pathways into teacher training and long-term school employment.

All applicants will be subject to Protocol Education's safeguarding and vetting procedures, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. Applications are encouraged from candidates of all experience levels who are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of young people. 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.