EAL Coordinator in Colchester

Join a Community Where We ‘Aspire, Believe, and Achieve’ Together at St Helena School. Do you have the skills to foster a stimulating environment where every child can achieve their very best? Ready to inspire young minds to dream big?

At St Helena School, we take immense pride in our vibrant, diverse, and inclusive community. We are an ambitious secondary school dedicated to ensuring that every student, regardless of their background or starting point, achieves their full personal and academic potential. We believe that linguistic diversity is a strength, and we are committed to providing outstanding support to our students who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL). We are therefore seeking an enthusiastic EAL Coordinator to lead this vital work, remove language barriers, and ensure our multilingual students thrive across the curriculum.

Start Date: ASAP following pre-employment checks - likely October 2026

Contract Type: Permanent

Working Hours: Part time - 19.5 hours per week, 39 weeks per year (term time plus non-pupil days)

Working Pattern: 8:30am - 3:30pm 3 days per week (exact days TBC)

A Day in the Life:

• Completing admissions meetings with the Pastoral Administrator and provide translating documents and communication resources as needed.
• Conducting robust initial language assessments for newly arrived and international students to create detailed entry profiles.
• Designing, planning, and delivering bespoke 1:1 or small-group English language intervention sessions.
• Providing high-quality in-class support or coordinating EAL teaching assistants to scaffold complex subject vocabulary.
• Working hand-in-hand with the Head of English, SENCO, Heads of Year, and Subject Leaders to identify and address student underachievement.
• Building strong, empathetic relationships with parents and carers, coordinating interpreters for school meetings where necessary.

What We're Looking For:

• A good general standard of education with GCSE Grade A*-C (or equivalent) in English and Maths. (Specialised TESOL/EAL qualifications, bilingual communication skills, and recent experience working with secondary-aged children are highly desirable but not essential).
• An exceptional communicator who can break down communication barriers and build trusting, respectful relationships with our diverse students, their families, and staff.
• Someone dedicated to student wellbeing who can confidently support children with developmental difficulties or disabilities, while supporting the work of classroom volunteers and Teaching Assistants.
• Someone with a solid understanding of the school curriculum, school behaviour policies, and a strong commitment to safeguarding, child protection, and confidentiality.
• A reliable, organised, and adaptable team player who can use their own initiative, resolve routine problems independently, and remain calm under pressure.

Please see the attached Job Description & Person Specification for further details.

Please note: This vacancy is open throughout the summer period and will close on 31st August. Shortlisting will take place immediately after the closing date, and applicants should expect to receive an update or decision regarding interviews in early September.

Why Choose The Sigma Trust?

We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life.

Professional Development:

• A robust CPD training program that empowers you to flourish.
• Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships.

Employee Benefits:

• A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme.
• A Health Cash Plan to help manage your everyday healthcare costs.
• Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme to support your well-being.
• Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, access to discounts via free membership to Perkbox, eligibility for a Blue Light Card, and more.

Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity:

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools. The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision ‘To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts’, where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.

To Apply:

Ready to take the next step? Submit an application via My New Term by midnight on Monday 31st August 2026. Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive an overwhelming response. Candidates may be invited to interview prior to the closing date, so an early application is advised.