Higher Level Teaching Assistant – Food Technology

Job Title:Higher Level Teaching Assistant – Food Technology

Actual Annual Salary:  £27,362 - £29,851 based on hours and weeks worked.

Full Time Equivalent Salary:  CLF Grade D (£31,954 - £34,860) based on full time, all year round.

Contract Type: Permanent, Term Time Only plus inset days

Hours:Full-time, 37 hours per week, Monday to Friday

A chance to advance your career as a teaching assistant:

We are looking for a Higher-Level Teaching Assistant – Level 3 to complement the work of teachers by taking responsibility for developing and delivering agreed learning activities under an appropriate system of supervision.

You will work closely with students to help them thrive in Food Technology, ensuring they can confidently access both practical and theoretical elements of the curriculum. Your role will include delivering and supporting accredited pathways such as BTEC, Foodwise, ASDAN, and Unit Award Scheme (UAS), guiding learners through essential skills in food preparation, nutrition, hygiene, and safety. You will adapt lessons and activities to meet individual needs, creating an inclusive and engaging environment where students develop independence, resilience, and a passion for cooking. Drawing on your specialist knowledge and experience, you will use tailored strategies and techniques to inspire progress and prepare students for future opportunities in food-related careers and life skills.

The post would be suited to an experienced TA looking for the next step in their career or a current HLTA looking for a change in role or setting.

About you:

You will:

• Have an understanding of classroom roles and responsibilities and how a teaching assistant supports students in their learning.
• Be able to engage students and manage behaviour on a one to one or small group basis.
• Be committed to undertake relevant qualifications, e.g. relevant NVQ Level 2/ 3 in supporting teaching and learning or equivalent, first aid qualification, to ensure ongoing professional development.
• Happily engage with students and manage behaviour on a one to one or small group basis.
• Have strong interpersonal skills, in particular with the ability to demonstrate empathy and active listening.  Practise good planning and organisational skills, specifically with regard to learning activities and support materials.
• Be someone with a keen interest in working with children and commitment to inclusion and acceptance of all.
• Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the job description and person specification found on the CLF careers website, prior to submitting an application.

The Sky Academy:

Sky Academy is a special school for young people in years 5-11 who have an EHCP to support their SEMH and SCL needs. Located in Taunton, our catchment of young people comes from those who live within a 75-minute drive across Somerset. At our core is a belief that every young person deserves the right to an educative experience that prepares them for adulthood and opens doors at post-16. We do this by providing a targeted core curriculum that focuses in equal parts on literacy, numeracy, PSHCE, and PE in addition to a wider curriculum of art, ICT, careers and life skills.

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we're all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We're proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others.

We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion.

We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you:

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in-role/wider-trust development opportunities.
• Well-being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on-site parking plus many more

Recruitment timeline:

Closing Date: 30 November 2025

Shortlisting Date: 1 December 2025

Interview Date: 8 December 2025

We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment.

As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs, a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form.

Please note we are not able to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £27,362.00 per year

Work Location: In person