Teach Portsmouth Support and
Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair 2024

Tuesday 23 April 2024

Portsmouth Central Library (Third floor)

1:30pm - 3:30pm | 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Discover jobs and training opportunities to support children and young people

+ Jobs + Training + Apprenticeships + Information and advice + Taster sessions
  • Want to support pupils in a primary or secondary school?

  • Need to gain a qualification or build experience?

Join us for one of two identical sessions at the Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair at Central Library on Tuesday 23 April from 1:30pm - 3:30pm and 4pm - 6pm. Discover your future helping children and young people in the classroom and outside of it.

Schools and other organisations need professionals who can support the learning of pupils. You could be in the classroom as a teaching assistant or working with a group of children on a 1:1 basis.

The opportunities are endless at the Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair. The event is split across two identical sessions: 1:30pm - 3:30pm and 4pm - 6pm. When booking, please choose one of the sessions you would like to attend.

Speak to schools and other organisations promoting vacancies

Watch short presentations on becoming a teaching assistant

Sign up to taster sessions to build confidence before applying

View vacancies and opportunities on the jobs board

Event schedule

  • Session One

    1:40 PM Welcome and introduction
    1:45 PM Learning Place - Become a teaching assistant - Apprenticeships
    1:50 PM Meet the professionals - Support staff share their experiences
    1:55 PM Short courses and qualifications - City of Portsmouth College and HSDC
    2:00PM - 2:10PM Panel Q&A session
    2:10PM - 3:30PM Speak to exhibitors about support and teaching assistant jobs and opportunities
  • Session Two

    4:10 PM Welcome and introduction
    4:15 PM Learning Place - Become a teaching assistant - Apprenticeships
    4:20 PM Meet the professionals - Support staff share their experiences
    4:25 PM Short courses and qualifications - City of Portsmouth College and HSDC
    4:30PM - 4:40PM Panel Q&A session
    4:40PM - 6:00PM Speak to exhibitors about support and teaching assistant jobs and opportunities

Meet the exhibitors

Schools, multi-academy trusts and colleges
City of Portsmouth College

Discover: + Training

At the City of Portsmouth College, they are shaping the city's future by unlocking the potential of their learners.

They believe every student should be able to achieve their aspiration, whatever their background or abilities. The college offer a broad range of courses across four campuses, from the highest quality academic teaching to the latest vocational and technical training.

HSDC

Discover: + Training + Information and advice + Taster sessions

HSDC is a college with three campuses at Alton and Havant and South Downs (Waterlooville).

Their aim is to be the first-choice further education college for students, staff and employers in Hampshire. They have a host of committed staff who are helping to make this happen through living their values of kindness, respect, inclusion and success.

HSDC offers an open and supportive culture, nurturing and harnessing the talents and ideas of both their staff and students.

Solent Academies Trust

Discover: + Jobs + Volunteering + Information and advice + Volunteering + Taster sessions

Solent Academies Trust is a multi-academy trust working collectively for the benefit of their community and those they support to reduce disadvantage for vulnerable learners.

They are currently comprised of five special schools, three of which are in Portsmouth.  Founded by Mary Rose Academy, which now celebrates its fourth outstanding Ofsted rating, their trust has over 17 years' experience in transforming lives of children and families through high quality specialist education for pupils aged 2 - 19.

Thinking Schools Academy Trust

Discover: + Jobs + Volunteering + Apprenticeships + Taster sessions

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is made up of 26 schools across Kent, Portsmouth, Essex and the southwest. While each school embarks on its own individual journey, they all share a vision of “transforming life chances” for every child and young person educated by their trust.

The team will be promoting a variety of jobs in primary and secondary schools from across the city of Portsmouth.

University of Chichester Academy Trust

Discover: + Jobs + Apprenticeships +Taster sessions

The University of Chichester Academy Trust was formed in 2012 and currently have nine schools in Portsmouth. Their mission is to create a vibrant inclusive and aspirational family of academies, transforming life chances for pupils through excellent teaching and learning.

They will be promoting a range of non-teaching vacancies and professional service roles.

Portsmouth City Council services
Community Learning Service at The Learning Place

Discover: + Training + Apprenticeships + Information and advice

Join the Community Learning Service where you can grow your potential and broaden your horizons.

The Learning Place offer a variety of free workshops and courses that can help improve health and wellbeing, confidence and digital skills.  

You can also gain qualifications in maths and English, alongside other accredited courses that will support progression into employment in schools.  All designed to help you take that next step in your career. 

Play Youth Community (PCC)

Discover: + Jobs + Information and advice +Training + Apprenticeship + Volunteering + Taster sessions

The Play and Youth service at Portsmouth City Council provides six staffed adventure playgrounds and four youth clubs, providing safe and informal educational environments, where children and young people are supported with their mental health and wellbeing.

Their adventure playgrounds are exciting spaces encouraging exploration and ‘freely chosen play’ supported by experienced playworkers.

Youth work offers young people safe spaces to explore their identity, experience decision-making and increase their confidence. This leads to better informed choices, changes in activity and improved outcomes for young people.

Careers, information and advice
National Careers Service

Discover: + Jobs + Information and advice

Want free and impartial advice on careers?

The National Careers Service provides high quality, free and impartial information, advice and guidance to help you make decisions on learning, training and work.

They can carry out skills assessments to match you with the perfect career whilst also exploring different career options.

They can talk about courses and apprenticeships, enabling you to earn while you learn.

Meet our support superstars

Meet Rebecca and Helen, who attended a Teach Portsmouth event last year. They have successfully become teaching assistants, supporting children in Portsmouth's schools. They share their experiences in the hope of inspiring others to consider a career in the classroom.

Meet Rebecca

Teaching assistant

Rebecca, a teaching assistant at Mayfield School, works on a one-to-one basis with a pupil in year four. She attended a Teach Portsmouth event last year and was successful in getting a job.

During university, Rebecca worked part-time in HMV, while studying for a degree. After graduating, she decided to become a store manager with the company, where she worked for 12 years.  Rebecca said:

"I really loved my time at HMV as a store manager. It was a career that spanned over a decade. When a change in circumstances meant I had to leave, I wanted to find a job that worked for me.
"I attended a Teach Portsmouth event where I met a range of schools who had different opportunities on offer. When I spoke to Mayfield School at the event, I knew the job was for me. I have now been at the school since September and love it!"

Meet Helen

Teaching assistant apprentice

Helen Wortsmann signed up to attend a Teach Portsmouth taster session. She has now started a teaching assistant apprenticeship with Thinking Schools Academy Trust.

Before starting the apprenticeship, she volunteered as a parent reader at Moorings Way Infant School. She attended an information event last year where she began her journey into the profession. Helen said:

"I was looking for a new job that fit my family life, as my son had just started school. When I attended the event, I spoke to The Learning Place and enrolled on their free courses that are designed to boost your CV. When an apprenticeship became available, I applied straight away."

1:30pm - 3:30pm session fully booked

We have now reached capacity for 1:30pm - 3:30pm. There is still capacity for 4pm - 6pm. Please select this option when registering for a ticket.

Get your FREE event ticket today!

To help us manage capacity for each session, please register for a ticket using the form below. An email will be sent to your inbox with your ticket.

Your ticket isn't an email attachment. Please use the email itself as confirmation. (Always check your junk mail folder if you haven't received it).

Top questions

What is the Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair?

The Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair features opportunities that include other support roles in education, beyond just teaching assistants. Schools and other organisations need patient and professional people to fill these types of vacancies and look forward to meeting you at the event.

What is the format of the event?

Each session begins with a series of short presentations, before breaking out into a traditional recruitment fair where you can meet and talk to each exhibitor.

We would recommend arriving at the start of each session to get the most out of your experience, however, once the presentations end, you can drop in. If you are unable to make the start of the session, you can still attend the event.

What are taster sessions?

Schools and other organisations who attend the event can choose to participate in this scheme. Taster sessions are often no longer than 1.5 hours, which gives those who sign up a chance to meet staff, have a tour and learn more about their vacancies and opportunities. Those who enrol on taster sessions have gone on to become teaching assistants and volunteers in schools.

When will information on exhibitors be announced?

A list of exhibitors will be published in due course. Please check back regularly or subscribe to the Teach Portsmouth newsletter to be the first to hear about them.