Art Teacher (Qualified)
About us:
High Well School is a SEND school which caters for 9-16-year-olds with an Education Health & Care Plan for severe and profound social, emotional, and mental health needs as well as other learning difficulties. The school meets the needs of some of Wakefield’s most complex and vulnerable young people. We are a growing school on our journey to be outstanding.
Our team endeavours to provide a nurturing environment with personalised support and specialist teaching to enable all pupils to re-engage in learning, develop their social and emotional skills, and leave with not only appropriate qualifications but the skills required to succeed in life after school. This is reflected in our vision of ‘Preparing for Positive Futures.’
Overview of the role:
We are seeking to appoint an inspiring, resilient, and passionate Art Teacher, either full or part time to join our dedicated team. You will deliver a creative, skills-based curriculum that supports emotional development as much as artistic progress. Your classroom will be a safe, structured, and expressive space where pupils feel valued and able to succeed.
The successful candidate will:
- Teach Art across KS3–KS4, adapting lessons to meet a wide range of pupil needs
- Use creativity to engage pupils who may have experienced disrupted education
- Build strong, trusting relationships that support emotional regulation and positive
behaviour
- Work closely with our therapeutic and pastoral teams to ensure a holistic approach
- Celebrate every success — big or small — and help pupils recognise their own
achievements
- Maintain accurate records of students' progress and seek qualification opportunities to provide the best opportunities and outcomes for them
- committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
Personal attributes
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Essential |
Desirable |
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Qualifications/ Training
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We welcome applications from Qualified Teachers (QTS), with a passion for Art
Experience of understanding the needs of pupils with SEMH or is eager to learn
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Experience in teaching children with complex emotional, social and behavioural difficulties and or mental health problems.
Proficiency in Positive Behaviour Management and the ability to maintain engagement in an unstructured environment.
First Aid qualification
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Knowledge
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A genuine desire to work with "hard to reach" young people in a Special School setting. |
Understands the needs of pupils with SEMH or is eager to learn
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Experience |
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Experience in a special school is welcome but not essential — your mindset, values, and willingness to learn matter most.
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Physical Skills
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FULL Driving Licence Essential, including ability to drive a minibus and willingness to undertake Local Authority Driver Assessment.
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Competencies and other skills required
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Adopt a reflective approach to work.
Ability to teach other curriculum elements in class as and when required.
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Brings patience, consistency, and a sense of humour to challenging situations
Can think creatively and adaptively to remove barriers to learning
Believes every young person deserves the chance to succeed
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Key Outcomes / Activities:
- Be responsible for the learning and achievement of all pupils in the class/es ensuring equality of opportunity for all
- Be responsible and accountable for achieving the highest possible standards in work and conduct
- Treat pupils with dignity, building relationships rooted in mutual respect, and at all times observing proper boundaries appropriate to a teacher’s professional position
- Work proactively and effectively in collaboration and partnership with learners, parents/carers, governors, other staff and external agencies in the best interests of pupils
- Act within, the statutory frameworks, which set out their professional duties and responsibilities and in line with the duties outlined in the current School Teachers Pay and Conditions Document and Teacher Standards (2025)
- Take responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people within the school
All teachers are required to carry out the duties of a school teacher as set or in the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document and Teachers Standards 2025. Teachers’ performance will be assessed against the Teacher Standards as part of the appraisal process as relevant to their role in the school.
Teaching
- Deliver the curriculum as relevant to the age and ability group/subject/s that you teach
- Be responsible for the preparation and development of teaching materials, teaching programmes and pastoral arrangements as appropriate
- Be accountable for the attainment, progress and outcomes of pupils’ you teach
- Be aware of pupils’ capabilities, their prior knowledge and plan teaching and differentiate appropriately to build on these demonstrating knowledge and understanding of how pupils learn
- Have a clear understanding of the needs of all pupils, including those with special educational needs; gifted and talented; EAL; disabilities; and be able to use and evaluate distinctive teaching approaches to engage and support them
- Use an appropriate range of observation, assessment, monitoring and recording strategies as a basis for setting challenging learning objectives for pupils of all backgrounds, abilities and dispositions, monitoring learners’ progress and levels of attainment
- Make accurate and productive use of assessment to secure pupils’ progress
- Give pupils regular feedback, both orally and through accurate marking, and encourage pupils to respond to the feedback, reflect on progress, their emerging needs and to take a responsible and conscientious attitude to their own work and learning
- Use relevant data to monitor progress, set targets, and plan subsequent lessons
- Set homework and plan other out-of-class activities to consolidate and extend the knowledge and understanding pupils have acquired as appropriate
- Participate in arrangements for examinations and assessments within the remit of the School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2025
Behaviour and Safety
- Establish a safe, purposeful and stimulating environment for pupils, rooted in mutual respect using Nurture Group Principles and consistently apply the school’s expectations and rewards policy
- Manage the class effectively, using approaches which are appropriate to pupils’ needs in order to inspire, motivate and challenge pupils
- Co-create and update pupils’ All About Me profiles and risk assessments ensuring that pupils, parents/carers and all staff within the class team know and understand their responsibilities
- Maintain good relationships with pupils, exercise appropriate authority, and act decisively when necessary
- Be a positive role model and demonstrate consistently the positive attitudes, values and behaviour, which are expected of pupils
- Have high expectations of behaviour, promoting self-control and independence of all learners
- Carry out playground and other duties as directed and within the remit of the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document 2025
- Be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people within the school, raising any concerns following school protocol/procedures
Team working and collaboration
- Plan for and direct the work of the class team to ensure that pupils’ social, emotional and academic development is effectively promoted and supported
- Participate in any relevant meetings/professional development opportunities at the school, which relate to the learners, curriculum or organisation of the school including pastoral arrangements and assemblies
- Participate in and contribute to the annual review of Education, Health and Care Plans for all pupils in the class, including reporting on the learning needs, SEN needs, progress and achievements of the pupils.
- Work as a team member and identify opportunities for working with colleagues and sharing the development of effective practice with them
- Contribute to the selection and professional development of other teachers and support staff including the induction and assessment of new teachers, teachers serving induction periods and where appropriate threshold assessments
- Ensure that colleagues working with you are appropriately involved in supporting learning and understand the roles they are expected to fulfil
- Take part as required in the review, development and management of the activities relating to the curriculum, organisation and pastoral functions of the school
- Cover for absent colleagues within the remit of the current School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions document
Fulfil wider professional responsibilities
- Work collaboratively with others to develop effective professional relationships
- Deploy support staff effectively as appropriate
- Communicate effectively with parents/carers with regard to pupils’ achievements and well-being using school systems/processes as appropriate
- Communicate and co-operate with relevant external bodies
- Make a positive contribution to the wider life and ethos of the school
Professional development
- Regularly review the effectiveness of your teaching and assessment procedures and its impact on pupils’ progress, attainment and well-being, refining your approaches where necessary responding to advice and feedback from colleagues
- Be responsible for improving your teaching through participating fully in training and development opportunities identified by the school or as developed as an outcome of your appraisal
- Proactively participate with arrangements made in accordance with the Appraisal Regulations 2012
Other
- To have professional regard for the ethos, policies and practices of the school in which you teach, and maintain high standards in your own attendance and punctuality
- Perform any reasonable duties as requested by the Headteacher
Note
This job description is not your contract of employment or any part of it. It has been prepared only for the purpose of school organisation and may change either as your contract changes or as the organisation of the school is changed. Nothing will be changed without consultation.
The Postholder’s duties must be carried out in compliance with the school’s policies and procedures including child protection procedures and the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy, Financial Regulations and Standing Orders, the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), and subsequent health and safety legislation.
These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exhaustive nor exclusive as the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grading of the post and may vary over time. Post holders are expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities relevant to the nature, level and scope of the post and the grade has been established on this basis.
The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment.
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Responsibility for Resources
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Employees (Supervision):
To plan for and direct the work of relevant support staff so that pupils experience a personalised curriculum addressing their emotional and social needs as well as and pupil achievement is effectively promoted and supported.
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Financial: As allocated to curriculum area within the school’s overall budget allocation. Ensure allocations are not exceeded.
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Physical: Maintain and value the school’s learning environment within individual areas. Ensure and promote effective and proper use of materials and equipment. Implement the school’s policy relating to the health, safety and wellbeing of all members of the school community. To attend and participate in teachers’ and other relevant meetings. To contribute to assemblies and ensure that pupils’ work is displayed. Participate in performance management arrangements. Effectively procure and maintain resources that are value for money.
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Service Users: Preparation, planning and assessment of pupil’s development within the classroom. |
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Working Conditions: The post holder may be subject to some exposure to disagreeable or unpleasant people related behaviour. The post involves contact with people which through their circumstances or behaviour occasionally places emotional demands on post holder.
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Characteristics of the post: Employees are encouraged to participate in training activities in order to enhance their own personal development. The employment checks are required:
General 1. To undertake such other duties and responsibilities of an equivalent nature, as may be determined by the postholder’s supervisor from time to time, in consultation with the postholder 2. The postholder’s duties must at all times be carried out in compliance with the Council’s Equal Opportunities Policy and other policies designed to protect employees or service users from harassment - Take reasonable care of the health and safety of self, other persons and resources whilst at work - Co-operate with management of the Service as far as is necessary to enable the responsibilities placed upon the Service under the Health and Safety at Work Act to be performed, eg operate safe working practices and undertake risk assessments - It is the duty of the postholder not to act in a prejudicial or discriminatory manner towards service users or employees, including those who may be for example from minority ethnic communities, women, disable or older people, lesbians or gay men. The postholder should also counteract such proactive or behaviour by challenging or reporting it 3. To carry out the above duties incompliance with the Council’s Environment Policy at all times. In addition, the postholder shall endeavour to prevent pollution, comply with all relevant regulatory requirements regarding the environment and aim for continuous improvement in their environmental performance |
Salary & Benefits
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Post title |
Art Teacher (Qualified) - Full or Part Time Position |
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Location |
High Well School Rookhill Road Pontefract West Yorkshire WF8 2DD |
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Salary & Grade |
MP1 to UP3 |
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Hours |
In accordance with School Teachers’ Pay and Conditions Document and Teachers Standards 2025 |
Location
High Well School
Rookhill Road
Pontefract
West Yorkshire
WF8 2DD
Supporting documents
Deadline and how to apply
Closing date for applications is 18 May 2026 at 12:00pm
High Well School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants for the post must be fully committed to ensuring the safety, protection, and wellbeing of every pupil, and to upholding the highest standards of safeguarding practice across the school.
As part of our safer recruitment processes:
- All appointments are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, including a check of the Children’s Barred List
- We may carry out online checks for shortlisted candidates in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)
- References will be requested prior to interview and may be verified
- Identity, qualifications, and right‑to‑work checks will be required
- Gaps in employment history will be explored during the selection process
By submitting an application, candidates confirm their understanding of these requirements and their commitment to safeguarding the children and young people in our care.
If you share our vision for improving the lives of our pupils, believe you meet the criteria for the role outlined in the job description and would like to submit an application, please complete the attached application form and submit it to recruitment@highwell.org.uk by 18 May 2026 at 12:00pm
Applications can also be submitted via Wakefield Council jobs portal
Equal opportunities
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is committed to promoting equality, inclusiveness and social justice for all its citizens and staff. We will work positively to achieve this by challenging all forms of discrimination, exclusion and injustice. The Council values the rich social and cultural diversity of the district's communities. We will make sure that our workforce and our services reflect that diversity and community needs.
To assist Wakefield Metropolitan District Council to monitor and evaluate its effectiveness in relation to equal opportunities, and for no other reason, applicants are requested to complete and return the Recruitment Monitoring Form. The details supplied are held in confidence and are not used in anyway in the recruitment and selection process.
As a Disability Confident Symbol User Wakefield Metropolitan District Council is committed to interviewing all disabled applicants who meet the minimum (essential) criteria.
Job reference: HR_ARTTCR2026