Cover Supervisor / Learning Support

About the role

We are looking for a committed and talented person to become a Cover / Learning Supervisor. This job involves looking after classes when a teacher is absent and delivering any work left or prepared by the absent teacher or by the subject leader. When not covering for absent teachers you are likely to work as part of our learning support team or assist with school administration, help with displays or support subject or year leaders. Options are flexible depending on the strengths and abilities/ skills of the successful applicant.

Previous or similar experience would be an advantage although help is available to help you learn. Any previous experience of work in a secondary school would be welcome and appreciated but is not essential as long as you are prepared to learn and to train.

This post would suit either an experienced colleague looking for a new experience, someone looking for their first appointment in a school with the right skill set, a newly qualified person with appropriate experience, someone returning to school work with appropriate experience, as long as you will be able to quickly demonstrate impact and the ability to support the pupils in their continued learning, or someone considering teaching as a future career.  

This can be a full-time (term time only) job or part-time work is also an option. Please feel free to contact us to discuss possibilities. Visits to see the school or to discuss this vacancy are warmly welcomed.

About our School

Townsend is a relatively small and very friendly school with a great atmosphere, circa 800 on roll, including a Sixth Form. Townsend is rated Good by Ofsted (January 2024) in all areas and outstanding in our SIAMS inspection report. 

Townsend Church of England School is situated on a large, green site between St Albans and Harpenden, and welcomes applicants from families of all faiths and of no faith. Children who attend Townsend live in St Albans and Harpenden, as well as other towns in Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, including Welwyn Garden City, Hemel Hempstead and Luton. 

Townsend believes that educating the whole child is key to a successful education. The Bible-based vision of Love Your Neighbour underpins all we do. Students are taught to respect and care for themselves and each other, and Townsend’s supportive environment encourages them to make the most out of their journey through secondary school.  

Although this is a Church School you do not have to adhere to the Christian faith to work here, but you must be in sympathy with our work and be able to support the aspects that give us our distinctive character as a Church of England School.  

Newly appointed Headteacher, Mr Anthony Flack is excited by the opportunity to make Townsend, ‘The first choice secondary school for all’. 

Friendly and welcoming, Townsend impresses with its calm learning environment and caring staff.  Our new School Prospectus is linked here:  https://townsendschoolprospectus.co.uk/ 

We reserve the right to move to shortlisting and interviews when we have viable applications. 

If you would like additional information or to discuss this vacancy - please email the school (recruitment@townsend.herts.sch.uk) for the attention of Mr Flack (Headteacher), or Mrs Llewellyn (Senior Deputy Headteacher), and we can either email a reply or telephone you if you leave a contact number.

To apply for this vacancy, please send a cover letter and an application form to Mr Flack, Headteacher, Townsend CofE School, High Oaks, St Albans, Hertfordshire, AL3 6DR or email to recruitment@townsend.herts.sch.uk  

Townsend CofE School is committed to the safeguarding of all students and all staff appointed are subject to the usual teaching vetting and compliance checks that include DBS checks, two satisfactory references, confirmation of identity, qualifications, and barred list checks. 

Following the shortlisting stage, and before making a final decision, the School will collect and process information publicly available about you by conducting a brief online search using an internet search engine. We do this to ensure that the school acts in accordance with its obligations set out in Keeping Children Safe in Education.