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Academy The Quest Academy, South Croydon

Required Spring 2023

Salary TCT Scale S24 – S27 (£28,120 - £30,530). Pro- rata- term time

only to £23,902 – £25,950.50.

Closing date 31st March

Interviews As applications received

Job Purpose To facilitate the learning of students by providing support in

lessons and covering the lessons of absent teachers

Welcome



Dear Applicant

A very warm welcome to the Quest Academy. We are a great place to begin or further your career.

At the Quest we know that having great people is our biggest asset and we work very hard to make sure that the
posts we offer, the professional development we provide and the environment we create are the cornerstones of a
highly successful Academy on a journey from ‘good’ to ‘outstanding.’

Our motto, ‘learning changes lives’ succinctly describes our mission: to improve the life chances of all of our young
people by enabling them to achieve outstanding qualifications and develop the personal characteristics necessary to
lead fulfilling adult lives.

We believe in the broadest and richest educational experience and have a highly developed and universal
enrichment offer, numerous trips and visits, a wide range of clubs and societies, sports fixtures and a thriving Duke
of Edinburgh award scheme.

I know that the atmosphere and climate in the Academy are key considerations for staff.

At the Quest we have created a disciplined environment with well-behaved children. Levels of attendance are
above the national average because our students enjoy coming to school and we have very well crafted systems of
support in place to make sure that the Academy runs efficiently. We are oversubscribed and results are above the
national average in all key stages.

We believe we are outstanding in the support we provide for staff development. We have achieved the ‘CLPD Gold
Mark’ for our professional development work and we run in-house training sessions every week to update and
further our colleagues’ skills.

We are also very fortunate to occupy a stunning 17 million pound building with extensive grounds which we moved
into in 2014. Every part of the school is brand new and across the campus we have invested in nearly one million
pounds of cutting edge IT equipment to support all aspects of Academy life.

Geographically we are ideally located just 15 minutes from the M25, forty minutes from central London by train
and Croydon itself is undergoing major investment as a place to work and live. Rents are relatively low for London
and the town centre, with venues such as Boxpark and the Southend restaurant quarter, mean there is always
something to do.

I do hope that our vacancy will be of interest to you. We welcome visits at any time to see us at work so that we
can show you all of this in person.

With best wishes.

Mr A Crofts
Executive Principal

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Key Information

The Quest Academy is committed to ensuring that
each student succeeds academically and
personally. Our motto, Learning Changes Lives
(Eruditio Vitas Commutat) reflects our belief in the
importance of our work. We are committed to
making sure that every student makes outstanding
progress. We have high expectations of every
student, offer the best quality teaching and insist
on the highest standards of behaviour and respect.

The Quest is a positive, rich and innovative learning
environment where every student can achieve
excellence in all that they do, in the classroom and
beyond it.

We offer a wide range of enrichment activities to extend learning in a range of contexts and promote
leadership, teamwork, reflection, confidence and high self-esteem.

We are constantly searching for new ways to encourage participation and service to others as the basis
for the development of lifelong learning and a happy and successful life.

Our strength comes from strong partnerships: with our parents, the community we serve and the close
links we have with the Trust. Together we have extensive experience and expertise to guide our work.

You can find out more information about our school, and our Trust at the following websites:

www.thequestacademy.org.uk www.tct-academies.org

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Information about The Collegiate Trust

Our Trust works in the Crawley and Croydon areas with a clear vision to deliver exceptional education for
all. Such an education achieves excellent outcomes in pupil progress and attainment, a rich creative,
cultural and physical learning experience, and great personal and social development for all pupils. We
achieve this by working with and developing strong teams of staff in each school, under the direction of
the Principal of the school and the Local Governing Body. (LGB)

The Trust has grown out of Riddlesdown Collegiate, an outstanding (OFSTED, May 2016) secondary school
in Croydon with almost 2000 students and over 200 staff. Gossops Green, in Crawley, was the next school –
and the first primary – to join the Trust, followed by Waterfield Primary (also in Crawley) on 1st March
2018. The Quest Academy joined the Trust on 1st June 2018 and Courtwood Primary and Quest Primary
joined the Trust on 1st September 2018. Kenley Primary School joined most recently in September 2021.

Each school within the Trust is supported centrally by a designated Director of School Improvement on
teaching and learning issues, the Chief Operating Officer, Finance Manager & HR Manager on business
management and HR issues, and the CEO on wider leadership issues. This complements rather than
replaces in-school functions and allows the Principal and LGB to operate with a high level of autonomy in
delivering the highest standards in their school. The LGB works to a Scheme of Delegation approved by the
Trust’s Board of Directors.

Why Work With Us?

The Collegiate Trust is an exciting, fast-paced group of schools committed to progress, collaboration and
excellence for all… staff and students alike. We are a dynamic and expanding trust of seven schools (two
secondaries with Sixth Form provision, and five primaries) with numerous and diverse career opportunities
for both new and existing staff.

All staff and governors, at every level of their career, in both teaching and business support functions, have
an equal entitlement to Continuous Professional Development (CPD). This promotes, develops and
supports staff in their shared commitment to lifelong learning. Results are reviewed and evaluated
regularly in order to support further development of our CPD programme and drive constant
improvement.

Through expert facilitation, Trust-wide collaboration, inter-school networking, and our extensive CPD
programme, every member of staff has the opportunity to make substantial contributions to the
development of the curriculum, pedagogy and delivery of business services, whilst improving their own
prospects of career progression.

We are committed to:-

• facilitating career progression

• offering excellent professional development

• providing opportunities to lead

• extending support from Trust experts

• developing collaborative opportunities to generate new and next practice

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Other tangible benefits of working within a TCT school include1:-

Exceptional performance rewards Contribution to cost of Masters in Education Superb ECT Induction Programme including two-week paid training in June/July The Collegiate Trust’s National Professional Qualifications for aspirant leaders Two-week October half term (instead of 5 INSET days) Well-equipped staff rooms and work rooms Excellent learning resources in classrooms Cutting-edge technology provision Free Microsoft Office apps

Individuals who are successful in their application to The Collegiate Trust join us at an exciting time. In
return for the opportunity to be part of our Trust, we ask that all joining members of staff share in our
vision of “Exceptional Education For All” and are motivated to work continuously towards developing their
own professional excellence.

Our Values

Strong moral values underpin the ethos of The Quest Academy. We welcome students from a wide
range of cultural and faith (or non-faith) backgrounds and expect all families to value and support the
moral values at the heart of all aspects of life at The Quest Academy.

We foster understanding, tolerance and mutual respect whilst producing confident, capable and
respectful young people. At all times, we aim to create an environment that nurtures and develops:

• Integrity
• Compassion
• Respect
• Tolerance
• Kindness
• Courage
• Generosity
• A life-long love of learning

These values make The Quest Academy a
positive and inclusive community in which all
students feel safe, valued and part of the family.

1 At the time of publication, not all benefits available at every TCT school.

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Quest6

Students at The Quest Academy’s 6th Form, Quest6, have excelled across the range of courses that are on
offer.

In addition to academic excellence, Quest6 is a positive, rich and innovative learning environment
where every student can achieve excellence in all that they do, in the classroom and beyond it. We
offer a wide range of enrichment activities to extend learning in a range of contexts and promote
leadership, teamwork, reflection, confidence and high self-esteem.

Students at Quest6 (and staff) have access to cutting-edge, state-of-the-art facilities that – for at least
the foreseeable future – are arguably the best that Greater London has to offer.

A dedicated social study area, seminar-style teaching rooms, brand new technology as well as access to
all of Quest’s new buildings ensure that current and future Quest6 students will learn in a modern,
peaceful, exceptional education environment.

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Job Description

Job Title: Student Learning Facilitator

Responsibility Level: TCT Scale S24 – S27 (£28,120 -

£30,530). Pro- rata- term time

only to £23,902 – £25,950.50.

Accountable To: Executive Principal & Governing

Body

Responsible To: Line Manager

RESPONSIBILITIES

Job Purpose:

• To provide individual/ small group Learning Support to students in lessons.

• To cover lessons for absent colleagues; delivering and supervising the completion of cover work.

agencies as appropriate.
4. To provide cover for lessons where there is either a planned or unplanned absence
5. Contribute to the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare and personal care of children and young

people with regard to Child Protection Procedures.

Learning Support
1. Work effectively as part of the teaching support team and with teaching staff in contributing to the quality of

teaching and learning. This includes attending meetings where there are items relevant to the students
being worked with.

2. Support and complement the work of Teachers by:

• Planning with the Teacher and preparing practical resources for the lessons that students will use such

• Responding to individual needs by personalising resources for students.

• Supporting the Teacher in behaviour management and reinforcing agreed ways of working

• Formulating, with the SENDCo the detailed operational IEPs for named students and monitoring their

3. Work with and act upon guidance provided by Teachers and other professionals such as Speech Therapists
and Educational Psychologists.

4. Liaise regularly with the Teachers regarding progress, any concerns or any difficulties with accessing work
and/or resources.

5. Arrive in class, on or before the start of the lesson

Cover
1. Cover for short term planned or unplanned absence of a Teacher by taking registration and supervising

lessons. In all cases work will have been set, either by the ‘absent’ member of staff or the appropriate Team
Leader.

2. In accordance with the Academy’s policies and procedures, report to the appropriate Teacher any incidents
of disruptive or unacceptable behaviour that may not be known to the Teaching staff.

3. Manage the students’ behaviour in line with Academy policies, thus ensuring learning continues to take
place.

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4. Report any problems with the set work to the Team Leader – especially if it is inappropriate or below an

agreed standard.
5. Help students during a lesson to complete tasks set either through supporting self-directed study, or

assisting students by responding to their questions.
6. Collect all work done during the lesson retaining it until it can be passed on to the class Teacher, via the

agreed route, upon their return.
7. Work with Teachers and Team Leaders to plan cover work for an absence known in advance, and prepare a

bank of materials available for unexpected absence.
8. Work with Teachers in the development of educational initiatives by supporting those initiatives in the

classroom.

Wider Responsibilities
1. Set a good example in terms of personal presentation, attendance and punctuality.
2. Assist in the promotion of development and learning (physical, emotional and behavioural)
3. Be familiar with a range of teaching resources and strategies suitable for the needs of identified students
4. Contribute to the Academy’s Enrichment Programme as indicated within the Academy Improvement Plan,

e.g. by assisting on Academy educational visits and various activities.
5. Respond to questions from students about the content of the lesson being taught and their progress
6. Respond to students’ needs: e.g. by preparing and using specialist materials to support them and promote

rapid progress in their learning

Health and Safety
1. Be aware of the responsibility for personal Health, Safety and Welfare and that of others who may be

affected by your actions or inactions.

2. Co-operate with the employer on all issues to do with Health, Safety and Welfare.

3. Have an understanding of visits’ procedures and the relevant actions to take when planning out of Academy

activities.

Continuing Professional Development
1. With your Line Manager, take responsibility for personal professional development, keeping up-to-date with

research and developments related to Academy efficiency, which may lead to improvements in the day-to-
day running of the Academy.

2. Undertake any necessary professional development as identified in the Academy Improvement Plan taking
full advantage of any relevant training and development available.

3. Maintain a professional portfolio of evidence to support the Performance Management process - evaluating
and improving own practice.

ANNUAL RESPONSIBILITIES

As set annually as part of Performance Management using Bluesky

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
1. To promote and safeguard the welfare of children at the Academy.

2. To maintain confidentiality at all times.

3. To be aware of and adhere to all Academy policies and procedures.

4. To carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by the Principal.

5. To work in support of the Academy Improvement Plan.

6. To take time to read notices, keep to deadlines and carry out duties to the best of your ability.

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Person Specification

Qualifications

At least a grade C or 4 in both English and Maths (essential)

A Level or level 3 BTEC qualifications (desirable)

Experience

Effective working with young people of a range of ages and abilities

Evidence of making an effective contribution to a team

Skills and Attributes

To be able to prioritise work

Ability to engage positively with students to ensure effective learning

Capacity to work alongside colleagues, contributing effectively to a team

Ability to quickly establish and maintain positive relationships with students, staff and families

Understanding of safeguarding issues and promoting the welfare of children and young people

Well-developed communication skills, including high level of written and oral literacy and competent ICT use

Suitability to work with children

The Collegiate Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and
expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post,

including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Appointment will be dependent upon further health, medical and attendance checks.

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Schedule for Appointments

FOR AN APPLICATION FORM PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE OR CONTACT:
Miss G Bolter, email: [email protected] or by telephone: 020 8657 8935

PLEASE RETURN FORMS TO:
Miss G Bolter, The Quest Academy, Farnborough Avenue, South Croydon, CR2 8HD

CLOSING DATE:
31st March

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How To Find Us

By Car:

If you are travelling by car, The Quest Academy is located on Farnborough Avenue which is off of the A2022, Selsdon
Park Road. If you are coming from the M25 junctions 7 (Croydon), 6 (Caterham) or 4 (Orpington) provide easy access
to Selsdon.

By Train

The nearest mainline station is East Croydon. You can then take either a number 3 tram (toward New Addington)
and alight at Gravel Hill or one of the several buses that serve the area; 433, 130 or 466.

By Tram

There is a wide footpath (keep to the right hand side) which runs from the tram stop past the back of John Ruskin
College, Gilbert Scott Primary School and Red Gates School, finishing in the corner of Farnborough Avenue. This walk
takes about 12mins. The Academy is located on the right hand side in Farnborough Avenue.

By Bus:

Bus routes: 433, 64, 130, 466, 359.

The Quest Academy
Farnborough Avenue, South Croydon, CR2 8HD 

020 8657 8935
[email protected]

www.thequestacademy.org.uk

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