Teacher

Job Title: Teacher

Acorn Alternative Provision Tees Valley

Location: Based at Tees Valley Community Church, Stockton-on-Tees

Salary: £26,545 – £34,045

Hours: 37.5 per week, during term time (with 13 weeks paid holiday)

Contract type: Permanent, with a 6-month probation

Start date: 1st September 2026, or before by agreement

Reporting to: Head of Centre

Organisation and Role Context

● Acorn Centres serve young people on the margins of education through a close partnership with the local church.

● Young people that come to Acorn are experiencing barriers that prevent them from succeeding in mainstream education, which often include complex educational, social, emotional, and mental health needs. These sometimes present themselves through challenging behaviour.

● Our Centres deliver innovative and tailored social and educational interventions for young people. We utilise imaginative curricula and resources, passionate staff, and creative methods of engagement to educate young people and bring about holistic change.

● The Teacher role blends a range of teaching and relational skills, with the values of a living and active Christian faith, to deliver excellent alternative education.

● You will be part of a small local staff team consisting of 2-3 staff, supported by volunteers from the church. You will also be part of a wider network of Acorn staff from other Centres across the country, who meet online together regularly to pray, share ideas, and receive training and development.

● You will report to the local Head of Centre at Acorn, will receive pastoral support from the church-based Centre Support Team and have access to specialist advisors, trained counsellors and therapists through an employee assistance programme.

● This role requires that you will be in the classroom setting throughout the day (the exact times to be agreed with your manager) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, with the opportunity to agree flexible working arrangements on Wednesdays.

Job Tasks

● Work in partnership with the Head of Centre and other team members to plan, resource, and deliver programmes for the young people. This will include involvement with occasional after-school activities.

● Plan and deliver lessons in areas of the curriculum as agreed with your manager including Maths and/or English and/or Science; leading sessions as timetabled and providing 1-1 support as appropriate to enhance the young people’s learning experience.

● Assist in team teaching and supporting in lessons led by other staff.

● Take a lead in developing and innovating a curriculum that meets the needs of the young people and is underpinned by the Christian values of love, grace, compassion, forgiveness, and hope, under the direction of and in partnership with the Head of Centre.

● Be willing to share your personal journey of faith and your understanding of the gospel with the young people, advocating opportunities for exploring the Christian faith. This may include after-school courses (such as Youth Alpha), leading Thought for the Day/Assembly with a faith-led focus, and other opportunities.

● Be prepared to pray for, and under appropriate guidance, with, young people, parents/carers and other stakeholders.

● Promote good classroom practice, including the use of trauma informed and therapeutic approaches and support for young people with SEND needs.

● Develop positive and supportive relationships with the young people at the Centre, getting to know their individual personalities, circumstances, and interests.

● Be proactive in supporting the Head of Centre to implement a culture of high expectations for behaviour and engagement from the young people.

● Work with the team to identify individual learning needs of young people and to establish Individual Learning Plans to appropriately meet these needs.

● Promote and safeguard the welfare of children and young persons who use the Centre.

● Work as a team to help in tackling issues such as child protection, substance abuse and other social issues that prevent whole person development.

● Be trained to act as the Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, deputising for the Head of Centre in this role if they are absent.

● Foster and develop relationships with parents or carers, encouraging active involvement with their child’s programme, and linking them with the support the church can offer.

● Support the Head of Centre ensuring the suitability of the environment, facilities, and premises, in line with Health and Safety Policy.

● Be willing to be trained to act as First Aider and/or a Fire Marshal.

● Support the effective operation of Centre systems and processes and implementation of policies.

● Along with other members of the team, administer and maintain records relating to young people’s attendance, behaviour, concerns, progress, basic information, contact records and any other information required, in line with Acorn’s policies, procedures and with appropriate levels of confidentially and data protection.

● Participate fully in all Acorn developmental and networking opportunities, such as staff events (including occasional overnight travel), training and online staff meetings.

● Attend, fully participate in and, on occasions, lead daily Christian devotionals and times of prayer and worship for the staff team.

● Represent Acorn appropriately when dealing with external agencies.

● Take on additional responsibilities and other tasks as your role develops as directed by the Head of Centre.

● Be aware of the opportunity to participate in residential trips.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

● Good general standard of education including as a minimum English and Mathematics GCSE at grade A*-C or equivalent.

Skills and knowledge

Essential

● Able to engage young people within a classroom setting.

● Possess proven skills and strategies for engaging effectively with challenging young people in achieving recognisable outcomes.

● Ability to teach Maths and/or English.

● Positive and therapeutic approach to managing young people’s behaviour.

● Understand broad issues impacting a young person’s ability to participate in learning and self-improvement.

● Ability to work as part of a team and deliver outcomes as directed by a senior member of staff.

● Highly effective personal leadership and ability to act as a role model for young people.

● Some knowledge of the issues facing the community in which the centre is based.

● Possess good communication, effective written, verbal and listening skills.

● Ability to relate to people from a variety of backgrounds and put them at ease.

● Effective time management and ability to organise and prioritise own workload and keep to deadlines.

● Effective ICT skills.

Experience

Essential

● Engaging effectively with challenging young people in an education or youth work setting.

● At least one year's relevant experience teaching or leading learning with children or young people.

● Proven track record of working with young people aged 11-16 years.

● Delivery of group and individual learning activities in inventive and creative ways.

● Involvement in the planning of learning activities and programmes for young people.

● Building positive collaborative relationships with young people and adults in a range of circumstances and contexts.

Christian lifestyle

Essential

● Commitment to actively pursue their personal spiritual development, including through regular prayer and reading of scripture.

● Attend and participate fully in devotions, prayer meetings and staff events to enhance the spiritual relationships within the team.

● Willingness to bring their Christian faith into all aspects of work, including speaking about it with young people and their parents or carers.

● Able to work sensitively with those of different cultures and faiths whilst having their own strong, living, and active Christian faith and a firm commitment to Equal Opportunities.

● To be an active part of a church community.

● Willing to occasionally attend Tees Valley Community Church services to share the work of the Centre.

Additional

Essential

● Commitment to promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.

● Complete an enhanced DBS check prior to employment, which reveals no reason for the applicant being unsuitable to work with young people.

● Provide 3 referees – at least one referee needs to represent Christian commitment.

References will be taken up after shortlisting.

● Provide evidence of qualifications and suitability to work in the UK and appropriate qualifications.

For further information about this role, please contact [contact hidden]

Apply online here.