Gap Year Teaching Assistant

For September 2026, with a fixed term contract until 20/07/2027.

Ysgol Panteg and Carreg Lam are working together to offer a gap year placement during the 2026-2027 academic year. The programme is open for:

• Students, interested in pursuing a career in education, leaving secondary or post-18 education; or,
• Individuals who want to change a career and have an interest in education.

This is a chance to get a taste of working life in a school by working as a teaching assistant for a year!

Working under the direction and guidance of teachers and/or members of the School Leadership Team, successful candidates will have the opportunity to:

• work with a team of active and dedicated staff;
• assist in the general organisation of the classroom which may include: classroom preparation, pupil acceptance, organising and preparing materials, setting up and clearing equipment;
• maintenance of resources and equipment used in activities;
• support individuals and groups of pupils to ensure access to learning;
• assist the teacher in evaluating pupils' progress and keeping records in line with school policies;
• assist and supervise pupils in the playground and offer support for play activities outside the classroom as required;
• support with basic first aid as required.

The successful individuals will work 9.5 days out of 10 on the classroom floor. One half day every fortnight will be given over to professional development in the form of:

• a program of visiting and observation in various locations to see good practice in action;
• participation in workshops and educational talks with a focus on pedagogy and mechanics of education;
• participation in educational workshops with a focus on career development and personal reporting processes and applying for initial teacher training for universities.

Applications are invited from enthusiastic and conscientious individuals for the post of teaching assistants for the Gap Year project. The ability to speak Welsh fluently is essential to give children a sound linguistic foundation.

The schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment and the school will require a more detailed Disclosure and Barring Service record.

Hours: 32.5 hours per week

Deadline for applications: 22nd of May, 2026

Date of interviews: 5th of June, 2026

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. A comprehensive screening process will be undertaken on all successful applicants, which will include an Enhanced check with the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Registration with the Education Workforce Council is required for this post.

Torfaen County Borough Council strives to be a fair, supportive and effective employer. The Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The Council expects all employees, paid or unpaid, to share this commitment. We value the range of experiences that a diverse workforce brings and therefore we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and under-represented groups.

We are a registered Disability Confident Leader and are committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. Our Guaranteed Interview scheme guarantees that people with disabilities will be invited to interview, so long as they meet the essential requirements for the role. If you have a health condition, are neurodivergent, or use British sign language, and need to discuss reasonable adjustments, please contact the recruiting manager. We can only work with you to arrange adjustments if we are made aware of your requirements prior to your application submission, test or interview.