Sports Coaches & Youth Workers Wanted - Teaching Assistants

Pupil Referral Service | Rochdale | Key Stages 3 & 4 and Year 11

Have you worked in sports coaching, football, fitness, youth work or mentoring? Want to use your skills to make a genuine difference to young people who need a different approach to education?

Tradewind Recruitment is seeking confident, resilient and committed individuals to work as Teaching Assistants across specialist pupil referral provision in Rochdale, supporting secondary-aged pupils in Key Stages 3 and 4, including Year 11.

This is an excellent opportunity for people with experience in sport, coaching, youth work, mentoring or community-based roles who want to use their practical skills to help young people overcome barriers to learning, build confidence and achieve their potential.

Many pupils in pupil referral settings have experienced challenges in mainstream education and may need additional support with behaviour, emotional regulation, engagement and relationships. We're looking for positive role models who can build trust, maintain clear boundaries and help young people make better choices.

The Role

• Support secondary-aged pupils, particularly across Key Stages 3 and 4 and Year 11, to engage with learning and make progress.
• Use your background in sports coaching, fitness, football, youth work or mentoring to build positive relationships and encourage participation.
• Support pupils with social, emotional and mental health needs, behavioural challenges and other additional needs.
• Help maintain a calm, structured learning environment through clear expectations, consistency and positive reinforcement.
• Work one-to-one and in small groups to support learning, personal development and emotional regulation.
• Encourage pupils to develop resilience, teamwork, accountability, communication and confidence.
• Act as a positive role model, helping pupils recognise their strengths and make positive decisions about their education and future.
• Work alongside teachers and pastoral staff to provide consistent support across the provision.

Who Would Suit This Role?

We're keen to hear from people who understand the importance of building relationships with teenagers and can bring confidence, maturity and a positive attitude to the role.

Your experience could come from:

• Football coaching, sports development or fitness instruction.
• Youth work, mentoring or community projects.
• Martial arts, boxing, rugby or other team and individual sports.
• Supporting young people through clubs, outreach programmes or similar settings.
• Working with teenagers who have struggled with behaviour, engagement or mainstream education.

You don't necessarily need previous classroom experience or a formal teaching qualification. We value transferable skills, a willingness to learn and the ability to remain calm, consistent and professional when faced with challenging situations.

We're looking for individuals who are:

• Confident and comfortable working with secondary-aged teenagers.
• Patient, resilient and able to maintain appropriate boundaries.
• Reliable, consistent and committed to pupils' progress.
• Strong communicators who can build trust while maintaining expectations.
• Passionate about helping young people develop the skills they need for adulthood.

Experience supporting pupils with SEMH needs, autism or challenging behaviour is beneficial, but training and development opportunities are available.

What We Offer

• Full-time opportunities within specialist pupil referral provision in Rochdale.
• Competitive daily pay.
• Access to over 2,500 free training courses, including behaviour management, autism awareness and mental health support.
• Interview preparation and ongoing support from Tradewind Recruitment.
• Local payroll, with no umbrella companies.
• Holiday pay, referral bonuses and networking opportunities.

Why This Role Matters

For some young people, mainstream education hasn't provided the right environment for them to succeed. They need adults who can see beyond behaviour, recognise their potential and help them find a positive way forward.

Your experience in sport, coaching or youth work could be exactly what helps a young person re-engage with education, develop self-belief and start working towards their future.

For pupils approaching their GCSEs and the end of Year 11, consistent support can be particularly important in helping them improve their engagement, develop essential life skills and prepare for their next steps.

Reliability, consistency and positive role modelling are essential. If you're confident working with teenagers, can provide clear boundaries and want a role where your influence genuinely matters, we'd love to hear from you.

Ready to Get Started?

Contact Rachael Pheasey at Tradewind Recruitment to find out more or apply.

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