Portsmouth's 'golden opportunity' to support city's schools and colleges
If you are looking for a 'golden opportunity' to work in a school or college, a series of jobs, training and voluntary roles will be showcased at Portsmouth Guildhall as part of the Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair in a bid to boost employment in the city.
In recent times, we have held three information events to promote teaching assistant roles in schools and colleges. Early successes have seen 20 people enrolling on functional skills courses to start their journey with local training providers and three people starting an apprenticeship or job in local schools.
The event at Portsmouth Guildhall will continue to build on this success by expanding the types of roles on offer, focusing on non-teaching roles in and out of the classroom. The Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair will take place on Monday 22 May from 10am - 2pm.
The event will provide people with a range of 'opportunities' tailored to their needs. Exhibitors will include local schools, colleges and academies who will promote non-teaching vacancies as well as training providers offering information on apprenticeships and short courses. Mike Stoneman, deputy director for children, families and education at Portsmouth City Council said:
"Teach Portsmouth has enjoyed early success with their information events to encourage more people to become teaching assistants. We know there is a need to promote other roles within schools and colleges to ensure communities have the people they need.
"This new event will showcase a wide variety of non-teaching jobs across education. Whether that's supporting pupils in the classroom or managing the front desk at a school, everyone plays a vital part in the learning and development of children and young people."
Mike Stoneman, deputy director, children, families and education
We shall also be launching the Teach Portsmouth taster sessions. Those who sign up to the scheme can visit a school supervised, have a tour and meet with staff. People who have attended previous events have said they lack the confidence or experience to apply for a job in a school. The scheme gives people an inside look at what to expect and provides a good opportunity to discuss specific vacancies. The scheme was trialled at a previous event and will now be rolled out to other schools who exhibit at the fair.
While we continue to confirm exhibitors at the event, we are pleased to reveal the official sponsor of the event: Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT). TSAT will be talking about their participation in the taster sessions as part of a presentation as well as showcasing their vacancies. Stuart Gardner, chief executive officer at the Thinking Schools Academy Trust said:
"We're thrilled to be partnering with Teach Portsmouth on the Jobs and Opportunities Fair. We feel it's a fantastic way to shine a light on the many exciting and rewarding opportunities within the education sector.
Stuart Gardner, chief executive officer
"We acknowledge the challenges that schools face when recruiting, but by collaborating with partners, we can attract those who want to start their careers in education sooner. We are excited to meet new people and inspire them to explore opportunities with us."
Those who attend the fair can also visit the Opportunities Room, a space where presentations happen throughout the day. Topics will include information on apprenticeships and short courses, how to become a teaching assistant, working in a school if you are an international student and flexible jobs in education. A schedule for presentations will be released in May - so please check back regularly.
Find your golden opportunity
If you are interested in learning more about the event, visit the Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair page. Learn more about the event, presentation schedule and get your free ticket.
Callum Murphy