Discover Your Career in Education

Your potential. Your ambitions. Your future in education. 

Have you ever considered a career working with children and young people, but aren't sure which route is right for you? Perhaps you're starting out in your career, thinking about a change of direction or looking for an opportunity to develop your skills and take the next step professionally. 

At Queensway Academy, we're looking to meet enthusiastic people who want to make a positive difference to children's lives and explore the many rewarding career opportunities available in education. 

You don't need to be a qualified teacher or have previous experience working in a school to attend our Open Day. We're interested in your potential, your attitude and your enthusiasm for helping children and young people learn, grow and succeed. 

We want to help you discover where a career in education could take you. 

A career pathway shaped around you. 

We'll initially recruit successful candidates as Classroom Assistants, providing an opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience in a school, develop practical skills and discover the different ways you could progress your career. 

Education offers much more than one career path. Depending on your interests, strengths, qualifications and experience, you could explore opportunities such as: 

• Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) – develop your skills in supporting learning, lead activities and, where appropriate, deliver lessons and cover classes. 
• Family Support Advisor – help children and families overcome barriers to learning, build positive relationships and access the support they need to thrive. 
• Cover Supervisor – develop your classroom management skills and support pupils' learning by supervising classes during teachers' planned or unplanned absences. 
• Teaching – for those with the appropriate qualifications and experience, explore potential routes towards teacher training and Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). 

These are examples of potential career directions rather than guaranteed progression routes. The opportunities available will depend on individual suitability, qualifications, experience, training requirements and vacancies. 

Your career doesn't have to follow a set path.  

Our aim is to help you identify your strengths, understand the opportunities available and explore a development pathway that reflects your individual ambitions. 

You might already know where you want to go, or you might simply know that you enjoy working with children and want to find out more. Either way, this is an opportunity to start exploring your future. 

Come along to our Open Day. 

Our Open Day is an opportunity to discover what working at Queensway Academy is really like, meet members of our team and find out more about starting a career in education. 

You'll be able to: 

• Learn more about the Classroom Assistant role and what working in a school involves. 
• Meet colleagues and hear about the different roles that contribute to pupils' education, development and wellbeing. 
• Explore potential career pathways and the skills, experience and qualifications needed to progress. 
• Discuss your interests, existing experience and longer-term ambitions. 
• Find out about the training, professional development and support that could help you take your next steps. 

Whether you're a recent school or college leaver, considering a career change, returning to work or already working in education and looking to progress, we'd love to meet you. 

You don't need to have everything figured out before you attend. Come along with an open mind and an interest in making a difference. 

Open Day details: 

• Date: Wednesday 18th November 2026 
• Time: 10:00 to 11:00 and 15:30 to 16:30 
• Location: Queensway Academy, Hillary Road, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 3DP 

Start with experience. Build your future. 

Starting as a Classroom Assistant is an opportunity to learn about education from the inside. Working alongside teachers and other colleagues, you'll gain first-hand experience of supporting pupils, contributing to classroom life and helping create a positive, inclusive learning environment. 

You'll develop transferable skills, build your confidence and discover more about the different roles within a school. You'll also have the opportunity to understand your own strengths and interests, helping you make informed decisions about your future career. 

For some people, this experience may be the beginning of a journey towards qualified teaching. For others, it could lead towards pastoral support, family engagement, classroom leadership or other opportunities within education. 

Where appropriate, we can help you explore the qualifications and training associated with your chosen direction, including potential routes into teacher training. 

Exploring a route into teaching

For those who are interested in becoming a teacher and meet the relevant entry requirements, a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship may offer a route towards gaining a degree and Qualified Teacher Status while earning a salary and gaining practical experience in a school. 

Entry requirements will depend on the training provider and apprenticeship opportunity.  

These may include: 

• A bachelor's degree, or equivalent. 
• GCSE English and maths at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent. 
• For primary teaching, GCSE science at grade 4/C or above, or equivalent. 
• A degree or A-levels relevant to the subject or phase you wish to teach, where required by the training route. 

The programme, duration and eligibility criteria will need to be confirmed against the specific apprenticeship opportunity. 

If you don't currently meet these requirements, you can still attend our Open Day and explore other opportunities to gain experience, develop your skills and work towards your longer-term ambitions. Progression to a Teacher Degree Apprenticeship, or any other role, is not guaranteed and will depend on the relevant requirements and opportunities available. 

About You 

We're looking for people who are enthusiastic about working with children and young people and keen to develop a rewarding career in education. 

You might bring relevant experience from another job, volunteering, caring responsibilities or other areas of life. Equally, you might be at the beginning of your career and looking for an opportunity to learn. 

You'll have a positive attitude, a willingness to learn and a commitment to helping children achieve their full potential. You'll enjoy building positive relationships, working as part of a team and contributing to an environment where children feel safe, included and supported. 

Above all, you'll be curious about what you could achieve and open to developing your skills, experience and career over time. 

Why Join Inspiration Trust? 

At Inspiration Trust, we believe in the power of education to transform lives. You'll be joining a supportive, forward-thinking organisation that values professional development, collaboration and innovation. 

We want our colleagues to develop their skills, build their confidence and fulfil their potential. Our professional development opportunities can help you strengthen your existing abilities and explore opportunities for further growth, with support from experienced colleagues and a wider network of schools. 

We offer: 

• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), with excellent employer contributions. 
• Health Plan and Employee Assistance Programme, including 24/7 virtual GP access, mental health support and claim-back options for healthcare costs.* 
• Cycle-to-work scheme, retail and theatre discounts, including discounted shopping vouchers, dentist and gym memberships, and salary sacrifice options, including home technology.* 
• Free parking at most sites. 
• Personalised continuing professional development (CPD) and development programmes. 
• A structured and specific induction programme. 

Terms and conditions apply. Some benefits are only available following successfully passing probation. 

About Queensway Academies 

Queensway Infant and Junior Academies cater for children from Reception to Year 6 across the campus and are committed to raising standards and delivering an excellent education for every child. 

The schools provide a safe and secure environment, both indoors and outdoors, where children can explore and learn through a wide variety of stimulating play experiences. With high aspirations for every child, we deliver a carefully sequenced academic curriculum that supports excellent learning and progress. Alongside this, our comprehensive pastoral and SEND support ensures that all children receive a high-quality education, enjoy their time at school and achieve their full potential. 

We also value the whole-school experience, offering a wide range of extracurricular activities, from sports to debating and musical opportunities. Queensway Academies is an exceptional place where pupils can build the foundations for a successful future. 

We are part of the Inspiration Trust, twice ranked as the country's top family of comprehensive schools for pupil progress, and strongly believe in the importance of giving the widest educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background. We have strong networks across the Trust, with opportunities to work with a diverse range of schools and partners. We are committed to offering excellent professional and learning opportunities for our staff, with a busy programme of continuing professional development courses delivered by some of the country's best educational thinkers and practitioners. 

The Inspiration Trust is a multi-academy trust committed to delivering the very best educational experience for young people across Norfolk and Suffolk. We are ambitious for our schools and communities and want to create Britain's highest-performing federation of 3–19 schools and transform education in the East. Inspiration Trust specialises in transforming schools in disadvantaged areas and taking academies from failing to outstanding. 

For information on what it is like to live and work in Thetford, click here. 

Queensway Academies joined the Inspiration Trust family in May 2023. Our recent Ofsted inspections celebrate the positive transformation taking place across both academies, recognising strong leadership, effective safeguarding, high expectations for all pupils and a culture where children are supported to flourish both academically and personally. 

Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities 

Inspiration Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 

All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks. We are an equal opportunities employer.