Exhibit at the Teach Portsmouth Education Careers Fair 2026
The Teach Portsmouth Education Careers Fair 2026 brings together adult education providers, schools, colleges, and academies at Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 5 March from 12pm – 4pm.
Portsmouth raises the flag for teachers as Love to Teach Week begins
A flag-raising ceremony was held outside the Civic Offices on Monday 6 October 2025 to mark the national opening of teacher training applications and launch Love to Teach Week in Portsmouth.
Organised by Teach Portsmouth, a Portsmouth City Council service dedicated to recruiting and retaining education professionals, the week celebrates the teaching profession and encourages people to consider a career in education.
The event saw the Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Abdul Kadir, raise a branded Teach Portsmouth flag in a symbolic gesture to honour teachers and promote the profession.
Early career teachers and school representatives attended to share their personal journeys into teaching, including Ashley Arnell from Penbridge School and Kayley Knight from Admiral Lord Nelson School.
Ashley began his career as a teaching assistant apprentice at Penbridge School in 2018. Reflecting on his journey, Ashley said:
“My story starts at Penbridge School when I was a pupil. I was always surrounded by positive role models and saw how teachers supported my learning. When an opportunity came up to return to the school as an apprentice teaching assistant, I jumped at the chance.
“After completing my apprenticeship, I was promoted to a higher-level teaching assistant where I taught classes. This reaffirmed my love for the profession. I attended the University of Chichester part-time for four years while working at the school, then completed a teacher degree apprenticeship to gain qualified teacher status.
“I’ll be completing my apprenticeship this October. The experience has been great, and I hope to remain at the school for years to come.”
The teacher degree apprenticeship route was developed to upskill existing school staff. For those not currently working in education, university or school-based routes into teaching are also available.
Kayley Knight, a teacher at Admiral Lord Nelson School, discovered her passion for English during her GCSEs. She said:
“My love for learning began during school when I was studying for my GCSEs. There was something about the English language that inspired me to consider teaching it.
“It wasn’t until after university that I started putting this into practice. I volunteered with young people on youth programmes and privately tutored those who needed support.
“This helped me build experience that strengthened my teacher training application. I applied to the University of Portsmouth and was successful, completing my PGCE. I’ve always loved working with young people and helping them succeed. Teaching gives me the chance to do that every day. It’s a career that challenges you but also gives so much in return.”
To help people explore their teacher training options, Teach Portsmouth is hosting a webinar on Wednesday 15 October 2025 from 5pm – 6pm on Zoom.
Love to Teach: Routes into Training, hosted by James Doherty, principal at UTC Portsmouth, will feature local training providers and early career teachers sharing insights into their routes into teaching.
Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions during the session. For more information and to sign up, visit: www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/webinar.
Education superstars shine bright at Teach Portsmouth Awards 2025
Portsmouth’s best and brightest school and college staff were recognised at an awards ceremony for the profession at Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 12 June 2025.
The Teach Portsmouth Awards celebrated outstanding achievements across 11 categories, while also recognising dedicated professionals who have worked in education for over 20 years.
Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:
“The Teach Portsmouth Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate excellence in education, highlight best practice, and recognise the incredible staff who make a real difference to the lives of children and young people.
“This year, we placed a special emphasis on community engagement, inviting parents and carers to nominate staff. Their overwhelming response led to a record number of entries in the people’s choice category. Alongside this, senior school leaders shared powerful stories of colleagues going above and beyond to support their communities.”
The ceremony was hosted by local headteachers, Ashley Howard from Mayfield School and Zoe Killick from St Paul’s Catholic School and Nursery.
The winners were announced at the awards ceremony in the following categories:
- Teaching and learning support award – Sponsored by University of Chichester Academy Trust
Emilie Howard-Angreville – The Portsmouth Academy - Early career teacher award – Sponsored by University of Portsmouth
Lucy Bleach – Court Lane Infant Academy - People’s choice award – Sponsored by The News
Hannah Powell – New Horizons Primary School - Innovation award – Sponsored by City of Portsmouth College
Chris Furnell -Trafalgar School - Early years and childcare award – Sponsored by Home-Start Portsmouth
Lisa Harris – Little Creators Pre School - Inclusion and diversity award – Sponsored by Salterns Academy Trust
Kate Donovan – Ark Dickens Primary Academy - Community award – Comserv Property Services
City of Portsmouth College – ESOL team - Unsung hero award – Humly
Tracy Barker – Priory School - Volunteer award – Sponsored by Nation Radio
Andrew Beecher – Admiral Lord Nelson School - Wellbeing award – Sponsored by My Happy Mind
Sharon Hartt and Jasmine Hewett – Highbury Primary School - Outstanding contribution award – Sponsored by HSDC
Llewela Ann Thomas – Court Lane Infant School
In addition, 43 people received long service awards for 20 years of service to the city. There is no overall winner in this category and everyone receives a trophy.
Two new categories were introduced to recognise different initiatives that enable pupils to thrive.
The volunteer award category showcased individuals who give their time for free using their own life experiences to support pupils in different ways. The community award highlighted partnership working between schools, colleges and other organisations.
Andrew Beecher won the volunteer award supporting pupils in gardening club at Admiral Lord Nelson School. The judges said that he enables pupils to learn new life skills and helps foster self-belief. Andrew said:
“I was blown away when I was nominated as it was unexpected. The journey from being shortlisted to winning has been a rollercoaster ride but one I have enjoyed immensely.
“Winning the award is also recognition for the pupils I work with. Their efforts are my successes too. I would like to thank everyone who put me forward for the award – it has given me a real boost.”
Sharon Hartt and Jasmine Hewett were joint winners for the wellbeing award for their work supporting families with bereavement. As a result of their efforts, Highbury Primary School is one of only three schools to be awarded ‘Simon Says Champion Status.’
The shortlisting panel said both their efforts to train staff to help bereaved families was inspirational. Sharon said:
“It was a shock to win the award on the night. Wellbeing in schools has become more important in recent times.
“Our work as Simon Says Champions has been a collaborative effort with staff across the school. Winning the award showcases the impact this is having across our community.”
The Teach Portsmouth website has been updated to include information on the winners and shortlist.
Portsmouth’s education priorities top of agenda at conference
A conference for Portsmouth’s education professionals took place at the Marriott Hotel on Friday 6 June 2025.
The Portsmouth Education Partnership Conference brought together senior education leaders and council staff for a day of reflection, collaboration, and forward-thinking.
The event centred on the conclusion of the two-year Priority Education Investment Area (PEIA) programme, which wrapped up in March 2025 after a significant £2.2 million investment from the Department for Education.
The programme focused on five key priorities: literacy, maths, attendance, digital learning, and a targeted CPD initiative aimed at supporting underperforming cohorts of pupils.
Presentations throughout the day showcased the programme’s wide-reaching impact across 61 schools, early years settings, colleges, and the University of Portsmouth. Each presentation was delivered by a local specialist.
The conference was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through collaboration. Across the city, numerous initiatives are already making strides in improving school attendance, raising standards, transforming teaching and learning and reducing workload.
A notable moment during the conference was the announcement of a leadership transition. Frances Soul, the independent chair of the Portsmouth Education Partnership, will be stepping down from her role. Attendees warmly welcomed her successor, James Stuart, who will officially take over in September.
Portsmouth’s education superstars shortlisted in awards for the profession
An annual awards ceremony for staff in schools and colleges returns to Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 12 June.
The Teach Portsmouth Awards recognises the contribution of professionals who have gone above and beyond for children and young people in early years, primary, secondary and post-16 education.
Hosted by local head teachers, Ashley Howard and Zoe Killick, the awards recognise individuals and teams in 12 award categories. Those shortlisted will be invited to the Teach Portsmouth Awards ceremony.
Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:
“The Teach Portsmouth Awards return to recognise individuals and teams, celebrating their achievements and shining a light on education excellence.
“We know when people feel valued, they are far more likely to stay local to support children and young people in our communities. Everyone in education has played a key role in helping families and deserve recognition for their work. I would like to say thank you to every single person who has been nominated.”
The introduction of two new categories gives greater opportunities for more staff to be celebrated.
The volunteer award expands its remit to cover more people who give up their time to help schools and colleges. The wellbeing award spotlights initiatives that have enhanced the health of children and families.
Sally Heath, a volunteer at Arundel Court Primary Academy and Nursery supports reception and year one children with their reading.
In her supporting statement, her colleague noted that she builds strong relationships with children and understands their needs. They also noted how well-loved Sally is and how grateful they are for her work.
Sally said:
“I have enjoyed a long career as a teacher, so when the opportunity came up to support pupils as a volunteer, I jumped at the chance. It means so much to be recognised for my work. When my colleague told me I had been shortlisted, I couldn’t quite believe it.
“The Teach Portsmouth Awards shine a light on what we do. I hope they encourage more people to give up their time to volunteer.”
Victoria Lightfoot, an outdoor classroom apprentice at Priory School co-ordinates a six-week programme that supports students’ wellbeing through learning new skills that include cooking and bushcraft.
She has created an environment of respect and developed opportunities for students.
Victoria said:
“Pupil wellbeing is becoming an important topic in education to support mental health. I’ve been involved in this programme for the last year and have seen the benefits of outdoor education.
“To be nominated and shortlisted for this work, reinforces the importance of nature and how we use the environment to engage with all learners. I would like to thank my colleagues for putting me forward as it raises the profile of what we do.”
The long service award is the only category that isn’t shortlisted with all recipients receiving a trophy.
The winner for each category will be announced at the awards ceremony. To view the shortlist, visit teachportsmouth.co.uk/awards.
City leaders unveil teaching assistant retention charter
A charter designed to help schools and academies retain teaching assistants was officially unveiled at Teach Portsmouth’s latest jobs fair on Thursday 1 May 2025 at Central Library.
Mike Stoneman, deputy director, education and Councillor Nick Dorrington, from Portsmouth City Council joined delegates to reveal the seven principles set out in the charter.
The charter has been developed using feedback from a survey completed by 179 teaching assistants and a focus group attended by school staff. Using this information, a draft version of the charter was co-produced and shared with stakeholder groups for feedback.
Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:
“Teaching assistants deserve to feel valued and heard. The charter has involved this group from the very beginning, capturing their views.
“By introducing this charter, schools show how serious they are about retention, using the seven areas as a basis for engagement with their staff. This specific activity is part of other items that are designed to keep teaching assistants in our schools and academies after they are recruited.”
The seven principles include access to accredited training, transparency around pay, flexible working arrangements, wellbeing, feeling valued, career progression and building communication and trust.
A primary and secondary school in the city will now implement the charter as part of a trial. This will enable Teach Portsmouth to gather feedback from senior leaders and teaching assistants.
Over 80 delegates attended the Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair to discover careers in the classroom.
Each session began with inspirational talks from school staff who shared their experiences from the classroom alongside training providers who discussed routes into the profession. Afterwards, a Q&A panel followed with local experts answering questions.
Delegates could then meet eight exhibitors with jobs and opportunities and sign up to taster sessions. This scheme helps individuals build confidence before applying for a job, offering supervised school visits, a chance to meet staff and to learn more about vacancies.
Portsmouth’s community thank education superstars at special event
The city’s education superstars, who were nominated by the community, gathered at an event hosted by the Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Jason Fazackarley.
Teach Portsmouth, a Portsmouth City Council service that recruits and retains school and college staff, organised a celebration event at Boathouse 4 Restaurant to recognise those within the people’s choice award category.
The category is part of the Teach Portsmouth Awards and allows parents/carers and staff to nominate someone in their school or college.
Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, said:
“The Teach Portsmouth Awards is an important event in the education calendar that allows us to thank our incredible school and college staff who go above and beyond every day.
“This year, we received a record-breaking number of nominations for the people’s choice award. We wanted to thank everyone for what they have done at a dedicated event before the main awards ceremony in June.”
Nominees who attended the event enjoyed afternoon tea before being presented with a certificate of excellence.
Left to right – Viv Kies and Joanne Collins
Joanne Collins, a teaching assistant at The Flying Bull Academy, received five nominations from families. The nominators highlighted Joanne’s unwavering dedication and personalised care for each child.
One parent said, “Joanne has gone above and beyond for her class. She is a hardworking person who never gives up and always helps children when they are stuck.”
Joanne said:
“When I found out I had been nominated, I was absolutely blown away. It’s a huge boost to be recognised for all you do. To be nominated by a member of our community shows how much our work is valued. Working in education can sometimes be challenging, but moments like this remind me how important our jobs are.”
Holly Tod
Holly Tod, a learning support assistant at Solent Junior School, was praised by a parent/carer as the backbone for their children, especially in preparing them for year five.
The parent described Holly as a caring and nurturing individual who significantly helped improve their children’s behaviour, calling her a ‘one in a million superhuman.’
Holly said:
“While I don’t know the identity of the family who nominated me, I would like to say a massive thank you. This was a lovely way to end last term when a colleague emailed me out of the blue about being nominated. It does take a team effort though, so it’s important to recognise other people at our school. The event at Boathouse 4 was a fantastic way to celebrate our achievements together.”
The Big People’s Choice Award Celebration at Boathouse 4 is part of the Teach Portsmouth Awards.
The awards ceremony recognises school and college staff in 12 award categories, showcasing education best practice in the city. The event will take place at Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 12 June 2025 from 6pm – 9.30pm, hosted by local head teachers Ashley Howard and Zoe Killick.
The shortlist for the people’s choice award will be announced in May, with the winner revealed at the ceremony.
For more information on the Teach Portsmouth Awards, visit teachportsmouth.co.uk/awards
Portsmouth’s teaching assistant charter set to launch at jobs fair
An event to find Portsmouth’s top teaching assistants for schools and academies will launch a charter designed to retain them.
The Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair on Thursday 1 May 2025 from 10am – 2pm at Central Library will showcase employment and training opportunities in education.
The teaching assistant charter has been created using feedback from a survey and focus group. Teaching assistants shared their views which helped shape the charter into themed areas.
Councillor Nick Dorrington, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:
“After the success of dedicated jobs fairs and taster sessions for recruiting staff in primary and secondary schools, we now need to tackle retention.
“While there are national challenges around retaining staff in education, we must respond on a local level by working together with different partners. The charter is a first step and sets out a series of principles, developed in conjunction with school staff.”
Teach Portsmouth has successfully recruited 18 school staff since launching these events. Others have started training with the Community Learning Service, completing functional skills in maths and English.
Hannah Chalmers, recruitment adviser at Thinking Schools Academy Trust joined teaching assistants and a head teacher to develop the charter. Thinking Schools Academy Trust has six schools in the city and are exhibiting at the fair in May. Hannah said:
“The teaching assistant charter is based on what staff want when it comes to working in education.
“I was part of the focus group that developed the charter. It was clear that attendees wanted their voices heard. The charter allows schools the freedom to adopt initiatives that will improve staff retention, ensuring those affected by the charter feel valued.”
An action plan has been developed alongside the charter, using seven different themes that came from the survey. These themes include access to accredited training, being recognised and career development opportunities.
Using these themes, specific initiatives have been identified within the action plan to support retention.
Examples include rewarding and recognising staff through the Teach Portsmouth Awards, developing an online training directory and sharing best practice with schools.
Nisha Chacko, a teaching assistant at St Edmund’s Catholic School said:
“I am proud to work as a teaching assistant in Portsmouth supporting pupils in my school. I was involved in the creation of the charter. This is a fantastic opportunity for schools who sign up to make a difference.
“I love my job and believe this charter will help schools recruit and retain the very best professionals in the city.”
Councillor Nick Dorrington will co-sign the charter at an official unveiling at the Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair.
For more information about the event and to get your ticket, visit www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/TA.
Career changer thanks Teach Portsmouth for employment success
A career changer who moved from the hospitality sector to education has shared her journey into the profession thanks to a Teach Portsmouth event.
Teach Portsmouth, a Portsmouth City Council service is set to host the city’s largest education recruitment fair on Wednesday 26 February 2025 from 10am – 2pm at Portsmouth Guildhall.
The Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair invites people to meet schools, academies, colleges, training providers and employment specialists.
Arianna Marino attended the Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair 2024 and met the Community Learning Service. The service supports individuals to learn new skills through training. Arianna said:
“The Community Learning Service has offered guidance on the steps I needed to take to transition into the education sector. I have completed several valuable training courses. Every course I’ve completed has not only enhanced my skills but also built my confidence.
“The event has given me access to resources, advice, and opportunities I would not have discovered otherwise. It helped me visualise a future in education and set realistic steps to becoming a teaching assistant.
“For anyone who is wanting to attend a Teach Portsmouth event, my advice would be simple: go for it! It is a fantastic opportunity to explore new career paths, meet supportive professionals, and gain clarity about your goals.”
Arianna has completed a range of courses including maths and English refreshers and supporting pupils in the classroom.
Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said:
“The Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair welcomed over 300 people last year to discover careers in the classroom. The event connects the community with employers to explore career paths, gain valuable insights and match up with training providers.
“Recruitment fairs can act as an important first step if you are new to the profession or can reinforce aspirations you already have. The jobs fair is a one-stop shop for all things education, and I would recommend those interested to attend.”
For those who need to build confidence before applying for a job, people can sign up to a taster session at the event.
The scheme allows attendees to visit a participating school or college, meet staff and learn more about their employment opportunities.
Attendees can also visit the opportunities room throughout the day. The room offers a range of presentations from local experts providing advice on writing job applications, interview techniques, how to become a teaching assistant and teacher training routes.
Registration is now open for the Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair. For more information and to get a ticket, visit www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/jobsfair.
Nominations now open for the Teach Portsmouth Awards 2025
The Teach Portsmouth Awards 2025 makes its triumphant return to Portsmouth Guildhall on Thursday 12 June 2025 to celebrate the outstanding contributions education professionals make to the lives of children and young people in the city. From recognising wellbeing initiatives to embracing volunteers, the awards showcase the very best of teaching and learning.
Schools and colleges in Portsmouth are invited to nominate colleagues in 12 award categories:
- Community award
- Early career teacher award
- Early years and childcare award
- Inclusion and diversity award
- Innovation award
- Long service award
- Outstanding contribution award
- People’s choice award
- Teaching and learning support award
- Unsung hero award
- Volunteer award
- Wellbeing award
How do I nominate?
Nominations must be submitted through the online form. Please be aware that the form does not save entries as you go. You can download a Word document template which allows you to collate entries before transferring them into the form.
The FAQ guide to nominating for schools and colleges explains everything you need to know about the process, from how to submit your nomination to what the shortlisting panel looks for in a successful entry.
When is the deadline?
Nominations close on Friday 14 February 2025 at 4pm.
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected].