Career changer thanks Teach Portsmouth for employment success

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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:

Arianna Marino“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.

Teach Portsmouth Awards 2025

Nominations now open for the Teach Portsmouth Awards 2025

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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].

Councillor Suzy Horton

Portsmouth’s ‘call to the classroom’ answered with new webinar

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A city leader has thanked Portsmouth’s community for answering a call to the classroom to teach children and young people in schools.

Teach Portsmouth, a Portsmouth City Council service, is organising a ‘Love to Teach’ webinar on Wednesday 23 October 2024 from 5pm – 5.45pm.

The webinar aims to support individuals who are interested in becoming teachers but are unsure about their options. This includes students who are graduating this summer as well as those who are already qualified to start training.

Nationally, challenges remain in recruiting teachers, with a new 5% pay award helping to attract more applicants. However, primary and secondary teacher training applications are still below target across the UK for the academic year 2023/24.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council, said:

“I would like to thank everyone for their interest in attending Teach Portsmouth’s webinar. It is perfectly timed to give those at the start of their teaching career an opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the profession – just as applications open.

“While there are challenges nationally, Portsmouth is leading the way in demystifying training routes into teaching and providing practical advice for those ready to take the next step.”

The webinar will feature local teacher training providers and early career teachers, offering a range of perspectives and experiences to help aspiring educators understand the variety of pathways available.

Topics will include university-led postgraduate courses, school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT) programmes, and financial support options including bursaries and scholarships. Attendees will have the chance to ask questions during a live Q&A session.

While the UK faces ongoing pressures in teacher recruitment, Portsmouth is working proactively to attract and retain talent. Local initiatives to recruit teaching assistants and school staff, have helped the city stay ahead in tackling these challenges.

Over the last academic year, 12 people have been recruited into support vacancies and volunteering roles in schools. Alongside this, a further 34 people have started training with The Learning Place. These sessions are designed to boost skills and confidence, preparing people before applying for a vacancy.

Teach Portsmouth’s Love to Teach webinar is free to attend and held on Zoom video conferencing. Those interested will need to register in advance of the session.

For more information about the webinar, please visit www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/webinar.

Attendees watching presentations at the event

Portsmouth’s community show their support for careers in the classroom

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Over 100 people attended a special event to learn about jobs and opportunities in the city’s schools and colleges. The Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair invited local experts including a teaching assistant apprentice and deputy head teacher, to share their expertise, in the hopes of inspiring others to join the profession.

Portsmouth still needs more people to support children and young people across primary, secondary and specialist schools. In the last year, people who have attended these events have gone onto become teaching assistants, volunteers as well as start training.

Those who attended the event at Central Library on Tuesday 23 April 2024, watched a series of short presentations about working in school/college, what qualifications are available and top tips to start their job search.

A spokesperson at Portsmouth City Council said:

“We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to this event. The level of interest underscores the community’s curiosity in pursuing rewarding careers in schools and colleges.

“This event reflects our commitment to supporting educational excellence and providing opportunities for people to explore diverse roles within the education sector.”

Alongside presentations, attendees were able to sign up to taster sessions with HSDC, Thinking Schools Academy Trust, University of Chichester Academy Trust and Play Youth Community service.

This supports people who may lack the experience or confidence to apply for a job straight away by enabling them to visit a workplace. People who attend a taster session are supervised during their visit. Taster sessions often include a tour, a chance to meet staff and learn more about different vacancies.

The National Careers Service was once again in attendance, providing important advice and information on how to write a CV and complete a job application.

Rebecca Hardy and Helen Wortsmann

Teach Portsmouth hail employment scheme a success one year after launch

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An initiative to increase the number of support staff in Portsmouth schools has been hailed a success, 12-months after it launched.

Teach Portsmouth, a Portsmouth City Council service, introduced taster sessions as part of their teaching assistant events. The scheme is designed to help people build confidence and experience before they apply for a job in a school.

Sarah Daly, director, children, families and education at Portsmouth City Council said:

“Teach Portsmouth has been on a mission to encourage more people to consider a career in the classroom. It’s fantastic to see these early successes, with people becoming apprentices, teaching assistants and volunteers.

“However, we still need more people to support schools in different ways. If you are new to the profession, looking for a career change or want more information, these events are a great way to understand your options and next steps.”

Rebecca Hardy, a teaching assistant at Mayfield School, works on a one-to-one basis with a pupil in year four. She attended a Teach Portsmouth event last year and was successful in getting a job.

During university, Rebecca worked part-time in HMV, while studying for a degree. After graduating, she decided to become a store manager with the company, where she worked for 12 years.

Rebecca said:

“I really loved my time at HMV as a store manager. It was a career that spanned over a decade. When a change in circumstances meant I had to leave, I wanted to find a job that worked for me.

“I attended a Teach Portsmouth event where I met a range of schools who had different opportunities on offer. When I spoke to Mayfield School at the event, I knew the job was for me. I have now been at the school since September and love it!”

For those who would like to gain experience and a qualification, an apprenticeship is an option to consider.

Helen Wortsmann who attended a Teach Portsmouth taster session, has started a teaching assistant apprenticeship with Thinking Schools Academy Trust.

Before starting the apprenticeship, she worked as a parent reader at Moorings Way Infant School and volunteered at Central Library. She attended an information event last year where she signed up to a taster session at Meon Infant School.

Helen said:

“I was looking for a new job that fit my family life, as my son had just started school. When I attended the event, I spoke to The Learning Place and enrolled on their free courses that are designed to boost your CV. When an apprenticeship became available, I applied straight away.”

Teach Portsmouth have now expanded the breadth of opportunities available at their events to include other support roles in education and Portsmouth City Council services.

The Teach Portsmouth Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair will take place at Portsmouth Central Library (third floor) on Tuesday 23 April 2024 from 1.30pm – 3.30pm and 4pm – 6pm for one of two identical sessions.

For more information and to get your ticket, visit the Teach Portsmouth website.

Left to right - Hayley Aldis, Portsmouth Primary SCITT and Cllr Suzy Horton

City leader hails education recruitment event a success

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A recruitment event for Portsmouth’s education sector has been hailed a success by a city leader. More than 300 people attended the Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair at Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday 26 February 2024.

The event brought together schools, colleges, and other organisations to showcase a range of vacancies under one roof.

Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:

“Working in the education sector is one of the most rewarding professions out there. However, it can sometimes be challenging to find the right information and take that first step.

“It was a real pleasure to spend time speaking with those who want to support children and young people in schools and colleges. That energy and enthusiasm will serve everyone well as they begin that journey towards a new career in the classroom.”

Alongside meeting 24 exhibitors, attendees were able to watch short presentations inside the Opportunities Room. Topics included: how to become a teaching assistant, apprenticeships, how to become a teacher and more.

HSDC, the main sponsor of the event, promoted classroom assistant vacancies and taster sessions at the college. Richard Barlow, deputy principal at HSDC said:

“We are really proud to sponsor this event and be among partners who share the same vision as us. To support those who haven’t worked in post-16 before, we ran a series of taster sessions, inviting people to learn more about us and the vacancies we have available. We’re thrilled with the response and look forward to meeting those who signed up.”

Taster sessions were launched last May and have been successful in recruiting teaching assistants and volunteers. Five organisations including multi-academy trusts and schools signed up to the scheme. Taster sessions normally last no more than a few hours. Each session is different but usually consist of a supervised tour and a meet and greet with support staff.

For those who were unable to attend, Teach Portsmouth have announced their next event, the Support and Teaching Assistant Jobs Fair at Central Library on Tuesday 23 April 2024 from 1.30pm – 6pm.

For more information and to get a ticket, visit the Teach Portsmouth website.

Portsmouth’s largest education recruitment fair returns to Guildhall

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The city’s largest recruitment fair for jobs in education returns to Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday 26 February 2024 from 10am – 2pm.

Teach Portsmouth, a Portsmouth City Council initiative to recruit teachers, teaching assistants and head teachers for schools, academies and colleges, is inviting people to discover their future in the classroom.

The Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair welcomes 24 exhibitors from across education who will be promoting a range of employment and volunteering opportunities. Training providers will also be in attendance for those interested in becoming teachers and teaching assistants.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:

“Its vitally important organisations have the people they need to support the learning of children and young people.

“The recruitment fair brings together employers and training providers under one roof, to guide people into the right jobs that suit them. No matter your interests, I would encourage you to explore your options and see what a job in a school or college could look like for you.”

HSDC has been announced as the official sponsor for this year’s event, renewing their partnership with the service, after supporting the Teach Portsmouth Awards in 2023.

Richard Barlow, deputy principal at HSDC said:

“We’re really pleased to be supporting this event as the headline sponsor. This reaffirms our commitment to helping schools recruit the very best people they need to thrive.

“We know that having the right professionals for any child or young person, can improve their life chances. We are unwavering in this belief and look forward to meeting people who are looking to start a career in the classroom.”

Those who attend can watch presentations inside the Opportunities Room on trending topics.

Attendees can also ‘dip their toe in the water’ and sign up to taster sessions with participating schools and colleges. The scheme supports people who lack the experience or confidence to apply for a job straight away.

Entry to the Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair is free. For more information and to get a ticket, visit www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/jobsfair

City’s teaching assistants ‘worth their weight in gold’ at event

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Over 50 people attended an event to become teaching assistants in Portsmouth at Paulsgrove Community Centre on Wednesday 15 November 2023.

Adult education providers, schools and academies were in attendance in the hope of inspiring people to support students in primary, secondary and post-16 classrooms.

Held twice a year, each event encourages people to discover the types of teaching assistant roles available alongside training and apprenticeship opportunities.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:

“Teaching assistants are worth their weight in gold, providing essential support for pupils in schools. Despite the rewards of supporting students, its popularity has declined in recent times.

“Teach Portsmouth’s information events reconnect schools and their communities, to encourage more people into the classroom. Families may have children who attend a specific school and want to offer their time to help or an individual may want to positively impact a child’s life. There are many reasons why people choose to become teaching assistants. I would encourage anyone interested to attend an event soon.”

Employability experts, The National Careers Service and Get Set Portsmouth supported attendees with advice and information on completing a job application.

A series of presentations gave delegates an overview of what to expect from training and working in a school, alongside an apprentice who shared her experience.

Bethanie Davies, a teaching assistant at Mayfield School reflected on her journey from working in a pub to supporting pupils in a classroom.

Bethanie said:

“For years, I have worked in retail stacking shelves and serving pints in pubs. While those jobs were fine, I wanted something with set hours, that provided me with more opportunities to progress. I saw an apprenticeship vacancy for a teaching assistant and snapped it up. I applied, invited to attend an interview and the rest is history.

“I am near the end of my apprenticeship and I can’t wait to qualify. I have aspirations to become an inclusion support worker, helping pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities. My job is challenging but it is super rewarding. You won’t find this feeling anywhere else.”

Teach Portsmouth is a Portsmouth City Council initiative that supports the recruitment of education professionals for schools and academies.

Their next event will be the Teach Portsmouth Jobs and Opportunities Fair at Portsmouth Guildhall on Monday 26 February 2024 from 10am – 2pm.

For more information, visit www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/supporting.

Portsmouth’s trainee teachers unite to inspire next generation at event

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Early career teachers and trainees joined forces at Central Library on Tuesday 7 November 2023 to share their top tips for starting a career in the classroom.

Teach Portsmouth, a Portsmouth City Council initiative to recruit teachers, teaching assistants and leaders for the city’s schools, held a Love to Teach event, designed to support those taking their first steps towards a career in teaching.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:

“Working in education is one of the most rewarding careers out there, as you inspire young minds to become the best versions of themselves. It’s also important that we encourage the right people into the profession who have the resilience when challenged in the job.

“By doing this at an earlier stage, we can provide people with the right information, at the right time, before they apply.”

Those who attended the event met with training providers who work with schools in the city and watched a presentation from the National Careers Service on funding.

Attendees also heard from trainee and early career teachers who shared their experience from primary, secondary and post-16 training.

Lena Garner who trained with Portsmouth Primary SCITT and is now a second-year early career teacher at Cottage Grove Primary School shared her experience with attendees. Lena said:

“It was fantastic to be able to share information about my journey into teaching as everyone’s experience will be different. I started off as a teaching assistant in a local school and wanted to become a teacher. I found it quite challenging to navigate what type of provider I should choose.

“I wish this type of event existed when I was looking at my options as it would have been so useful to speak with providers in one place. If you’ve considered becoming a teacher – just do it!”

For those who want to look at their options for September 2024, Teach Portsmouth’s route finder tool presents course information from providers linked to the city.

Find out more at www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/training.

Teacher helping a student with their work

Portsmouth’s become a teaching assistant event returns to Paulsgrove

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An event designed to get people ‘classroom ready’ as a teaching assistant in Portsmouth returns to Paulsgrove Community Centre for one of two sessions on Wednesday 15 November 2023 from 10am – 11.45am and 12pm – 1.45pm.

Teach Portsmouth, a Portsmouth City Council initiative to recruit education professionals for schools and academies have relaunched their teaching assistant information events after their popularity last year.

Councillor Suzy Horton, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education at Portsmouth City Council said:

“After the success of last year’s events, we’re back in the north of the city to reach even more people who might be interested in becoming a teaching assistant.

“Whether you are looking for a job that works around school pick up or want something that’s more flexible, working in a school is a great opportunity to expand your skillset and support children and young people to achieve more.”

After last year’s events, people successfully applied for jobs, became volunteers, and started apprenticeships within primary and secondary schools across the city. The need to recruit qualified professionals remains.

For those interested in supporting pupils, Teach Portsmouth have published five top tips to help people get classroom ready as a teaching assistant. They include:

  • Volunteer in a school – after a safeguarding check (DBS) has been completed by a school, volunteering is a great way to build up experience
  • Speak to friends and family – if you know someone who works in a school and you have questions, friends and family are a good place to start
  • Upgrade your qualifications – if you have not yet got a GCSE (C/4) in English and maths, training providers at the event can support you with functional skills.
  • Think about school type – consider what age group you would like to work (early years, primary, secondary or specialist)
  • Talk to a school – while schools are very busy, if you feel you have the right qualifications and they have a vacancy, you can always call them to ask for more information

Mike Stoneman, deputy director, education at Portsmouth City Council said:

“Primary and secondary schools across the city are in urgent need of teaching assistants who can support pupils in the classroom. Teaching assistants play an important role supporting pupils in groups and on a one-to-one basis.

“It’s also a career in its own right with plenty of opportunities to progress into more specialised roles. You could support pupils with special educational needs and or disabilities or become a team leader.”

For more information on Teach Portsmouth’s become a teaching assistant event and to secure your free ticket, visit www.teachportsmouth.co.uk/TA.