Special Needs
1.0 FTE Class Teacher – Maternity Cover required from November 25 for 12 months
UPS/MPS & SEN 1 ALLOWANCE
We are looking to appoint dedicated and inspiring teacher to join our outstanding team in Mayfield School and cover 12 months maternity. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dedicated team of teachers and staff supporting our exceptional pupils.
Candidates should demonstrate a commitment to raising standards and improving outcomes for pupils with SEND.
The purpose of your role will be:
- To implement and deliver an appropriately broad, balanced, relevant and differentiated curriculum for students and to support a designated curriculum area as appropriate.
- To monitor and support the overall progress and development of pupils as a teacher.
- To facilitate and encourage a learning experience which provides pupils with the opportunity to achieve their individual potential · To share and support the school’s responsibility to provide and monitor opportunities for personal and academic growth
- To work in close partnership with families and healthcare professionals to support young people’s cognitive, communication, emotional, physical, medical and sensory development.
- To motivate, lead and inspire young people.
- To engage and share your passion and show energy, enthusiasm, a positive attitude to life and a love of learning.
- To lead a team of classroom based teaching assistants.
- To commit to CPD in Special Educational Needs.
Candidates should be prepared to teach young people with severe and complex needs. This is a great opportunity to work in an amazing school.
Mayfield is committed to developing leadership skills with a strong focus on CPD and action research.
Mayfield is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our young people, and therefore appointments will be subject to satisfactory health checks, professional references and enhanced DBS check, plus self-disclosure.
Candidates are encouraged to send a supporting letter with their application, indicating any subject specialisms. Please return to recruitment@mayfield.cumbria.sch.uk
Shortlisting: 13th October, 2025
Interview Date: WC 13th October, 2025
Other Information
Mayfield is a new build and unique special school located on the West Coast of the Lake District close to the historical Georgian town of Whitehaven.
The school has been transformed as part of the new development, Campus Whitehaven which represents a 32-million-pound investment in the future of Education and Community facilities for West Cumbria.
The new school offers amazing learning spaces and is purpose built to the needs of the wide range of pupils. The bespoke design has created the best possible learning environment with spacious classrooms and a wide range of specialist facilities.
The design was developed around the best examples from schools around the country and the result is amazing. Careful preparation and involvement ensured that pupils have made the transition exceptionally well and are responding to the new opportunities for learning. They are very proud of their new school.
Spacious classrooms have been created with small group rooms, mobility equipment bays, storage, cloakrooms and toilet access.
Each room has a full coverage hoist system linking directly into the assisted changing rooms. This means that staff time can be focused on learning.
The specialist facilities are state of the art and the school is everything that was hoped for and more, including:
- Hydrotherapy Pool – excellent changing facilities (hoist access into the water)
- Rebound Therapy Room
- Low Impact Gym
- Library – a home for sensory stories, fiction and non-fiction promoting a love of reading.
- Food Technology Room
- Sound Beam Learning Room
- Eye gaze room
- Therapists Room
- Medical Room
- Family Room
- Life Skills Flat
- Relaxation room with acoustic water bed
- Project Spaces
- Soft play
- Traditional Sensory room and Immersive Room
The campus wide facilities are open to the community outside school hours and will increase participation in sport and accessibility for all.
The school also aspires to be a venue and training centre for SEND and host events and training by bringing the experts to West Cumbria and enhancing capacity to meet the needs of the area.
Mayfield is one of 6 special schools in Cumbria and meets the needs of pupils aged 3 – 19 years. The school population has risen from 87 to 218 in the last 7 years and there is a constant demand for places at the new school.
All pupils have an Educational Health Care Plan reflecting either severe or profound learning needs and additional needs. Co-existing conditions are typical and 54% of the pupils have a diagnosis of ASD.
The school was deemed outstanding by Ofsted in November 2023 recognising the high aspirations and achievement of the pupils.
There is a positive culture of reflection and development throughout the school following the “Everyone Thinking, Everyone Learning” vision.
Mayfield staff and governors are relentless in the pursuit of excellence for all and use the latest research information technologies and strategies available to unlock the potential of every learner.
The school strives to lead the way in learning for pupils with special educational needs. Mayfield is a school with close links to the Local Authority and works in partnership with many organisations to improve outcomes for pupils across the locality.
The school has an established team of highly skills staff and a good balance of ECT / more experienced teachers. The school is strongly committed to the MOVE (Movement Opportunities via Education) programme with 2 staff trainers.
Team Teach is the approach used for behaviour management and all staff are trained as priority. There are 5 trainers in school. Mayfield is well supported and has high profile in the local community.
In September 2023, 6th form and year 11 pupils will move to a new site in Cockermouth
Please read our latest Ofsted Report and Overarching Safeguarding Statement