Special Needs
Contract: Permanent
Closing date for applications: 22 October 2026, 12.00pm
Interview Date: 23 October 2026
From November 2026 – Permanent post
Swim Teacher – PCD5 + Allocation of 70 JWC’s.
PG No 4961 – Final Salary: £28,598 - £29,540 (Pro-Rata)
31.15 Hours weekly / over 39 weeks (i.e. Term Time + 1 week in service training).
Mayfield School is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, experienced and highly motivated Swim
Teacher to join our dedicated team
We are looking for an appropriately qualified swimming teacher who has the skills, patience and commitment to provide high-quality swimming instruction to pupils with severe and complex learning difficulties and additional needs.
The successful candidate will be responsible for planning and delivering safe, engaging and appropriately differentiated swimming sessions, adapting teaching and activities to meet the individual needs and abilities of our pupils. You will support pupils to develop water confidence, swimming skills, water safety awareness, physical development and independence, while recognising and celebrating their individual progress.
This is a specialist role within our school. You will work closely with class teachers and other members of the multidisciplinary team, contributing your specialist knowledge of swimming and water safety to support pupils’ learning and development. Whilst class teachers retain overall responsibility for the pupils in their care, the successful candidate will take specific responsibility for the planning, delivery and assessment of swimming instruction.
We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience of working with children or young people with SEND and who can demonstrate the ability to adapt their teaching to meet a wide range of physical, sensory, communication, cognitive and emotional needs.
The successful candidate will:
- Hold an appropriate recognised swimming teaching qualification.
- Have experience of delivering swimming instruction to children or young people.
- Have a good understanding of water safety and safe swimming practice.
- Have experience of, or a strong interest in, working with pupils with additional needs.
- Be able to adapt teaching approaches and activities to individual pupils.
- Be patient, calm, enthusiastic and committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for our pupils.
- Be able to work effectively alongside teachers, teaching assistants and other professionals.
- Have a strong commitment to safeguarding, pupil welfare and inclusive practice.
At Mayfield, we are committed to providing our pupils with opportunities to develop their confidence, independence, and life skills. Swimming is an important part of our curriculum and provides valuable opportunities for physical development, communication, confidence and personal wellbeing. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced swimming teacher who is passionate about working with pupils with additional needs and who would enjoy being part of a supportive and dedicated special school team.
To apply, please click here to use our online application form
CV’s WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Enquiries can be sent to recruitment@mayfield.cumbria.sch.uk
Mayfield School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and we expect all staff to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974; pre-employment checks will be carried out, references will be sought and successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and other relevant pre-employment checks; including health and identity.
Other Information
Mayfield is a unique special school located on the West Coast of the Lake District. The school now operates across two sites, with the main campus in Whitehaven and a second site in Cockermouth which supports our sixth form and Year 11 pupils.
The Whitehaven site 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 school offers amazing learning spaces and is purpose built to meet the needs of a wide range of pupils. The bespoke design has created the best possible learning environment with spacious classrooms and a wide range of specialist facilities across both sites.
The design was developed around the best examples from schools around the country and the result is exceptional. Careful preparation and involvement ensured that pupils made the transition exceptionally well and continue to respond positively to the opportunities for learning available across the two sites. Pupils are very proud of their school communities.
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
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 Whitehaven campus-wide facilities are open to the community outside school hours and increase participation in sport and accessibility for all.
Mayfield is one of 3 special schools in Cumberland and meets the needs of pupils aged 4–19 years. The school population has risen from 87 to 274 in the last 8 years and there continues to be a strong demand for places.
All pupils have an Education, Health and Care Plan reflecting either severe or profound learning needs or additional needs. Co-existing conditions are typical and 54% of pupils have a diagnosis of ASD.
The school was deemed Outstanding by Ofsted in November 2023, recognising the high aspirations and achievements 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 has 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 skilled staff. The school is strongly committed to the MOVE (Movement Opportunities via Education) programme and is accredited as a MOVE Centre of Excellence.
Team Teach is the approach used for behaviour management and all staff are trained as a priority. There are five trainers across the school. Mayfield is well supported and has a high profile in the local community, with the expansion to a second site in Cockermouth further enhancing opportunities for older pupils and post-16 provision.