About the role: The role of the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) Co-ordinator is an important one, and The Leigh UTC has a fantastic opportunity to appoint a motivated and inspiring individual to this position. The LRC, or ‘school library’ in the more antiquated definition, is a unique and specialist part of an academy as it fundamentally supports students’ learning and their development to be effective, independent learners and readers. The role of the LRC Co-ordinator at The Leigh UTC will complement to hard work of our dedicated staff - both in teaching roles and support roles. The position is ideal for an English Graduate as it will draw on your genuine passion for literature, or perhaps an experienced Learning Mentor who has experience working with secondary aged pupils as you will have a solid understanding of the impact that written resources can have on students' learning.

For us, the LRC Co-ordinator will be:

a partner with teaching staff in the education process
a partner in supporting individual learning styles
an ‘expert’ in resource and information collation
a leader and partner with teaching staff in the collaborative design and implementation of information literacy programmes throughout the school
a leader in creating and developing a climate to promote and support reading for pleasure across the school
an acknowledged partner with all departments to effectively support and resource each key stage
a partner in out-of-hours learning

Skills, knowledge and qualifications:

Ideally, our successful candidate will be a graduate with an English-based degree
Meticulous and precise in their work of ordering, recording and caring for resources
Friendly and customer-oriented for the outward-facing parts of their job
Passionate about reading and well-read and up-to-date both in digital and print publishing
Adaptable and aware of current and emerging technologies

Working with us: Having opened in September 2014 with state-of-the-art facilities originally for Key Stage 4 and 5, The Leigh UTC provides an exciting, innovative, business-led, problem-solving curriculum, enabling students to achieve relevant work-related qualifications and transferable skills for future training or employment. The most unique feature of The Leigh UTC is its business ethos that are emphasised by our students' behaviours and supported by our sponsors.

In September 2017, following the request of the Department for Education due to our continued success, The Leigh UTC marked history by expanding its student intake to incorporate Key Stage 3 – the first UTC in the UK to do this. Furthermore, being the first UTC to have IB World School Status has enabled us to develop strong links in Germany and Qatar. Having IB Status will enable us to further develop the mid-years programme (MYP) for our Key Stage 3 students and thus providing a joined-up pathway from ages 11 to 19. The overarching mission of the Inspiration Academy is to develop curious, academically-skilled young people who aspire to be principled, compassionate learners. Our curriculum strives to create students who are self-motivated, competent, willing to take risks and lifelong learners.

Our key successes and features that our successful candidate can be part of are as follows:

The promotion of pupils’ personal development and welfare is outstanding
Pupils, including the disadvantaged and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, catch up from previous underachievement and make strong and often rapid progress in a range of subjects and disciplines
Application to learning is often exemplary.
The Leigh UTC makes a real difference for its pupils and surrounding area. Pupils become motivated to find and follow their passions. They leave well equipped to succeed in engineering and related technical and design careers and contribute to the economy.
The Principal, with his leaders and staff team, model a high-quality working environment. This rubs off on pupils, who value the supportive ethos, work-like atmosphere.
Being part of Leigh Academies Trust: As of 1st September 2020, our Trust will comprise 28 geographically organised academies (11 secondaries, 15 primaries and 2 special) educating over 16,000 students, and employing over 2,500 talented staff. We also have one further secondary academy in development phase, due to open in September 2021. The Trust is establishing four ‘clusters’ of academies: North West Kent; Central Kent; South East London; Medway. In addition, the Trust is responsible for one of the region’s biggest initial teaching training providers and a large teaching school. Click here to view our future plans in our Vision 2025 document.

As part of Leigh Academies Trust you will have ample opportunity to collaborate with your peers both within the academy and across the whole Trust. This is an important part of our vision as we know through experience that we perform better when we work together. You are supported to undertake regular self-development to continue your professional development and hopefully progress further within the organisation.

We strive to offer a range of benefits that all employees can take advantage of which we regularly review and add to - click here to view what you’d receive as a member of staff with Leigh Academies Trust.

Diversity at our core: As a Trust, we are passionate about diversity and recognise that as individuals we all bring something unique to the role regardless of age, gender, race, beliefs or disabilities which is why we treat all of our people equally, without compromise.

The academy is committed to safeguarding children and successful candidates will be subject to an Enhanced DBS check. Our commitment to safeguarding is underpinned by robust processes and checks which are in place across the Trust.

Recruitment and hiring during COVID-19: Despite the challenges we face, recruitment and hiring will continue for all Leigh Academies Trust vacancies with as little disruption as possible over the coming weeks and months. This is for all senior, teaching and support staff appointments. Applications will still be reviewed and interviews conducted in a timely manner, although interview activities will vary. If you have any queries or concerns, please get in touch with the LAT Talent Team - talent@latrust.org.uk
Based on the quality and quantity of applications received, Leigh Academies Trust reserves the right to close this vacancy sooner than the specified closing date. Applicants will be notified of this where possible. Therefore, early applications are encouraged.