ESports & Computing Curriculum Lead Teacher

Heywood Academy is one of the latest new schools in the New Bridge Multi-Academy Trust when it opened its doors to students in September 2025. We are a 75-placement school that offers tailored educational support for young people diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) and/or who may experience Speech, Language, and Communication Needs (SLCN) associated with ASC.

Heywood Academy provides a broad and balanced curriculum that enables students from Key Stage 3 to Key Stage 5 to access creative learning opportunities tailored to meet their individual needs. We have worked hard to continue to be at the forefront of successful, innovative curriculum design, with overall breadth and balance, which provides students with ASC and SLCN their full entitlement. As a result, the young people benefit from excellent opportunities in all aspects of our curriculum to achieve and improve their academic achievement, social skills, communication skills, knowledge, understanding, well-being and physical development.

The school is part of the New Bridge Multi-Academy Trust, a vibrant, aspirational and inclusive multi-academy trust of eight special schools and two specialist post-16 provisions across Oldham, Tameside and Rochdale. As part of the wider New Bridge Group there are also two post-19 provisions. All of the children and young people have an EHCP with the Trust supporting a wide spectrum of needs from age 4-19 and beyond. The Trust is proud to be national leaders in Special Education and has a culture of creating outstanding opportunities for all. While each setting operates discreetly, they have a shared passion to improve the life opportunities available to the children and young people once they leave school. They work very closely together to achieve this and ensure that together they best meet the needs of individual students. A culture of mutual support and teamwork permeates the organisation.

This is an exciting time for the school as it continues to develop and enhance all aspects of its provision as the student numbers increase year on year. If you share our drive, determination and ambition, it offers an outstanding opportunity to develop in a forward-thinking and outward-looking organisation.

Your continued development will also be a priority, and you will receive excellent support and advice from a talented team of colleagues who will invest in your professional learning.

We invite applications from excellent secondary practitioners to deliver a broad and balanced E-Sports and computing curriculum covering a range of digital literacy skills, computing, E-Sports, digital enterprise, E-Safety to KS3, KS4 and KS5 students with ASC/SLCN and mild/moderate learning difficulties. The successful candidate will:

• Have specific experience in working with students with SEND and Autism
• Be an excellent practitioner with the commitment and motivation to inspire students learning and development.
• To have knowledge and understanding of autism and how students with autism learn and be able to use knowledge of ASC strategies to adapt learning to meet the needs of these students.
• To have an up to date understanding of the National Curriculum at all ability levels and be able to adapt learning to meet the needs of students in KS3 to KS5.
• To deliver a broad and balanced computing curriculum that covers digital literacy skills, computing, E-Sports, digital enterprise, and E-Safety, using diverse media and software applications that is tailored to KS3 students with ASC/SLCN and mild/moderate learning difficulties, while also extending provision across KS4 and KS5.
• To be able to deliver E-Sports BTEC at level 1 and level 2 at KS4, and potentially to level 3 at KS5.
• To be able to deliver other computing qualifications at KS4 and KS5.
• To be able to deliver digital enterprise project qualifications at KS4 and KS5.
• To be able to use a wide range of communication tools to communicate with students in the school.
• Be able to demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation through imaginative and adaptive lessons which meet individual needs.
• Possess the emotional and physical resilience necessary when working with young people with a range of complex needs.
• Can foster good relationships with other staff, students, parents and the wider community.
• Have experience of enhancement of student progress gains and raising attainment and achievement in all students.
• Have experience of current assessment practice and the use of data and student progress tracking to ensure that all groups of learners achieve.
• Be hardworking, organised and proactive in their professional development.

We can offer you:

• The opportunity to be part of our thriving team, who are committed to creating meaningful futures for both our students and staff
• High quality continuing professional development (CPD) through our dedicated Everyone Learning Team
• A commitment to future career development and progression within the trust
• Holiday Saturday Fund Membership and access to benefits
• Trust TOIL Scheme for all staff

Although based initially at our Heywood Academy site, all staff are employed by the MAT and are expected to work at any site within the New Bridge Group.

Candidates are welcome to arrange a visit (see below). We would particularly look forward to receiving applications from experienced teachers looking to start or continue a career in the SEN sector.

We are fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and vulnerable adults and we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment.

This post will be subject to a number of pre-employment checks including an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and proof of right to work in the UK in accordance with the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996. It will be exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. DBS Code of Practice which can be viewedhere.

For all shortlisted candidates, an online search will be carried out as part of our due-diligence in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023

We strive to create a fair and inclusive workplace that is as diverse as the communities we serve. We positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

Salary: Teachers’ Pay Scale + TLR2a (£3,527 pa) + SEN (£2,787 pa)

Hours of work: Full-time

Based: Heywood Academy

Commencing: September 2026

Closing Date: Friday 13th March 2026, 9am

Interview/observation: TBC

School information: Louise Needham lneedham@newbridgegroup.org

or Emma McManus emma.mcmanus@newbridgegroup.org

Please return completed application forms via email to: recruitment@newbridgegroup.org