HLTA - Head, Governor or SBM - Case histories

Case study HLTAs in Secondary Schools

Parkside Federation, Cambridge
HLTA

My role as a HLTA
My first role as a TA was working in a primary school, the role included working with different agencies including the traveller service, multicultural support, along with peripatetic intervention work. It was the school’s installation of a new ICT suite which prompted me to brush up the IT skills central to my role as a HLTA today.

I’m currently employed as a HLTA working in the Learning Centre at Parkside. I applied for the post before gaining HLTA status having been encouraged to do so by senior staff at the school.

The HLTA training was really useful, although I found it difficult to get used to the fact that it was evidence based and relied on me matching the activity I already did with the standards. The assessment was nerve wracking to say the least.

My role at Parkside is as Learning Centre manager and team leader for the cover supervisors across both our campuses. I work with year 9 as a form tutor and I am responsible for developing IT training for all support staff across the Parkside Federation. It’s a full and challenging role which also includes running the library and taking classes of G&T, SEN and reduced timetable pupils in the Learning Centre. Always looking for a new challenge I’m also taking on responsibility for Teaching Support Staff development from September.

What has HLTA status meant?
I particularly enjoy the training aspects of the role and have now been able to team up with an AST to deliver ICT training across the region.

The benefits of HLTA status are all to do with the attitude of the school. At Parkside the Principal has a real forward vision which has allowed me to develop my skills and take on the crucial role which I now play in school life.

Jacqui Andre
My career path to HLTA.

Getting involved at school
I started my career in the Seychelles working as a radio and television producer. After coming to the UK and starting a family I wanted a job to fit in with the children and took up a post in a primary school as a TA focused on diversity.

Improving IT skills
When the school installed a new ICT suite I enrolled on courses to develop my IT skills and helped out with ICT at the primary school to get more experience.

Becoming a HLTA
My current role was advertised as a HLTA position to set up a Learning Centre at the school. The role needed the IT skills and background in pupil support which I had and I was looking for a new challenge. Senior staff encouraged me to apply and I gained HLTA status once in post.