Progress Mentor

Job Title: Progress Mentor

Location: Walsall

We are an Alternative Provision Free School located in Walsall occupying a brand new fabulous building. We are becoming the “go to place” for Alternative Provision in the borough.

At The Ladder School we recognise that the mainstream school system does not suit all young people and we are here to offer a second chance. We believe that every student has potential and the staff work incredibly hard to ensure our students make the most of the opportunities available to them whilst they are with us. Unlike other alternative provisions, we offer a range of GCSE and vocational courses to ensure students receive a well-rounded education and have the best chances in their future. We have a strong careers program designed to support students reach positive destinations after they leave The Ladder School.

We have an environment where praise and encouragement are used to help our students see things differently. Our set of aspirational values underpins everything we do. Our purpose-built school has specialist facilities for our students to thrive and grow into successful, contributing members of their community.

School Ethos:

High standards - students are pushed to achieve beyond their potential, and staff work to ensure everything that we do is better than people expect.

Daring to Dream - students at The Ladder School may have been in an educational setting where they lack aspirations to be successful. At The Ladder School, we challenge students to reach their potential and go on to further education and employment.

Traditional Values - some things often get forgotten in education; at The Ladder School, we pride ourselves on mutual respect, good manners, making a positive contribution, supporting one another and an orderly, litter free environment.

Success - can come in many virtues; at The Ladder School, we celebrate the small steps every day and tell students when they are doing well. We ensure that students can have a successful future.

Personalised Support - all students at The Ladder School have a Learning Coach who guides them, sets them bespoke targets and supports them in making social and academic progress.

Find more information here: The Ladder School

Want to make a difference to young people?

Are you ready to embark on a rewarding journey within an educational community that values increasing opportunities, improving outcomes for our students. We are looking for a Progress Mentor to join our team. Reporting to Progress Mentor, you will undertake:

Key Duties and Responsibilities:

We are seeking a committed, resilient and relational Progress Mentor to join our team. This role is central to our model: supporting high‑quality teaching and learning, building strong relationships, and helping students re‑engage with education. You will work closely with teachers, pastoral staff and external agencies to ensure every student feels safe, understood and capable of success.

Responsibilities

• Provide in‑class support to ensure students can access learning and make progress
• Work proactively alongside teaching staff to help plan, prepare and adapt learning activities so that students can access the curriculum, develop confidence and make meaningful progress
• Build trusting, consistent relationships with students who may have experienced trauma or rejection and negative attitudes to education
• Support teachers with adaptive teaching, behaviour regulation and personalised support strategies
• Deliver 1:1 and small‑group interventions (literacy, numeracy, SEMH, engagement)
• Act as a key adult for identified students, modelling calm, boundaries and emotional regulation
• Support with de‑escalation, restorative conversations and relational practice
• Contribute to EHCP reviews, behaviour plans, risk assessments and safeguarding processes
• Promote attendance, engagement and a sense of belonging
• Work as part of a multi‑agency team to support complex needs
• Uphold The Ladder School’s values
• Any other roles by the Headteacher, as appropriate

Pay range: Scale Grade 5 (9-17)| Actual £22,907-£26,189 | FTE £28,153-£32,046

Qualifications and Skills:

Essential Skills & Experience

• A relevant qualification in teaching and learning
• Experience working with vulnerable young people, ideally in AP, PRU, SEMH or SEND settings
• Understanding of trauma‑informed practice and how adverse experiences affect behaviour and learning
• Ability to support teaching and learning through scaffolding, modelling and adaptive strategies
• Strong behaviour regulation skills using relational, non‑confrontational approaches
• Ability to build trust with students who may initially reject support
• Excellent communication with students, staff, families and external agencies
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
• Resilience and emotional stability when working with challenging situations
• Ability to work as part of a multi‑disciplinary team

Desirable Skills & Experience

• Experience in Alternative Provision or PRU settings
• Experience delivering interventions (academic or SEMH)
• Knowledge of SEND, particularly ASD, ADHD, SEMH
• Training in de‑escalation (Team Teach, PRICE, MAPA etc.)
• Experience supporting literacy or numeracy
• Understanding of restorative practice
• Ability to contribute to behaviour plans and risk assessments

Personal Qualities

• Calm, consistent and patient
• High expectations with unconditional positive regard
• Reflective and open to feedback
• Creative problem‑solver
• Committed to inclusion and believing in every child’s potential

Why The Mercian Trust?

As one Trust we share a common purpose. We call it our social mobility and social justice mission to change our communities through the very best equitable education. When we get this right, it enables our children and young people to fulfil their potential, thrive in the world of work, and make a positive contribution to the local, national and international community. Our recent achievements include:

Sustainable Growth - becoming one of the largest and most diverse trusts in the region

Social Mobility & Social Justice - National recognition for the Trust’s two selective grammar schools who the most successful on the number of local disadvantaged students passing the entrance and joining the schools

Increasing Opportunities - Opening brand-new purpose-built campus in Walsall Town Centre including an alternative provision for students at risk at permanent exclusion from mainstream schools alongside a Digital Skills Hub to provide professionals and employers

Pioneering Spirit - National recognition for pioneering work around youth mental health, including establishing an in-house multi-disciplinary team of clinicians and allied health professionals delivering interventions and providing support to vulnerable students

Outward Looking - Organising and hosting the region’s first Youth Suicide Conference (2023) and Youth Violence Conference (2024) at Villa Park

Innovation and Improvement - A multi-million-pound investment in the digital infrastructure of Trust schools and our Digital Skills Hub underpinning the ongoing transformation of how staff teach, students learn, leaders lead and the whole Trust operates in readiness for the AI-supercharged careers and workplaces of the future.

Want to be a part of something extraordinary? Find out more: The Mercian Trust - Home

What can we offer you:

Benefits:

Financial, Health and Lifestyle

• discounts on everyday purchases (Eden Red)

• a comprehensive free of charge health plan (UK Health Care)

• a cycle to work scheme via Halfords

• Access to the Blue Light Card

For further benefits including education sector leading CPD: The Mercian Trust - What we can offer you

The Mercian Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults, and all appointments are subject to enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks and satisfactory references.

The Mercian Trust is also committed to promoting equality, challenging discrimination and developing community cohesion. We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

Please take time to read our policies attached to this advert.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment