Springwell Special Academy

Welcome to Springwell Special Academy

At Springwell Special Academy, we are proud to welcome you to our school! Operating as a proud member of the Wellspring Academy Trust (recently named Multi Academy Trust of the Year), our aim is simple: to provide an outstanding, nurturing, and inclusive education for children and young people who struggle with the mainstream school experience due to their complex SEMH needs.

Our school has proudly achieved Gold Investors in People status. We recognise that to take the absolute best care of our pupils, we must take the absolute best care of our staff. From the moment you step through our doors, you will find a highly supportive, therapeutic environment where both adults and children are empowered to unlock their potential.

At Springwell Special Academy, we believe that education should prepare students for a bright, confident future. We live and breathe our core values every single day. Kindness, Courage, Curiosity, and Pride, challenging and supporting our young people to discover their unique strengths.

Our Core Mission

We believe that all our pupils can, with the right support, be empowered to succeed, anchoring everything we do in our core pillars:

• Unconditional Positive Regard: This is at the absolute centre of how we work. We accept and care for our students unconditionally, ensuring every young person feels safe, trusted, valued, and respected within our school community.

• The 'Secure Base' & Group Guides: Our unique staffing structure features dedicated Specialist Teaching Assistants who act as Group Guides. They build deep, trusting relationships with specific groups of students, facilitating smooth transitions and helping pupils regulate their emotions by providing calm consistency and boundaries without shame.

• Personalised Engagement & Activity: We look past the barrier to identify the unique emotional and academic needs of each child. Through tailored packages of classroom interventions, outdoor learning, and sports sessions within the community, we help our children build self-esteem and develop positive, lasting habits.

Join Our Team

Great schools are built by great people. As a member of the Springwell Special Academy team, you will work within close knit classroom dynamics where your professional growth is heavily supported. We invest deeply in our staff, offering a rich professional landscape that includes:

• Gold Standard Investment in You: As a Gold Investors in People academy, we provide a welcoming environment that actively prioritises your workload, health, and well being, alongside high quality, personalised training from day one.

• Full, Expert Training: New to special education? We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, including college or university graduates, and offer a comprehensive package of specialist training in relational practice, de-escalation, and behaviour support.

• Clear Career Pathways: We love to see our people grow. Many of our current school leaders, specialists, and teachers started out right here in support and coaching roles, and we provide clear paths for those looking to advance.

• A Great Balance: A supportive staff culture where you can make a massive, life changing impact during the school day, and leave work completely at the door when you clock out.

Working at Springwell Special Academy isn't just a job; it's an opportunity to collaborate with passionate peers, work hand in hand with families, and make a tangible difference in children's lives every day.

Two Schools – One Community

Springwell Learning Community is the umbrella name for Springwell Special Academy and Springwell Alternative Academy. While Springwell Special Academy provides cross-phase education for Barnsley children with social, emotional, and mental health (SEMH) difficulties, Springwell Alternative Academy works in partnership with local primary and secondary schools to provide essential Day 6 provision.

Both of these schools are part of the Barnsley and Kirklees Special Provision Partnership, formed through collaboration with Greenacre School and Joseph Norton Academy. More information about our partnership can be accessed here.

At Springwell, our dedicated staff of around 100 people is entirely committed to ensuring that every single pupil can settle quickly and is fully supported to make good progress in line with our vision and mission.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

The safety, moral development, and well being of our pupils are at the absolute heart of everything we do. Springwell Alternative Academy strictly follows the principles of Safer Recruitment. We maintain a secure, deeply supportive environment where every child is protected, valued, and encouraged to learn with confidence.

Find out more by clicking here!

Why Join Our Talent Pool?

If we don't have any suitable vacancies available, we encourage you to register for our Talent Pool. When applying, you aren't just joining a waiting list, you are positioning yourself at the front of the line for a rewarding career. When a suitable vacancy opens, our talent pool is our first port of call and our recruitment team will be in touch. We will keep you up to date with the latest news and activities within our school on a regular basis. We are regularly looking for support staff and we offer a range of flexible contracts.

Complete our Talent Pool application form by clicking here!