Knowsley Education Sector: Overview and Opportunities

Knowsley offers a rich and varied education landscape, providing excellent opportunities for teachers, teaching assistants, and school support staff across all levels. As one of the five metropolitan boroughs within Merseyside, Knowsley serves a mix of urban and suburban communities, each with unique strengths and needs.

This page highlights the education sector in Knowsley - from the types of schools and teaching opportunities available to professional development pathways. Whether you’re exploring Knowsley education jobs, considering teaching jobs in Knowsley, or searching for teaching assistant jobs, here’s what you need to know about building a rewarding career here.

Early Years Education

Knowsley places strong emphasis on early intervention and giving children the best start in life. Early years provision includes:

Dedicated nurseries and pre-schools
Free nursery places in many primary schools for children aged 3-4
Private childcare settings and family-run providers
Children’s centres offering integrated services and parent support

Educators in this stage work within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, focusing on holistic development and school readiness. Local examples include early years provision at Park View Academy and Northwood Community Primary School, both of which integrate care and learning for young children.

Primary Education

Knowsley has more than 50 primary schools across areas such as Huyton, Kirkby, Halewood, and Prescot. These include community schools, Catholic and Church of England schools, academies, and free schools.

Notable examples include:

St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Infant and Junior Schools - a well-regarded Catholic federation in Huyton.
Knowsley Lane Primary School - known for its nurturing ethos and community links.
Park Brow Primary School - serving the Kirkby area with a strong focus on inclusion.

Primary education follows the National Curriculum, with Key Stage 1 (Years 1-2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6), culminating in SATs assessments at the end of Year 6.

Secondary Education

Knowsley’s secondary education landscape comprises 10 schools, including comprehensives, faith schools, and academies. These schools provide opportunities for teachers across all subject areas and key stages.

Key schools include:

All Saints Catholic High School - a large Catholic secondary serving the Kirkby community.
Halewood Academy - an academy with a strong academic and pastoral focus.
Lord Derby Academy - known for its commitment to improving outcomes for students.
The Prescot School - part of the Wade Deacon Trust, offering modern facilities and strong results.

Secondary education covers Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11), with GCSE exams at the end of Year 11. Several schools also offer post-16 progression routes.

Post-16 and Further Education

Knowsley’s post-16 provision includes school sixth forms, vocational training centres, and Knowsley Community College, which offers A-levels, BTECs, apprenticeships, and adult learning. Close links with Liverpool, Edge Hill, and Manchester universities create strong professional development and research opportunities for local educators.

Special Educational Needs Provision

Knowsley is committed to inclusive education through its SEND and Inclusion Strategy (2023-2026). Provision includes:

Dedicated special schools such as Bluebell Park School (for children with severe and complex needs)
Specialist resource bases in mainstream schools
Alternative provision and outreach support

These settings create meaningful career opportunities for teachers and support staff who want to specialise in SEND roles.

Types of Roles and Recruitment

Knowsley offers a variety of career opportunities in schools, including:

Teaching jobs in Knowsley - across primary, secondary, and specialist schools
Teaching assistant jobs Knowsley - supporting classroom learning and interventions
Subject specialist roles (e.g., maths, science, languages)
SENCO positions and specialist SEND support roles
Leadership opportunities for experienced educators

Recruitment is available through Knowsley Council’s education vacancies, the national Teaching Vacancies website, specialist agencies, and trust or school websites.

Professional Development and Training

Knowsley schools are part of strong professional networks and benefit from ongoing training partnerships with local universities. Thrive Group also supports education professionals through specialist courses such as:

Compassionate Leadership - building inclusive, supportive leadership skills.
Mental Health in Schools - equipping educators to support wellbeing in the classroom.

These programmes are evidence-led and designed to enhance skills while positively impacting children and young people.

Why Choose Knowsley for Your Career?

Knowsley offers:

A mix of urban and suburban schools with varied communities
High proportion of schools rated “Good” or better by Ofsted
Affordable housing and excellent transport links to Liverpool and Manchester
Opportunities to work in both mainstream and specialist settings
A supportive professional community focused on improving outcomes

Next Steps

Ready to explore opportunities in Knowsley? Whether you’re looking for Knowsley education jobs, teaching assistant jobs Knowsley, or other school jobs Knowsley, Thrive Group can help you take the next step.