Support staff work alongside teachers, providing valuable support for teaching and learning activities. Staff with Higher Level Teaching Assistant (HLTA) status can work right across the curriculum, acting as specialist assistants for specific subjects or departments or helping to plan lessons and develop support materials. As part of HLTA North, we are a nationally recognised assessment centre for HLTA status.

Outstanding HLTAs of the Year

HLTA North holds an annual celebration event in September for Outstanding HLTAs of the Year. Shortlisted HLTAs from the North East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber attend the event with their guests and a senior representative from their school.

Previous award winners:

The Peter Sutherland Award for the Outstanding HLTA in Yorkshire and Humber was awarded to Deborah Carter, Austhorpe Primary School, Leeds; 

The Jenny Ellis Award for the North East went to Helen Davidson, St Anne's CofE Primary School, Bishop Auckland; 

The HLTA North Partnership Award for the North West was awarded to Angela Spruce, Hebden Green School, Chesire.

Professional Development Events

HLTA North holds annual professional development events in each of the three regions during the spring or summer terms. In 2018, the events were entitled 'Mental Health Matters', and were delivered in collaboration with John Shepherd and MindsAhead, partners of Leeds Beckett University's Centre of Excellence for Mental Health in Schools.

For details of this year’s professional development events, please visit the HLTA North website.