Working at the Academy
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Working at Macmillan
Members of staff are the foundation of the academy and they are our greatest asset. It is not possible to develop a great school without great staff. Recruiting, developing and retaining talented staff is fundamental to the ethos of the academy.
Staff wellbeing is very important to us at the academy. We believe that wellbeing initiatives should not be based on gimmicks but should be based on trying to provide the best working conditions for everybody. We aim to do this by ensuring that there is clarity around academy values and our vision, reducing unnecessary work, trying to help everybody to work as smartly as possible as well as ensuring that there is clear communication and that the academy is a place where positive working relationships are formed and all staff feel valued. In addition, we have signed up to the DfE education staff wellbeing charter.
How do we do this?
- Clear focus on recruitment, retention, talent management and succession planning
- High quality training and professional development opportunities. We have the Expert Teacher Programme and the following:
- Mentoring/coaching opportunities
- SLT secondments
- Individual funded projects (TLRs)
- Masters level qualifications
- Specialist NPQs (leading behaviour, teaching and learning, teacher development)
- NPQSL/NPQH/NPQEL
- Work shadowing/experience in other settings, e.g. primary, business sector
- Leadership development programmes
- Invitations to attend national conferences.
- OPTIC (our teaching and learning strategy) is research led showing a strong evidence base for all that we do
- Teachers are provided with academy laptops
- Centralised detentions
- Culture of high expectations and support with behaviour through the MBWA system
- Departments have control over their own feedback strategy
- Maximum of 3 data drops per year per year group. All data is used to inform intervention
- Deadlines are well publicised and there is annual calendar consultation. The meetings and assessment calendars are published in July for the following academic year
- Collaborative working and planning is strongly encouraged. There is centralised planning in all departments
- Measured approach to monitoring and evaluation (lesson observations, department reviews)
- Staff library with up-to-date resources
- Dedicated staff areas
- Staff buddies for new members of staff
- SLT open door strategy at all times including urgent email for non-school days
- Reduced meeting times (one 10 minute staff briefing, one department meeting and one hour of staff training time per week). Meetings are developmental not administrative
- Opportunities for staff to get involved in extra-curricular activities such as: annual productions, sport and the Duke of Edinburgh Award
- Opportunities to lead international trips and visits
- Free staff fitness sessions
- Annual flu jabs for all staff
- Complimentary tea and coffee
- Complimentary lunch on training days
- Complimentary breakfast following STCEs
- Birthday treat
- Staff wellbeing day
- Referrals for professional counselling
- Promotion of professional supervision
- Commitment to accommodating part time working. We currently have over 50% of staff working on a part time basis
- Support for staff with individual or family issues by helping to find external support or guidance where we can
- Support for staff to be able to attend special occasions or important family events
- Support with understanding pensions and pension changes.
