Work With Us

The wellbeing of all our staff is high on our agenda, and we recognise that the happiness and attainment of our pupils is directly impacted by the level of staff wellbeing across the Trust.

We are committed to delivering excellence for our pupils and their families, our staff, and the local communities we serve and seek to fulfil this commitment by ensuring the health and wellbeing of our workforce is a key priority. We strongly believe this is vital for the ongoing and future success of our family of academies.

We also believe that positive wellbeing requires ongoing and sustained effort and we have several Trust-wide wellbeing initiatives, informed by our wellbeing survey, that guide the direction of our wellbeing strategy, including:

• A wellbeing policy that lays the groundwork for our overall approach and commitment to the wellbeing of staff.
• Two designated Trustee sponsors whose role is to ensure staff wellbeing remains a priority for the Trust.
• A dedicated health & wellbeing partner supporting a holistic approach to staff wellbeing.
• A network of wellbeing champions representing all our academies and professional services. The champions signpost staff to wellbeing support and information and ensure the staff voice is heard.
• A team of mental health ambassadors (accredited as mental health first aiders) providing support and guidance across the Trust, for both individuals and line managers.
• We are working towards the Mindful Employer Charter and Mental Health at Work Commitment.
• Access to an Employee Assistance Programme that provides staff with 24/7 helpline support, as well as counselling sessions and life management advice.
• An ongoing staff ‘wellbeing action plan’ for every academy and professional service department.
• Active engagement in national and international awareness events.
• A trained mental health first aider in every location helping to embed our belief that physical health and mental health hold equal importance.
• Reimbursed flu vaccination for staff not eligible for free NHS vaccinations

We are devoted to prioritising better mental health at work, demonstrated by both our commitment to being a Mindful Employer and signing Mind’s Mental Health at Work charter #MHAWCommitment.

Policies

Employee Assistance Programme

Our Employee Assistance Programme is a welfare initiative available to all our staff to give counselling, information, signposting and support. The service covers a range of Family Issues, Financial Information, Legal Information, Stress & Anxiety and Bereavement. We care about our employees and their wellbeing and understand that everybody encounters situations or difficulties at some point in their life and can benefit from independent help and support.

The University of Brighton Academies Trust is strongly committed to the principles of equality, to promoting and celebrating diversity in all aspects of our work and to ensuring we are create an inclusive community for all our staff, pupils and local communities like.

We value the different contributions and experiences of all who make up our community. The Trust’s values of excellence, integrity and innovation underpin everything we do.

Staff Network Groups

Our staff network groups are voluntary, employee-led groups that aim to foster a more inclusive workplace. They are a relatively new initiative that aims to ensure everyone feels supported to be themselves. The networks are led and participated in by staff who share an interest or characteristic, whether gender, ethnicity or religious affiliation, etc.

The areas represented by staff network groups were determined by staff and we currently have the following staff network groups:

• Women's Health Network

We strongly believe it is important to feel that you can be yourself no matter what!

Flexible Working and Family Friendly Initiatives

Across the Trust lots of our staff work flexibly in many ways, including job sharing, part-time and term-time working.  We are always happy to explore what is possible for the role. We are proud that our flexible working policy aligns with the CIPD Flex from 1^st campaign which supports the right to request flexible working from day one of your employment with the Trust.

Depending on the nature of your role, we are also able to offer a hybrid approach with part office/part remote working and, for some roles, fully remote working. 

We’re happy to talk with you about flexibility as part of recruitment conversation and whilst the needs of the role must come first, we’ll always endeavour to see what we can do. It’s important to us the we recruit and retain the right person. 

We support our employees through enhanced family friendly leave including generous dependant care leave as well as maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave.  And we’re looking at how we can further enhance our family friendly support.

Policies

Disability Confident Committed

As a disability committed employer we are actively working towards level 2 of the scheme to become a Disability Confident Employer.

We believe all staff should have the opportunity to grow both personally and professionally. We recognise the importance of training and development and aim to ensure that all our employees are continually strengthening their knowledge and skill sets and developing as individuals.

Continuous Professional Development

As an employee of the Trust, whether you work in a support or teaching role, you will participate in our annual performance review scheme. This is underpinned by a coaching approach to support your continuous professional development and career progression. Wellbeing is also a key focus of the review.

The Trust has a strong record of supporting and developing teachers who start their careers with us, including Early Careers Teachers, Teach First and School Direct participants, as well as student teachers from the University of Brighton and other initial teacher training providers. One of our primary academy Principals started with us as an NQT!

Trainee teachers also benefit from networking opportunities with colleagues based at our other academies. When your training is complete, our continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities will help you sharpen your skills and learn new ones as your teaching career develops.

We are committed to retaining and progressing exceptional talent and actively promote internal progression opportunities across our family of academies.

Did you know The University of Brighton Academies Trust has its own podcast series on the topic of Childhood Mental Health Awareness?

See the full list of episodes here

Personal Development Day

In addition to INSET and other CPD activities, the Trust offers all staff dedicated time each year to focus on their personal development.

Qualifications

There’s lots on offer!

This includes apprenticeship routes for both existing and new employees, with established pathways to grow talented professionals across the Trust; this includes Teacher apprenticeships.

In conjunction with our sponsor, the University of Brighton, we offer 10 scholarships of up to £1,000, matched by a £500 contribution from your academy / professional services department, towards study for a University of Brighton course.

We also support teaching staff with study for National Professional Qualifications (NPQs) and can provide support to study for a range of other qualifications relevant to your role.

Apprenticeships

At the University of Brighton Academies Trust we support trainee teachers on placements at our academies as well offer our members of staff opportunities to gain a professional qualification while working with us through an apprenticeship.

Earn, learn and make a difference with a Trust apprenticeship.

Here at The University of Brighton Academies Trust we like to encourage everyone to consider how an apprenticeship scheme can help develop the skills and knowledge required for a rewarding career and be ready to meet the needs of our young people. Apprenticeships are an exciting option. More and more people today are waking up to the benefits of apprenticeships by either employing a new member of staff as an apprentice or encouraging an existing employee to further their career.

An apprenticeship enables study for a work based, nationally recognised qualification that brings these benefits:

• Continuation of earning whilst learning and developing relevant work experience
• No training fees. The Trust and Government cover the cost of training
• Potential to improve future earning power
• Increased career enjoyment and learning opportunities

The Trust offers a competitive salary for apprentices who are new recruits and existing employees continue to be paid on their current salary scale for their role. There are apprenticeships available for people of all levels of skill and experience at the Trust. So, whether you are taking the first steps in your career with us, taking a change in direction or wanting to undertake development training to build on your existing skills there is an apprenticeship for you!

Teacher training placements at our academies

The University of Brighton Academies Trust support trainee teachers on placements from a range of Initial Teacher Training providers, including the University of Brighton and Teach First.

There are a range PGCE training options available if you are interested in a career in teaching for both primary and secondary routes.

You can apply online via the national Apply for teacher training website.

Gov.UK - Apply for Teacher Training

To find out more information about our apprenticeships, please contact the talent team

talent@brightonacademiestrust.org.uk

Early Career Teachers

We offer opportunities for early career teachers (ECT's). The Trust’s early career framework (ECF) induction programme ensures an effective transition from Initial Teacher Training into the teaching profession, enabling ECTs to establish a secure foundation upon which to build a successful teaching career.

Check back here for more information soon.

Introduction for early career teachers

We offer a wide range of exciting and useful employee benefits to all our employees, including a generous annual leave entitlement. We believe in the power of motivated and happy staff, which is why we seek to enrich and reward our employees wherever we can.

Annual Pay Progression

Unlike many schools, pay progression is not linked to performance and all our staff (teachers and support staff) benefit from automatic, pay progression (subject to the maximum salary for the role). Cost of living awards are reviewed annually.

Pension Schemes

The contribution we make to your pension as an employer is generous so it’s important to remember that this is part of your total reward package. Joining the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or Teachers’ Pensions Scheme will help provide you and your family with a secure future income.

• LGPS – West Sussex About the LGPS | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk) 
• LGPS – East Sussex About the Scheme | East Sussex Pension Fund
• TPS Member Hub | Teachers' Pensions (teacherspensions.co.uk)

MyLifestyle

With mylifestyle, you can take advantage of a range of benefits and perks that are exclusively available to you as a valued member of staff:

• Discounts on retail, travel and many more ways to save
• Cycle 2 Work scheme
• Charity giving