Benefits of Working for TCT

Why Work at Collegiate Trust?

‘Investing in People’ forms one of the Trust’s four key strategic drivers. This is because we know that our people are our most important asset.  The more they thrive, the more our pupils will succeed.

Some quotes from our CEO, Mr Soumick Dey:

“Our staff can be proud of what we achieve, and be part of our aspirations for the future.”

“We are an ambitious family of schools and a dynamic place to work. We focus on our people and their learning. “

“We value our employees and understand the importance of providing an attractive work environment.”

Working for us offers a range of benefits that contribute to your professional growth, personal wellbeing and job satisfaction.

Our Values

Our vision is to deliver Exceptional Education for all students in academies that are part of The Collegiate Trust. Our work is informed by our values:

Ambition

For every one of our learners and staff to be the best they can be

Collaboration

Becoming better at what we do through working together in a supportive and challenging manner

Achievement

Reaching the highest academic levels and developing personal, social and creative skills

Enjoyment

Recognising learning as a social function which should excite and inspire children, young people and our staff

“It is important to ensure that there is certainty and confidence in our moral purpose – our pupils and their families must be clear about our motivations and know that our vision of an exceptional education for all lies at the heart of our decision-making and day-to-day activity.” – Mr Soumick Dey, CEO



Key Benefits of Working for The Collegiate Trust

Financial

  • Competitive salaries that reward your skills and experience. The TCT Salary Policy (including pay scales) is reviewed annually to ensure we remain competitive with national pay and conditions for both teaching and professional services (PS) staff. 
  • Annual salary reviews for all employees (with clearly defined progression scales for PS staff).  This ensures your compensation remains competitive and that staff are recognised for quality work and accumulation of experience.
  • Pension benefits are high in comparison to other sectors, and all employees have access to a defined benefit scheme (which are generally far more beneficial that private pension schemes). We are part of TPS for teachers and for LGPS for our PS staff to help support strong retirement financial planning.  We provide access to experienced advisors with regards to pensions and financial planning. 
  • Financial recognition for additional responsibilities. Either through a salary point review or TLR additional payment (see Salary Policy).  If staff cover for a more senior colleague’s role for a significant period, they will be eligible for consideration of ‘acting up’ pay (i.e. a short-term pay increase to cover the period of additional responsibility).
  • Performance-based bonuses and incentives for staff who are deemed to go above and beyond, or perform to an exceptionally high standard, a one-off consolidate bonus is available (see salary policy).  Honorarium payments are discretionally considered to financially recognise extraordinary work.
  • Financial wellbeing from no cost, 24/7, 365 days a year access to expert advice on financial matters including:
    • Debt and financial
    • Probate and wills
    • Legal queries
    • Retirement
    • Redeployment
    • Redundancy
    • Buying a new home

Paid Time Off

  • Holiday Pay. We believe in the importance of taking time off to recharge and spend quality time with your loved ones.   We give well above statutory annual leave.  All staff receive a minimum of 6.2 weeks paid leave per year.
  • Sick Leave. For times when you’re unwell, we offer generous paid sick. This ensures you can prioritise your health and wellbeing without worrying about lost income. Please see TCT Absence Policy for details on paid sick leave. (See under ‘wellbeing’ below for more about our commitment to keeping you well, or supporting periods of ill health).
  • Compassionate Leave. We understand that there are big life events that can happen, and at these times you need support and understanding. For example, dealing with the loss of close family can be very challenging. Our approach to compassionate leave allows you to take time off to grieve and attend to necessary matters during difficult times. 
  • Family or dependant leave. For our employees who have responsibility for caring for children or other dependents, we recognise that emergency situations arise when you are needed by them and cannot attend work.  We offer dependent care benefits for all employees, meaning you will be supported in taking reasonable amounts of time away from work for this.  We aim to support this as paid leave where possible, up to 5 days per year (up to 3 within a single term).
  • Other special leave: We recognise that work is only a part of life, and that there are times when your ability to manage work on top of your life commitments is challenging.  Special leave is considered on a case-by-case basis, and will either be authorised as paid or unpaid, depending on things like the level of paid time off already granted, or the circumstances of the leave.  We consider special leave for eventualities which might include, but are not limited to:
    • Urgent medical / on-going treatment
    • Bereavement / Funeral
    • Domestic issues
    • Court attendance
    • Interview
    • Induction at a new school
    • Religious observance

Work-Life Balance

  • Remote work options available when possible.
  • Generous paid time off such as annual leave.
  • Family-friendly policies, such as maternity, adoption leave and shared parental leave. We offer 2 weeks fully paid paternity leave.  
  • Work- life balance. We recognise the importance of work-life balance. Flexible work arrangements, such as alternative schedules or part-time options, can help you meet your personal and professional commitments.
  • Telecommuting options enable you to work from home or other remote locations when applicable, providing added convenience and flexibility.
  • Flexible work schedules where possible, and a commitment to flexibility and supporting colleagues wherever possible with their working hours.

Wellbeing and Health

  • Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives to promote a healthy work-life balance. 
  • Healthy eating. Colleagues have access to food through the Collegiate Trading Company. Purchases can be made through a ParentPay account or debit card.
  • Financial Wellness. Support, resources and education on financial planning and budgeting.
  • Refreshments 
  • Access to modern technology and educational resources.
  • A proactive approach to adopting new digital technologies.

Professional Development Opportunities

All our staff have access to a range of training and development opportunities. Our professional development programmes ensure that staff are celebrated in their successes, and that their salary is regularly reviewed to reflect their evolving work.  In addition to bespoke training and development opportunities, all our staff have access to support, coaching and mentoring from senior members of staff across the Trust.

  • Access to continuous learning and training programs.
  • Support for further education, certifications, and professional development.
  • Career progression opportunities within the company.
  • Mentoring and coaching programs to help you achieve your career goals.
  • Deliver National Professional Qualifications.
  • Excellent support for ECTs.
  • Access to Chartered Institute of Teaching Resources.
  • Tuition Reimbursement. Support for employees’ education by offering tuition reimbursement for courses or degrees.
  • Loans and subsidies available to support additional independent professional development (e.g. Masters)

Inclusive and Diverse Culture

  • A culture that embraces diversity and inclusivity.
  • Employee resource groups and affinity networks.
  • A safe and welcoming work environment.
  • A collaborative environment.
  • Team-oriented work culture.
  • Opportunities to work on exciting projects with diverse teams.

Employee Recognition

  • Regular recognition and rewards for outstanding contributions.
  • Employee of the term programs.

Job Security and Stability

  • Financially stable and growing Multi Academy Trust.
  • Long-term career prospects.
  • Competitive job security and benefits during challenging times.

Other Benefits

  • Free anti-virus protection. All staff are entitled to claim the full premium version of Sophos Home whilst they are employees at any of the Trust. This is worth £50 per year and provides antivirus, web threat protection, banking protection, malware scanning and cleaning, ransomware protection for up to 10 PCs and Macs at home.
  • Cyclescheme is an employee benefit that saves you 25-39% on a bike and accessories. You pay nothing upfront and the payments are taken tax efficiently from your salary by your employer. Please contact the Director of Finance for details on how to apply for the scheme.
  • Employee Discounts: Partner with businesses to provide discounts to your employees.

Apprenticeships

We offer a range of apprenticeships.  At whatever stage you at in your career, this is your chance to receive excellent training and personal development. Our apprenticeship programmes will help you to gain technical and functional knowledge, whilst acquiring on the job practical experience.

 

Summary

At TCT, we are committed to creating an environment where our employees can thrive personally and professionally. Our comprehensive package of benefits and opportunities demonstrates our dedication to your well-being and career growth. Your feedback is valuable to us. If you have suggestions or recommendations for improving our benefits programs, please feel free to share them with our HR department. For any further questions, clarifications, or additional resources related to employee benefits, please contact HR@TCT-academies.org. We are here to assist you and ensure you receive the support and benefits you deserve. Thank you for being or considering becoming a valued member of our team, and we look forward to supporting you in your professional journey.

 

Support and Guidance

  • Anna Freud is a world-leading mental health charity for children and families. They also offer a free network for school staff. They provide a trusted source of accessible information and resources that teachers and school leaders can use to support the mental health and wellbeing of their whole school community. annafreud.org/what-we-do/schools-in-mind/
  • Mentally Healthy Schools brings together quality-assured mental health resources, information & advice for schools and further education settings in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. https://mentallyhealthyschools.org.uk/
  • Mental Health at Work is an online gateway to resources, training and information aimed at transforming mental health in the workplace in the UK. Mental health at Work has been developed by Mind and is supported by The Royal Foundation with Heads Together. https://www.mentalhealthatwork.org.uk/

Please note that many benefits are non-contractual and/or at the discretion of the Principal or CEO.