Be part of the team that shapes the Wisbech Academy 

We are at an exciting point in our journey. In September 2024, we began with a team of 6 colleagues who were appointed to work at the Wisbech Academy. Since then, we have welcomed our first cohort into year seven and built a warm and supportive community. In September 2025 our staff body will more than double in size. The colleagues who join us in September will play a crucial role in helping us continue to shape the culture of our school and make the Wisbech Academy a community where everyone can flourish.  

We are building a dedicated team of teaching and support staff; a staff body that will inspire, promote ambition and instil belief in the mind-set of our young people that anything is possible through hard work, commitment and dedication. 

All new staff that join our academy are openly welcomed and introduced to all areas of school life through a bespoke induction programme. We understand that starting a new job can be both exciting and daunting and that this transition period can be made more manageable and pleasurable if dedicated time is given to familiarise yourself with the surroundings, academy staff and our students. The induction programme includes meeting all members of the Senior Leadership Team, HR team, Safeguarding team, Staff Services and Student Services teams, amongst other key groups of academy staff that will all be available to assist you as you establish yourself in your new role.

We will share with you Trust-wide and academy policies and procedures, health and safety guidelines and expectations, child protection procedures, HR and administration matters as well as allocating dedicated time for you to spend with your Line Manager and department colleagues. There will be an observation period, where you can shadow your colleagues and in the case of teaching staff, shadow students and potential classes. The purpose of this programme is to give you the thinking time and space before embarking on the exciting journey ahead.

There is also a dedicated induction for overseas staff to fully support them as they embark on their new role in a new country. It includes an induction into teaching in the UK along with practical support, such as assistance with finding accommodation and help setting up a UK bank account. They are also invited to a special welcome with other overseas staff.

We pride ourselves on offering CPD to all employees, not just teaching staff.

The professional learning opportunities for staff at The Wisbech Academy are exceptional; we work with world-class CPD providers such as Evidence Based Education, OLEVI and the Teaching. The CPD on offer in the school this year includes: 

• Evidence Based Education’s Behaviour and Culture programme, which is part of the Teacher Toolkit. 

• OLEVI’s Power of Coaching Programme  

• The opportunity to work towards Chartered Status with the Chartered College of Teaching. 

Add Chartered College ‘Be the Difference’ page from the Wisbech Hub info. 

As part of the Brooke Weston Trust we can also offer exceptional professional learning from the Trust including: 

• The Brooke Weston Trust Centre for Professional Development – explore the CPD Toolkit and brochure to find out more about the courses on offer to Brooke Weston Trust employees.  

• The Brooke Weston Trust Leadership Academy 

• Access to courses at the Northamptonshire Teaching School Hub which is run by Brooke Weston Trust. 

• Free membership of the Chartered College of Teaching for Brooke Weston Trust teachers and teaching assistants. 

Around 15-20 mandatory training sessions for ECTs and Teach First staff take place throughout the year.

There are also frequent whole-school CPD sessions during the course of the year, some of which are differentiated depending on need. They usually have a teaching and learning focus linked to the academy’s expectations and strategy.

Every week, there is some form of training going on, whether that is whole-school CPD or departmental training.

Staff can also benefit from opportunities available through the Brooke Weston Trust Ambition Hub. The Ambition Hub will provide professional development opportunities for staff with diverse roles across the Trust, as well as for staff at differing career stages. There are courses offered for both Teaching and support staff and cover the themes of teaching and learning, leadership, safeguarding and other wider topics.

As well as teacher training programmes, within the Ambition Hub we have the Teaching School which offers NPQs (National Professional Qualifications) in partnership with Ambition School Leadership to enable staff to progress to middle leader, senior leader and headship roles.

Another key element is the school-to-school support offered by the Teaching School. Specialist Leaders of Education and Local Leaders of Education work together to drive continued school improvement.

• Flexible and Family friendly policies  as part of Brooke Weston Trust we have generous policies for maternity leave, paternity leave, flexible working, and discretionary leave.  

  

  Breakfast and lunches– subsidised meals for all staff who chose to eat in our restaurants and dining areas. We offer fresh and nutritious meals every day, prepared in-house by our catering team. 

  Pay– main scale teachers receive automatic pay progression each September, and support staff receive automatic pay progression each September up to the top of their pay grade. All colleagues are part of a supportive and developmental approach to career progression. 

  Wellbeing Day– all staff are entitled to one wellbeing day each year. Colleagues can choose how to spend the day, for example, spending time with loved ones, pursuing a personal interest or taking time to relax. 

  Find out more about how we promote a healthy work life balance here. 

  Chartered College of Teaching– all teachers and teaching assistants are given free membership of the Chartered College of Teaching.  Find out more about our partnership with the Chartered College of Teaching here. 

  Laptops – we issue laptops to all teaching staff. 

  Brooke Weston Trust Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group – promotes recognising diversity and creating a supporting environment, where everyone feels valued and able to be themselves. 

  Find out more about the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion group here. 

• Click here to view the staff benefits of working for the Brooke Weston Trust