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Whether you're a permanent teacher, supply teacher or student teacher, you'll find others in the same situation on our Staffroom forum.

Working with large academy chains

9 replies

amnm · 04/04/2022 23:55

I've seen a few jobs at middle leadership level with some of the big and well-known academy chains in London that would interest me, but have been put off by some of the rumours I've heard work there about a terrible work culture. Would anyone have any experience of working in them and be able to share what it was like? I've no problem with working hard and being challenged etc. but I am a bit put off by some of the high turnover.

OP posts:
AnxiousHeffalump · 05/04/2022 11:52

Avoid. You will regret it.

MsGoodenough · 06/04/2022 12:26

I've also heard nothing but bad things I'm afraid.

EmJay19 · 07/04/2022 10:41

I went to a big chain for middle leadership role and then had a promotion while there so senior leader role. I only lasted a year but got a job at the same level when I left so was kind of worth it

themonkeysnuts · 10/04/2022 17:59

bad idea,
i work in one , would love to leave but i know i could never get past an interview elsewhere

Seaweasel · 11/04/2022 08:08

Did school direct and then NQT year in one then got out. Would not go back under any circumstances. I too am comfortable with challenge and hard work but there is a reason for the high staff turnover.

Partyatnumber10 · 11/04/2022 10:31

@themonkeysnuts

bad idea, i work in one , would love to leave but i know i could never get past an interview elsewhere
Can I ask why you think that? I only ask because I've been "stuck" in jobs before because of my own lack of confidence.

Op I'd say it very much depends on the academy chain, they're not all the same. Some are dire, others are better so you need to research the specific one you want to apply for.

cierzo · 08/05/2022 14:39

Worked originally as a consultant, where I sorted out the mess, while someone else got hired, suppose to train them and move on. role got changed and I finished doing a junior role and on top of that they want me to do it at the same salary for 2 of their entities, it was madness, just o save money, they staff were mostly nice, apart from the Seniors and many got made redundant and hire as consultants, so they could keep the headcount down on records, it was one of the biy multiacademies, people were overworked, and the people were leaving in quiet big numbers. Many people started working therebecause they wereinterested in education and children, but they lost the will during there, they were hoping as being classified as a "charity" all was rosie, but not, it was run as a business, and the big fat cats were earning a lot for little in return. Sadly, i had also a bad experience as a parent of a child that wasted their 4 yrs in another of these multiacademies, and it was a dredful, staff were not supported, most of them were un-experience, and some didn't have any vocation to the teaching job. Most of the management haven't even being a teacher, and plainly were trying to climb the ladder of the company. Management came and go quickly, also the teaching and support staff, safeguarding was not taken care of properly, absolutely shambles. So, I would avoid any academy job, and for sending children there. There is also no accountability when things go wrong, and as they work autonomous, it seems tax payers are funding this, and no one can't touch them, as tey do not need to report to any LA or DfE.

RhubarbFairy · 08/05/2022 16:46

I've worked for two. A big one that I left earlier this year and I'm now part of a huge one. Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

It seems to me that they plough their money into the flagship schools which they show off, and everywhere else gets nothing.

WitchWithoutChips · 10/05/2022 09:58

They are not all created equal. You need to talk to people with direct and recent personal experience. For what it is worth I have had good experiences with the one that sounds like it would be useful in a flood.

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