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WORK FOR US

Whichever role you perform, when you join one of our primary or secondary academies as a member of our support staff or as a teacher, you will be part of a dynamic, exciting and friendly Trust.

Whether you are happiest in the classroom or working behind the scenes in one of many support roles, your contribution to the goals and success of the Vale Academy Trust is valued. Our schools could not function without important facilities such as catering, cleaning, office administration and site management. As either an employee or volunteer, wherever you are based you are assured of a warm welcome, whether it be in one of our smaller primary schools, larger secondary academies or at the Trust’s Central Offices.

With our academies situated within 10 miles of each other around Wantage and Abingdon, we support the educational provision of more than 4000 children and young people from 3 to 18 and have around 650 members of staff working for us, making us the largest employer in the area. 

What benefits does the Trust offer to its employees?

  • A Defined Benefit Pension Scheme with favourable terms for all employees
  • (Teachers Pension for Teachers; LGPS for Support Staff)
  • Employee centred and family friendly policies and practises that support you in and beyond your workplace.
  • Offering flexible working wherever we can, in order to support the work life balance of our employees.
  • Enhanced sick pay, maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave.
  • Competitive holiday entitlement for support staff
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Funded eye tests and glasses for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)
  • Access to Occupational Health and an Employee Assistance Programme

Our academies situated in and around the Wantage area include:

Charlton Primary School - Wantage

King Alfred’s Academy - Wantage

Millbrook Primary School - Grove

St James C of E Primary School – East Hanney

St Nicholas C of E Primary School – East Challow

Wantage C of E Primary School - Wantage

Our academies based in Abingdon are:

Larkmead School

Thameside Primary School

We are a diverse workforce; we offer excellent career progression, equality of opportunity and continued professional development to those who seek to join us, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or physical need.

Newly qualified teachers benefit from the excellent Early Career Framework training delivered by OTSA (Oxfordshire Teaching Schools Association) and can also access  developmental opportunities across the trust.

Our bespoke Leadership Development Programme provides aspiring leaders with opportunities to develop their understanding of leadership and work more collaboratively across Trust schools to support their route to senior leadership.

For those with a passion and talent in a specific area of learning, there are opportunities to specialise and share expertise by becoming a Trust Leading Teacher or Specialist Teaching Assistant. In addition, there are opportunities to take part in wider training and development such as National College of Education training and the newly launched National Professional Qualifications.

Our close proximity as a group of schools means that working in partnership is thoroughly embedded. As well as many informal collaborations that arise naturally, we have a programme of school improvement activities which we undertake together. Heads meet regularly to discuss strategy and direction of the trust; a wide range of forums meet several times a year to support each other and develop best practice; subject leads and senior leaders support deep dives and school reviews; all teachers meet for shared moderation such as writing.