Bulletin
Week Commencing
15 July 2024
Look after yourself
Work is a part of life, not all of it.
Find the balance that fuels your ambition
and nourishes your soul.
Protecting your well-being and managing your workload is essential for anyone working in a school. We are all passionate about what we do and we care a lot but it's all too easy to pour every ounce of energy into our roles, often at the expense of your own health and happiness. Maintaining a balance between our professional responsibilities and our personal lives is not just important—it's crucial.
In the digital world we live in, it’s tempting to be available around the clock, responding to emails and working on documents, reports and data well into the evening and weekends. Of course, we all have times when we feel under the quash and we end up burning the midnight oil but this shouldn't be the norm.
In our profession, we recognise that the to-do-lists we write are never complete, we never get to the bottom of them as there’s always more added on. There’s also those constant conflicting priorities and curveballs that come in, so it is really important for us to draw the line somewhere to protect our health, well-being and relationships and where that line will be will be different for everyone.
Simple changes that could make a massive difference:
●Turning off email notifications on your phone, tablet or smart watch
●Having a cut off time for working in the evenings, including looking at emails
●If you do decide to email in the evening, schedule send the email so you’re not disturbing others evenings and weekends
As a school leader I encourage my team to do all of the above (as I’m sure all do) and I also inform parents not to expect replies to emails they send to staff in the evening. I hope in turn, that the parent community will respect that school staff have personal lives too and aren’t available 24/7. Most issues can most definitely wait until the next day so don’t be tempted to reply in haste.
Sometimes we can feel guilt or embarrassment that we’ve prioritised ourselves or our family as we feel a deep sense of responsibility and dedication to the children and the teams around us, often leading to the belief that their personal needs should come second. However, it's important to remember that you are a person first. Investing time in hobbies, family, and friends is ok. Engaging in activities you love and spending time with loved ones recharges your batteries, making you more effective and resilient in your professional role. There's no need to feel guilty about taking time for yourself. A well-rounded life makes you better at your role.
As the end of this busy academic year draws nearer, it may be time to think about some new school year resolutions and maybe there could be one that prioritises some boundaries and me time!
Look after yourself.
Sarah Carrington, Executive Headteacher
Stoughton Infants and Northmead Juniors
Start of term
02 September
Trust wide inset day
02 September
Trust wide inset day
03 September
HT Meeting
12 September
SBM meeting
18 September
Trustee Board meeting
26 September
HR meeting
01 October
Resources Committee
15 October
Trust Premises Staff meeting
17 October
Education Committee
22 October
HT meeting
07 November
Notable dates and meetings
leading schools where children thrive
School lmprovement
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT continued
your
2024/25
cpld
awaits
leading schools where children thrive
VACANCIES
Head of Finance
George Abbot School
Click here to apply
We are seeking to appoint a well-qualified and motivated Head of Finance to lead on financial management and provide a comprehensive strategic and operational support service at George Abbot School, Sandfield Primary and Shalford Infant School, utilising high-level specialist knowledge and training.
The post holder will have responsibility for providing a highly effective finance service for the schools, developing and implementing financial plans, ensuring long term financial health. They will lead teams of finance personnel, work with stakeholders across our community and ensure sound financial control throughout our schools.
This is a rewarding and varied role that is an essential part of the support service provided to our schools.
The post-holder must provide an efficient and high-quality service, have excellent administrative skills, be competent manipulating data and record keeping, be organised and have proven experience of financial and budgetary controls.
Location - George Abbot School
Contract type – 36 hours per week, term-time only
Hours – flexible, Monday-Friday
Contract term – Permanent to start September/October 2024
Salary - LP 10: £45,844-£49,767 dependant on experience
To view all vacancies across the trust click here
leading schools where children thrive
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT continued
LEARNING PARTNERS Staff Benefits
Cycle To Work Scheme
A 12-month direct debit membership of £50 per month (instead of £72) and can be cancelled within the 12-month commitment period (with a calendar months’ notice) if there is a change in circumstances that falls within the terms and conditions. This includes a health issue or injury, redundancy, pregnancy, relocation, etc.
Additionally, there is a 20% partner discount available for anyone who joins alongside Learning Partners members providing they link their membership payments together.
This operates as a “salary sacrifice” employee benefit, in this instance the benefit is a bike and/or accessories). The salary sacrifice is taken from your gross salary, therefore you will make savings on income tax and national insurance. The bike can also be used for general use, so you don’t actually have to use it to cycle to work!
Click here for further information and to sign up
Access to Wisdom a health and mental wellbeing app
Click here for further information
This app is linked to our employee assistance programme,Health Assured, and gives you access to a dedicated wellbeing counsellor using live messaging and vido calls. The health hub can track your mood, help you set health plans, give mini health checks and support with breathing techniques.
Octopus Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme
Supporting the UK government’s push towards an electric vehicle revolution, we are operating the Learning Partners Academy Trust Electric Car Scheme, in partnership with Octopus Electric Vehicles (OEV).
You can drive a brand-new electric car* using part of your gross salary, making savings on income tax and national insurance. You will pay some company car tax (Benefit in Kind) but the rates for electric cars are extremely low until 2025.
*Subject to eligibility and you signing the Learning Partners Academy Trust Driver Handbook.
You can save up to 40% on driving a brand-new electric car with maintenance, tyres and more included, plus insurance. There are some added extras too, including a home charger, funded with a standard installation, and 4,000 miles of free home charge or 4,000 miles public charge on the Electroverse + £50 home credit, if you switch to Octopus Energy at home. T&Cs can be found here.
Click here for further information and our unique code to sign up
Nuffield Health Discounted Membership
Learning Partners Academy Trust and Nuffield Health have teamed up to offer a 30% discount to all Learning Partner employees at Guildford Nuffield.
There are two membership options available with the 30% discount. The pricing for these options is as follows:
1. A monthly rolling membership of £61 per month (instead of £87) and can be cancelled with a calendar months’ notice at any time during the membership.
Click here for further information
leading schools where children thrive
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT continued
LEARNING PARTNERS Staff Benefits
Free Will Writing Service
Discounts for Teachers
& Ode Cashback Card
Learning Partners Academy Trust and Estate Planning and Will Writing specialists Dunham McCarthy are able to offer you a free will writing service to help you plan for your future, protecting your family and loved ones. The free service is provided remotely, either by telephone or video call, at a time to suit you. You will have an adviser to help you complete each step from start to finish.
All Learning Partners staff, in any role (not just teachers), can access exclusive discounts, cashback and vouchers when they join the scheme. There are over 1200 of the biggest brands on their website and thousands of deals. Save on holidays, fashion, homeware, days out, mobiles, finance, insurance, TV and broadband and more. It’s free to join and free to use, it only takes a couple of minutes to register, and you can start saving on your purchases right away.
Click here to watch a short webinar with advice on what can be included in a will
Click here to sign up now
Click here for further information on Discounts for Teachers
Click here for further information on Ode Cashback Card
For more information and to book your initial appointment, click here
Freedom leisure - discounted membership
Freedom Leisure and Learning Partners Academy Trust can offer you discounted membership at Freedom Leisure sites in and around Surrey. There are three different packages to choose from offering various entitlements.
- Classic Corporate Plus (Peak) - £46 per month on direct debit or £460 annually (discount of 2 months free)
- Classic Corporate (Off Peak) - £37 per month on direct debit or £407 annually (discount of 1 month free)
- Connected Corporate - £51 per month or £510 annually (discount of 2 months free)
Employee Assistance Programme
The EAP is a confidential employee benefit designed to help you deal with personal and professional problems that could be affecting your home life or work life, health and general wellbeing. The helpline is available 24/7, 365 days a year.
Click here for further information
Headspace for Educators
Click here to sign up for discounted membership
Headspace offers free access to its service to anyone who works in education, all teachers and support staff.
Click here to sign up
Click here for further information
leading schools where children thrive
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT continued
LEARNING PARTNERS STAFF BENEFITS
Horizon Guildford
Surrey Sports Park
Learning Partners Academy Trust have teamed up with Surrey Sports Park to offer staff a Full Access Concession Membership Costing £47 per month (normally £60 per month) or £507.60 if paid upfront annually, a saving of £56.40.
This membership includes access to:
- Gym
- Exercise Technique Workshops
- Fitness Induction and Personalised Exercise Program
- Group Fitness & Wellbeing Classes
- Aqua Fitness Classes
- Olympic Sized Swimming Pool, Steam and Sauna
- Squash Court Bookings
- Bouldering at the Surrey Summit Climbing Centre
- Tennis Court Bookings
- Off-Peak Badminton Court Bookings
This membership type also includes the following perks, at no extra cost!
- The Treatment Room
10% discount on your first treatment and a free 10 minute consutation with one of the specialists.
- Free Weights Induction
This session is aimed at improving confidence within the free weights area. One of the fitness team will go through different equipment, demonstrating and guiding you on how to use it.
- Barbell Club
A technical session aimed at improving confidence in performing the 3 key compound movements: bench press, squat and deadlift. The session is 30 minutes long and is delivered with a maximum of 3 members to ensure that each participant gets plenty of hands-on time to go through each lift with the observation of the fitness team.
Horizon Guildford (in Merrow), part of Horizon Leisure, is a newly refurbished state-of-the-art not-for-profit charitable trust with over 25 years of experience in the health and fitness industry. With established locations in Havant and Waterlooville, Horizon Guildford marks the exciting expansion into the Guildford community. The mission is simple: to inspire more people to live healthier, happier lives. Alongside the gym, swimming facilities and classes, Horizon are passionate about promoting overall health and wellness. By becoming a corporate member, you will gain access to exceptional facilities, including a gym equipped with high-specification equipment, public swimming, sauna and steam room and over 100 weekly classes, including Les Mills experiences.
Find out more here
Horizon Guildford are delighted to offer all Learning Partners staff a discounted rate of £35 per month (usually £42 per month) for a 12-month membership commitment, along with a £10 administration fee.
If you would like to join Horizon, please contact Anita Kidgell.
akidgell@horizonic.com
leading schools where children thrive
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT continued
LEARNING PARTNERS STAFF BENEFITS
Surrey Sports Park, continued
Kings Community Sports Hub Gym
Learning Partners staff can access the new Kings Community Sports Hub Gym (at Kings College Guildford) at a discounted rate of £14.99 per month (direct debit). Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 5.00pm to 10.00pm Weekends 9.00am to 5.00pm
Click here to sign up for discounted membership
- Member Journey
- An initial appointment to find out about your goals and what you're looking to achieve
- The fitness team will then provide you with a 3-day programme and go through this with you
- Your next meeting they will go through day 2 of the programme
- After 4 weeks, you will be booked in again to find out how you're finding your membership and make any adjustments to your programme
- This is repeated once more after
- They will then check in with you after 4, 8 and 12 weeks to see how you're progressing and here you'll be offered programme reviews.
Octopus Referral Scheme
Octopus have also just launched a referral scheme where staff who sign up for an electric vehicle receive a referral code which they can pass on to any colleague(s) ordering car. When the car arrives both parties receive £50 credit to their account. There is no limit to how many times someone can share their code.
If you are interested in this membership option or are just looking to have a tour around the amazing facilities, then please visit the sales team between 10am and 5pm Monday – Friday. You just need to provide proof of your workplace.
Click here for further information
Octopus EV
Salary sacrifice and pension impact
01483 682662
While salary sacrifice schemes can be really beneficial and help you save money, it's important to understand the potential impact they can have on your pension, especially if you’re part of a defined benefit pension scheme like the Teachers Pension Scheme (TPS) or Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
sales@surreysportspark.co.uk
www.surreysportspark.co.uk
Sports Massage and Injury Rehabilitation at Kings
Click here to find out how
an EV salary sacrifice
can affect your pension
A sports therapist who rents a room at Kings College is offering all Learning Partners staff a discount for various services including:
- Sports massage
- Injury assessment and rehab
- Postural correction
- Corrective exercise
leading schools where children thrive