Staff retention is great - Teaching Assistant Pivot Academy Employee Review

There are some fantastic students here and a great team of staff. I enjoy that every day is different, which keeps the role interesting. It’s lovely to see how much so many staff genuinely care about the students and put their needs first. I’m fortunate to work with such a supportive team, and I’m really grateful for that.

The workplace can feel quite cliquey, and it often seems that opportunities and treatment depend on whether your face fits or who you’re friends with. There also appears to be inconsistency in how policies are enforced. For example, some staff are challenged for minor issues, such as wearing sunglasses on their head, while others are not spoken to despite displaying visible tattoos that could be considered inappropriate in a school setting. I have also found some members of the SLT to be blunt and, at times, dismissive, particularly if you are not part of their social circle.

When I joined, I was very confused about the dynamics of how this school works, as it was completely different from my previous workplace, which I had always rated highly (work ethics). It was a massive difference for me. But after a few years of experience, I can say that the best thing about working here is recognition. You get recognition for what you do. If you look at the bigger picture and stay sincere in your role, the senior leadership recognizes you(including head teacher/deputy). I didn't realize this until I had worked there for a year (sometimes you have to go above and beyond). Senior leadership team (lead practitioners especially) are always there to listen to you whenever you need them, without any prior notice. One more thing, the school believes in unity in diversity (which explains everything).

Politics within the staff is something that can be found at most workplaces, and it exists here as well. No matter how good you try to become, you are a bad guy being discussed in others' chats/groups, and it never stops. People don't normally use direct channels to report things; in fact, they go straight to the top leadership. I just found this a bit different.