Why work with us?
Our Commitment to Staff Wellbeing and Workload
At FBA we are deeply committed to supporting the wellbeing of our staff and ensuring a manageable workload. We recognise that a healthy and balanced work environment is essential for fostering both personal well-being and professional growth, which in turn greatly benefit student outcomes. To this end, we prioritise open communication, encourage regular breaks, and offer resources for mental health and stress management. We actively work to streamline tasks, provide professional development opportunities, and create a supportive community where staff feel valued and empowered. Our aim is to create a sustainable, positive atmosphere where every staff member can thrive.
To achieve this we conduct the following:
Encourage efficient working practices as outlined in the DFE school workload reduction toolkit: (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/school-workload-reduction-toolkit#wellbeing)
- Clear behaviour policy with a shared language on sanctions and rewards. Support including centralised detentions and on call response.
- Marking policy devised by teachers on a full timetable whereby feedback is given every 6 lessons
- Strategic placement of INSET days
- Majority of progress reports consisting of data rather than individual comments
- Wellbeing weeks in the calendar strategically placed at pinch points in the year so no meetings take place
- Standardisation and moderation meetings scheduled to support collaboration and workload
- Co-planning sessions and shared department planning to spread the load
- Teaching timetables significantly below the national upper limit of 90%.
Ensure communication to all stakeholders is regular and effective
- One briefing per week to maintain effective communication and keep the team together
- All communications centralised through weekly staff and student bulletins shared to all staff to update on key notices of the week
- Work related email restrictions, we do not encourage weekend emails. We have a 48 hour response policy to parents/carers.
- All deadlines are staggered and published well in advance. Assessment and data calendar is shared at the start of the academic year.
Keep staff refreshed throughout the working day
- Option of free breakfast for all staff before 8am
- Option of free lunch for staff on lunch duty
- Mini-staff rooms across the school with tea, coffee, water, fridges, and microwaves
- Refreshments provided during late evenings such as parents’ evenings
Invest in staff growth and development
- Free access to the Schools Advisory Service (SAS) the Trust’s employee well-being support and medical programme. This includes 24 hour a day access to a GP helpline for you and those within your household, a counselling service, stress management, weight loss programme, physiotherapy, menopause support and much more.
- Fortnightly line management meetings with the first question focusing on wellbeing
- Investment in development of staff through CPD, coaching and learning walks
- NPQ and further qualification opportunities
- Networking and engagement links with girls’ schools in the UK and abroad through the International Coalition of Girls Schools’ (ICGS)
- CPD with a specific focus on subject development and subject-specific networking
Bringing positivity into the workplace and giving back
- Quiet staff marking room
- Well-equipped department staff rooms around the school
- Weekly staff reward recognition
- Staff birthdays recognised
- End of term staff awards
- Staff service awards
- Staff BBQ in the summer
- Staff included in the Schools’ Birthday gifts
- Staff wellbeing events
- Key staff social events during the year
