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Staff Vacancies
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WORKING WITH US
A warm welcome to Ortu Hassenbrook Academy to all prospective staff. We are a small, popular and harmonious 11-16 secondary school with an exciting future. Together, we are on an improvement journey across the board from our increasing student roll, improvements in GCSE results and Ofsted outcomes.
We are a hard working team and we work collegiately to transform the learning for all our students and, because we are small (but mighty) every student is known, nurtured and developed to their full potential. We are also keen to develop the potential of all our staff so if you are enthusiastic, student-centred and dedicated to raising standards we want you to be part of our team.
To find out more about our supportive professional environment, first rate opportunities for continuing professional development and progression, the benefits of working with us, what our staff say and the benefits of living and working in the area download our staff prospectus. A summary is detailed here.
Benefits:
We have a broad range of incentives from financial to wellbeing schemes and packages including:
- Flexible and part-time opportunities: we are part-time friendly with approximately one third of our team working part-time hours.
- Family friendly leave scheme: there is a pool of staff who cover for colleagues to attend a wide range of family commitments involving their children’s assemblies, concerts and plays, to name but a few.
- An extra-long October half term break of 2 weeks.
- Staff concessions at Ortu Corringham Primary School’s Nursery (operates 50 weeks of the year from 7am-7pm).
- Relocation packages available for anyone currently living outside of Essex.
- Grants as part of Thurrock Council’s key workers housing scheme for buying or renting.
- A 15% discount at Impulse Leisure gyms on offer to all teachers and teaching assistants.
- Use of the SmartSpending app ‘OrtuYou’ – giving access to hundreds of discounts and cashback offers including entertainment and days out.
- Childcare vouchers.
- A full staff wellbeing programme including use of the school’s on-site sports and multi gym.
- Social gatherings for all staff with outings to London theatres, shopping trips, Christmas parties, quiz nights and much more.
Career and progression opportunities:
Our aim is to offer a personalised learning experience for every student to capture their aspirations. In order for this to happen, we will be investing in you and your future. Whatever your aspirations, we have an opportunity for you. Here’s what you can expect from us:
- Excellent opportunities for progression.
- Strong team work ethos, working collegiately for the benefit of all.
- Clear, disciplined and open-minded leadership.
- The recognition of potential and commitment to developing each member of staff.
- Determination, commitment and drive to succeed.
- Providing opportunities for all.
We are committed to our continued professional development programme that is personalised for each individual member of staff and we want everyone to feel empowered to develop their leadership skills. We offer every member of the team the following:
- A personal mentor.
- A detailed induction programme for all new members of staff including a buddy to support you in your first year.
- A full coaching programme.
- A personal career and training plan.
- A full CPD programme at school level and jointly with the Trust, tailored to meet the needs of all staff.
- Subject experts supporting each other across the Trust.
- A range of opportunities to undertake specific programmes, eg. NPQH, NPQSL and NPQML.
- A successful Early Careers Teachers programme sponsored by the Department for Education.
Living and working in the area:
Stanford-le-Hope is situated in the south of Essex close to the Thames Estuary within the unitary authority of Thurrock. Thurrock is currently undergoing one of the largest regeneration projects in Europe, making it a magnet for growth and investment. £20 billion worth of investment is planned for homes, jobs and infrastructure, including £6 billion being invested in private sector jobs. £100 million has also been set aside to be invested in Thurrock’s schools.
In 2017, a RightMove survey found Stanford to be one of the top 10 happiest places to live in the UK. The town’s other main claim to fame is that the esteemed novelist, Joseph Conrad, both lived and wrote in the area.
Stanford is well connected to nearby towns and cities by both road and rail. Railway links offer quick and direct links into the city of London and it is also the closest station to the DP World London Gateway. The town is an equidistant 30 minute drive by car to Southend or Chelmsford, the train journey into London’s capital is just 50 minutes, Southend Airport is only a 30-minute drive away, while London Stansted can be reached in 45 minutes by car. The Ebbsfleet Eurostar terminal is also just a 25 minute drive away, making weekend getaways much more achievable and affordable.
The ancient town is surrounded by countryside and farmland and is home to St Margaret’s Church which is close to 800 years old. The River Hope, a tributary of the Thames, runs through the town and locally there are a number of parks and nature reserves, notably Thurrock Thameside Nature Reserve. The park offers 120 acres of nature and is great for bird watching, ship watching and stunning views. On warm, summer days, Canvey Island and Southend-on-Sea offer the perfect, picturesque beach relaxation spots.
Foodies will love the awarding winning Bell Inn; a 15th century coaching inn that offers a simple menu that is inspired by the local area. There are a handful of shops located on the high street whilst Thurrock is home to one of the largest shopping areas in a single location within Europe, The Intu Lakeside Shopping Centre and Lakeside Retail Park.
Family-friendly attractions nearby include Cascades pool in Gravesend, Diggerland Kent in Strood and Barnards Miniature Railway in West Horndon. For sports fans, St Cleres Hall Golf Club and Orsett Golf Course are close by while Dunton Hills Family Golf Centre also has a driving range and mini golf for the youngsters.
For local history, there is the 16th century Tilbury Fort where you can find out all about its role protecting London and the Thames right through to the Second World War; Coalhouse Fort in East Tilbury is a volunteer-run site, open one Sunday each month and other places of interests include Barleylands Farm Park in Billericay, Langdon Hills Country Park, and Wat Tyler Country Park in Basildon.
Average house prices throughout Thurrock are significantly lower and more affordable than those in nearby London. The average house price in Thurrock was reported by This is Money in 2016 at £192,576. These figures are incomparable to the rising average in London of £531,000. House values have been consistently rising in Thurrock with a 15.1% increase last year.
Grants are now also available to many Thurrock teachers as part of the Council’s key workers housing scheme. This could mean you qualify for help to buy your first home, move into a family home, or rent a home at an affordable price.
Thurrock Council have recently partnered with Impulse Leisure to offer all teachers and teaching assistants in the Thurrock borough with a 15% discount to Impulse Leisure gyms including Belhus Park, Blackshots and Corringham. The package includes access to more than 140 classes a week, three swimming pools, a golf course, three modern fitness suites and a free gym induction.
What our staff say:
Sam Toman, Literacy across the Curriculum & Teacher of English
“I have worked across three Trust schools over the last 11 years gaining cross-sector and specialism experience along the way. I originally trained as an English teacher at Ortu Gable Hall, then became a speech and language teacher at Ortu Corringham Primary and am now furthering my career at Ortu Hassenbrook developing and sharing resources across the Trust. The staff team is friendly, supportive and encouraging and it’s so rewarding to work with our amazing young people. I am so fortunate to have a flexible working contract that allows me to work four days a week whilst raising my young family. Being a small school is also such a positive – every teacher knows every students’ name and every young person is seen and heard. I love it here – the warm family atmosphere, I’m a Stanford-le-Hope girl and Hassenbrook is home from home – I never want to work anywhere else.”
Harry Walker, Teacher of English & Head of Year 10
“I am a History and Politics graduate from Durham University. Following the Teach First programme in the summer of 2017, I joined the school in the September and have never looked back. There is a really lovely warm environment at Ortu Hassenbrook and I enjoy working with the students and staff. I have learned so much about myself and teaching in general and I have been provided with many opportunities for progression and promotion. The coaching programme is excellent and the Rosenshine initiative, with regular drop-ins from a lead practitioner, has helped me be a better teacher and improved my confidence. I’m happy in my job and I am having a truly positive experience.”
Yee Lau, Head of Science
“I joined Ortu Hassenbrook in November 2017 and my career continues to flourish here. I enjoy the small school environment and the vision, values and ethos of our school. I have always been supported and developed and I currently have a Rosenshine coach who has refined and enhanced my teaching skills. I feel empowered to be a better and confident teacher and I am also a coach and a mentor to other members of staff in different departments. The range of opportunities on offer have been at career level and personally and are fulfilling my current ambitions; as well as running projects and initiatives, I have experienced first-hand a senior role, and the school and Trust has been unwavering in their support of my volunteer journey to serve the community as a Magistrate.
Marcus Bradley-Stevenson, Teacher of PE & Head of Year 8
“I joined Ortu Hassenbrook in October 2017 and chose it mainly because it was a small school with a small PE department – I knew I could make a big impact as I am the only male PE teacher. I have made rapid progression in my career at Hassenbrook and am currently being supported through the early career teaching framework and I have a mentor. There is currently a lot of money being pumped into Sports in Essex and my professional development is second to none as I have been able to be involved in a wide range of courses from basketball coaching to assessment without levels and mental health in PE.”
Amita Benedetti, Head of English
“I love it here at Ortu Hassenbrook Academy. It is my third year and I cannot think of a more supportive place to work. The students are fantastic – they are really humble, eager to learn, and incredibly grateful for the learning and support they receive from their teachers. I always wanted a role where I could make a difference to the lives of young people, and Hassenbrook has allowed me to do that. It’s been wonderful to see the visible transformation in our students: in their attitudes, their confidence, and their aspirations, and in the school as a whole, and to be part of that change. Being part of a Trust also has its advantages as it provides ample opportunities for cross-trust collaboration and CPD. The management team is incredibly supportive and is sponsoring me to undertake my NPQSL programme in 2020 so I can further develop my knowledge, skills and confidence in leading change across my setting. I will also be training as a teaching and learning coach over the course of this academic year. I hope to progress to a senior leadership role with the opportunity to make an impact not just in the classroom, but at a whole school level.”
Download our staff recruitment pack here Ortu_HSB Staff Prospectus 2020
information also visit: https://www.teachinginthurrock.co.uk
