All our staff are eligible to join a pension scheme: support staff can join the Local Government Pension Scheme and teaching staff can join the Teachers’ Pension Scheme. To be part of the scheme, the Laidlaw Schools Trust commits to making generous employer contributions, substantially increasing the contributions to your pension.

You don’t pay tax or national insurance on your contributions and your contributions are deducted automatically before tax is calculated.

Life assurance cover is provided for employees as part of the pension schemes: both schemes have a 3 x salary life assurance to cover death in service. Once you are retired, both schemes enable your spouse or civil partner to receive a pension after your death.

All staff are entitled to opt-out of the pension scheme should they wish to do so.

Through this great scheme you can save 25-39% on a new bike for work.  You choose a bike, hire it for an agreed length of time with interest free credit then purchase it for a fraction of its original value.

The Cycle Scheme operates as a ‘salary sacrifice’ employee benefit. This means that you agree to give up part of your salary in exchange for a benefit – in this instance the benefit is a bike and/or accessory. The salary sacrifice is taken from your gross salary (before tax) which means that you will pay less Income Tax and National insurance.

All our support staff on full time 52 weeks a year contracts benefit from a holiday allowance of 25 days, in addition to any Bank or Public holidays and, to reward your loyalty, this entitlement rises to 30 days after 5 years continuous service.  Part time staff get a pro rata share of the same benefits. Term time only support staff receive the standard school holiday allowance of 13 weeks per year, including Bank or Public holidays, with term dates set by the academy: in addition to Bank or Public Holidays, 25 days (pro-rata) of this holiday leave is paid, rising to 30 days after 5 years continuous service. Teaching staff also get the standard school holiday allowance of 13 weeks per year, including Bank or Public holidays, with term dates set by the academy.

LST staff have free access to our three gyms at Academy 360 in Sunderland, Excelsior Academy in Newcastle and Sedgefield Community College in Sedgefield. Full induction is given, and colleagues can participate in all classes and training sessions.

As a learning organisation we have at the heart of the trust a commitment to developing our people and supporting their progression. Within the careers ladder to we offer bespoke and nationally accredited CPD, for example:

• Short bespoke or national programmes specific to a particular development need or priority of the trust or school
• Career stage programmes to help you progress to the next rung, maybe in-house or nationally accredited
• Secondment and special project opportunities to broaden your experience and demonstrate knowledge and skills.
• Cross Trust networking and development. Working across all schools in very different contexts enabling the sharing of expertise and best practice with a diverse group of seriously talented professionals.

With the generous support of our sponsor The Laidlaw Foundation, we are currently building a teaching and leadership academy at Sedgefield Community College, an outstanding teaching school within the Trust. This is in partnership with Durham University’s School of Education. We will be providing top class training all the way from ITT, to aspirant leaders and executive leaders.

Colleagues within the Trust will have access to training and development at the academy, and also have the opportunity to share their knowledge and expertise with trainees – we believe at LST that everyone has a part to play in our professional growth and enrichment.

The health and wellbeing of our colleagues is top priority. As well as a highly professional HR team we have established an online staff hub which provides advice, information and support. We have invested in AXA PPP Healthcare employee assistance programme providing a 24 hour support line providing one to one qualified help for emotional, mental and physical health concerns; financial advice; and specific counselling. LST also commissions an external counselling service available to colleagues for on-going therapeutic sessions where necessary.

We have a health and wellbeing statement which highlights the importance we place on ensuring colleagues are supported. It encourages practices that drive work life balance across the Trust. Written in conjunction with colleagues it provides a framework to respect each other and be mindful of unnecessary pressure.