Working with us

A message from the Principal, Michael Whitworth

Chobham Academy is always on the lookout for inspirational and influential staff. Most of all, we are on the lookout for potential colleagues who like our students and want to help them succeed. We understand that if staff are to give their best to our students over a sustained period of time, then the school needs to provide them with the best deal possible. We want or staff team to be well motivated and well looked after. If your time at Chobham is to be happy, then it needs to be rewarding and professionally fulfilling.

In order to help our staff have the best possible experience and achieve a proper work- life balance, we have put into place a range of measures to benefit both our teaching and students services colleagues. These include:

An extra week of holiday for all Chobham staff. This takes the form of a two-week half term in October. We work fewer days than most other schools.
Outstanding professional development both at Chobham and through the wider Harris Federation
Excellent promotion opportunities
A constant dialogue about workload and how to manage it most effectively. We have regular workload audits, an active and an active wellbeing programme and frequent campaigns to tackle unnecessary work and identify quick wins
Rapid and effective support with any student behavioural issues arising
A high-quality staff induction programme
Marking protocols devised by departments themselves
Manageable and flexile lesson planning explanations
Clear communications and manageable deadlines. We only ask staff to do what is necessary and avoid complication and confusion. Chobham is an exceptionally well-run school.
Learning walks rather than formal lesson observations. These are not graded.
Nursery on site
Flexible and part time working encouraged whenever possible
Additional time for leadership responsibilities
Focus on effective outcomes rather than time spent
High levels of admin support for all teachers
On-going celebration of staff excellence

Other benefits of working at Chobham:

World class facilities for learning, leisure and sport. A school which is genuinely at the heart of its local community
The advantages of working or the country’s most successful major Academy group. These include amazing consultant support and a range of high-quality central services.
Generous Harris rewards and benefits package, including an extra £2000 annually for all teachers working in our academy.

Wellbeing

At Chobham, we regard staff wellbeing as being central to the school’s purpose and to its success. Our desire to offer an outstanding wellbeing programme is part of our deep desire to help all colleagues feel happy and valued at Chobham.

We understand that while it is incredibly rewarding, teaching is also a physically and emotionally wearing job. We want Chobham teachers to be as fit and fresh as possible and to know that the school as a community really cares about how they are. We have tried to put these principles into practice with a number of initiatives which we think give Chobham teachers one of the best wellbeing packages to be found anywhere. These include:

A meeting free week every half term
An extra week of holiday with a two-week half term in the Autumn
A late start or early finish for every teacher on one day each week
A day off in the summer term for 99% attendance
A staff mindfulness programme led by trained colleagues and supported by a free mindfulness app
Subsidised gym membership
Staff fitness and exercise classes
Guest speakers on wellbeing
Regular special events such as comedy nights
The ‘Perkbox’ package of financial benefits
Staff discounts at shops and restaurants in the local area
Access to the Harris Federation’s staff counselling service

Our staff are regularly consulted on the wellbeing services the school provides and we always try to respond to staff suggestions. In this way, staff feel empowered and get more of the services they really want.

We are very proud of our wellbeing programme at Chobham and hope you will agree that it shows our commitment to making the school an exemplary working environment.

Click here to view our staff wellbeing charter.

What kind of people are we looking for?

First and foremost, you must like working with children and be good at it
You must be highly skilled in the role you are applying for or else willing and able to learn in post
You must show a passion for education and improving the life chances of London children
You should be willing to contribute to the wider life of the Academy (running clubs, attending events)
You should be highly motivated, like working as part of a team and possess excellent communication skills
You must hold appropriate qualifications for the roe you are applying for

Please take a look at our website to find out more about the school. If you would like to someone about the role before applying, please contact our Human Resources department in the first instance, hr@chobhamacademy.org.uk .

Training to be a teacher at Chobham Academy

At Chobham, we regard training new teachers as central to our purpose as a school.

Many of our current teachers trained here at Chobham. Other colleagues have trained as teachers here and then moved on in due course to other schools.

We train new teachers via the School Direct programme, run in partnership with the Harris Federation.

If you are a graduate who is interested in training to be a teacher then you may be eligible for a place on School Direct. It does not matter whether you have just graduated or whether you have been working in another career for a period. All expressions of interest are welcomed. School Direct is an excellent school based training programme which gives participants experience of being in the classroom whilst they train, together with regular days out of school to look in depth at the theories underpinning successful classroom practice. The out of school element of the programme is administered by the Harris Federation which has an outstanding reputation for initial teacher training.

If you would like to find out more about School Direct please contact us at hr@chobhamacademy.org.uk