Eight reasons to work for the National Institute of Teaching
Why should you come and work for the NIoT? For us, it’s about culture. We spend a lot of time thinking about the culture that we cultivate for our staff. We’re not perfect—no organisation is—but we are committed to fostering a work environment that empowers and rewards our team to thrive, both professionally and personally. As we are in startup mode, it is very fast paced and there is a lot to do. We are working hard to create a culture that supports our employees to have a healthy work-life balance.
We’ve pulled out the eight best things about working here. It’s not exhaustive – there are lots more things that we offer, and a few things we want to get right. But if you are considering a move to NIoT, we’ve got a strong employee offer. Come and talk to us!
Passionate and dedicated staff with a startup spirit
One of the most striking aspects of NIoT is the remarkable passion and dedication our employees bring to their roles. Our team works hard to make NIoT a success; their enthusiasm is palpable. Our supportive and dynamic environment allows our team members to contribute to shaping and building the foundation and future of our organisation. We are committed to continuous improvement and actively seek feedback from our staff, through initiatives such as our All Staff Away Days and we also have an anonymous staff feedback system to ensure everyone’s voice is heard.
This feedback is analysed and considered when developing and shaping policies and benefits that reflect our teams’ needs, so that staff can say, “I was a part of that.”
Generous annual leave policies
One of the standout benefits at NIoT is our generous holiday allowance. We understand the importance of taking time off to recharge and spend time with friends and loved ones. That's why we offer a generous 27 days of annual leave, which increases to 33 days after five years of service, plus the additional eight bank holidays. This generous leave policy underscores our commitment to employee well-being and satisfaction.
Investing in your tomorrow with our pension commitment
One of the big benefits we offer is the opportunity to join the Local Government Pension Scheme. This is particularly appealing for those joining us from schools, local authorities or the civil service, as they can seamlessly continue with their existing pension arrangements. We want to attract and retain top talent – and a good pension is a real draw.
Comprehensive parental leave
We offer parental leave policies that go beyond statutory requirements and are fully inclusive. Our maternity/pregnant parent/primary adopter leave policy offers 18 weeks full pay instead of just statutory pay, and new fathers/partners can enjoy three weeks of full paternity/co-parent pay. This policy reflects our commitment to supporting our employees during significant life events. We believe in doing more than just the basics to support families through life’s significant moments.
Hybrid working: The best of both worlds
Our hybrid working model allows employees to split their time between the office and home. The time spent in the office is based on business need and is decided collaboratively between the employee and their line manager and tailored to best fit the role, while giving flexibility, for example, to do the school run when possible.
During busy periods, employees may need to be in the office more, but when it’s quieter, they have the flexibility to work from home.
A culture of trust and mutual respect
Our flexible working model is built on a foundation of trust. We don’t believe in micromanaging every second of work with the need for constant oversight; instead, we trust our employees to manage their own schedules and responsibilities and to perform their functions effectively. We believe that employees should not have to prove every second that they work. This philosophy of give and take has been well received and is very effective in fostering mutual respect and appreciation, which motivates and engages our staff to perform at their best, whether they're working from home or the office. It’s a give-and-take relationship that has proven to be highly effective and appreciated by our team.
Learning and Development
We support teachers and senior leaders to make time for quality professional development, but it’s equally important to extend that right to our staff. It is an exciting time, as we are currently developing the Learning and Development policy which links to the culture we are trying to create. A culture of continuous learning, where training is more than a tick box exercise or attending a course.
The Bigger Picture
I think for most staff, a fundamental reason everyone works so hard and at such a pace in this start-up mode is that we want to make a difference to education. We know that through the work that we do every day, we are supporting leaders and teachers to do their best for the children they serve.
This is what makes us a great place to work and why our employees are so passionate about making NIoT a success.
I started at NIoT in mid-January after working in HR Management for a MAT which included 9 secondary schools and I could see the negative effect the retention and recruitment crisis was having on the children in our schools.
The people who work here are so passionate about making a real, tangible difference to education and to children’s lives and are working so hard to achieve. For me, that is what makes NIoT special and such a great place to work.