Harris Federation Employee Reviews

Harris academy battersea needs rapid improvement. a typical day at work invovles being miserable in the office, trying to question 'why did i choose this career' and why are we shambolic? Teaching is hard because the pupils behaviour are scary, I think due to the abandonment of the previous superhead behavioural system.It's hard because colleagues don't socialise as well. I fear for the school as behaviour is challenging, despite its meant to be outstanding rating.

Pros

Salary

Cons

Long hours; always feel on edge

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Awful experience- avoid if you can!

Teacher (Current Employee) - Sutton, Greater London - 20 September 2023

Workload is way too high. Hours are unreasonably long. Poor behaviour too. Avoid! Not a great place to work for teaching staff. I resigned after 2 months! Teachers leave continuously.

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Insights into Harris Federation

Based on 28 survey responses

What people like

Ability to learn new things
Ability to meet personal goals

Areas for improvement

Sense of belonging
Trust in colleagues
Support from manager

Bullying/inhuman/lack of appreciation/lack of staff support/lack of staff safety.

MFL Teacher (Former Employee) - Harris Academy St John’s Wood - 16 September 2023

Although the workload was heavy and long hours, and the poor behaviour, I was still managing working there, until the month May when I had an incident with a student, I had no support from the school management or the federation, no benefit of a doubt, liars, bullies, they didn’t have my back, manipulators, incriminating, hypocrites., control freaks. They don’t care about the education of the students or the safety of the staff, they only care about their reputation and their image. Horrible people. It’s a business not a school, it’s all about the money. I do not recommend anyone to work for this federation.

Pros

Some friendly teacher

Cons

Management and federation are bullies to staff.

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Excellent to work

Teaching Assistant (Former Employee) - Croydon, Greater London - 13 June 2023

I absolutely loved helping the children broaden their mindsets and helping them work! I found my colleagues could be quite competitive however, I always felt happy and only had a few days where i felt unhappy within the role.

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Non supportive and bullying culture

Learning Support Assistant (Former Employee) - Purfleet, Essex - 14 May 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Their perk scheme, being able to park onsite What is the most stressful part about working at the company?No support from senior management teamWhat is the work environment and culture like at the company?There is a bullying atmosphere What is a typical day like for you at the company?Working with students, adapting their work

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Excellent place to work

Head Teacher (Current Employee) - London, Greater London - 19 April 2023

Excellent organisation. Well organised and purposeful. Working hard to give children the best deal. Working hard to ensure students reach amazing heights and fulfil their potential.

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Quiete place

Cover Supervisor/Teaching Assistant (Current Employee) - London - 13 February 2023

Happy to work there with a lovely stuff in a modern building full of equipment useful and with a good tecnologie support and a clear school policy that supports a good management and behaviour

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Just awful

Technician (Former Employee) - Peckham, Greater London - 31 January 2023

I worked at a Harris Academy for a year and it was the most stressful and miserable experience of my career.Run by a demon of an ‘Executive’ Head Teacher, who created a culture of absolute misery for every staff member I came in contact with. I experienced assistant and deputy heads crying in my office due to this behaviour and being treated like dirt. I can not recommend anyone apply to work for this federation, who is more focused on power trips and ego than the well-being of their students and staff.

Pros

Nothing

Cons

Just everything

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Lovely people difficult environment

LSA / ELSA /Deputy SENCo (Current Employee) - South Norwood, London - 30 December 2022

the company is amazing at hiring and training people to the best of their ability. the support staff are friendly and have always ben helpful to both other staff and the students aswell.The down fall is the low pay grade for long term staff. It very difficult to secure a higher pay. This intern can impact your value and feeling of worth within the role.

Pros

supportive middle leaders and great support staff.

Cons

not a lot of support from senior team to students

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Uncaring Management

Finance Advisor (Current Employee) - Croydon, Greater London - 13 December 2022

Working for Harris is not worth it. All management care about is how good they look and don’t mind palming everything off to you. Very critical and not a warm work environment.

Cons

Bad management. Hostile work environment. Cliques

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Jobs at Harris Federation

Very supportive

Teaching Assistant (Former Employee) - London, Greater London - 10 November 2022

I enjoyed working for Harris academy as the team of teachers non teaching and teaching staff where very helpful with getting started with the job very good overall

Pros

Good pay

Cons

Long days

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Absolutely apalling management

Teaching Assistant (Current Employee) - London - 28 September 2022

I am so sorry I left my last job of 10 years to come to Harris the treatment of staff is unforgivable and the managers have no social skills or humanity.

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Very Stressful place to work

Teacher (Former Employee) - Falconwood and Welling - 30 June 2022

This Harris federation is the most stressful and challenging place to work in , staff encounters every day anxiety and stressful situation due to very poor behaviour of students , always short of staff , covering every day instead of planning and preparing ! If you want to be sane you need to stay away from this brand !

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Stressful environment with high turnover

Music Teacher (Current Employee) - Bromley - 28 May 2022

I was the sole music teacher for two years, this was my first teaching position and I had no support or resources. Many teachers are leaving due to the unrealistic expectations and crazy workload.

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High performing and hard working central team

Finance (Current Employee) - Croydon, Greater London - 29 March 2022

Everyone at the Federation is hard working and genuinely cares about improving outcomes for students. Colleagues are friendly and there is a good atmosphere to work in. Finance are always looking to improve.Work/life balance is improving and the pay/benefits package is good for the sector. The hardest part of the job (as with most large companies) is the decision-making timescales.

Pros

Colleagues, high performing organisation

Cons

Limited hybrid/flexible working (though this is improving), low levels of delegated authority

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Avoid!

Teacher of English (Former Employee) - Falconwood and Welling - 25 March 2022

No life work balance! The expectations set are unrealistic. You constantly are under scrutiny from SLT. It is a very stressful environment to work in.

Pros

None

Cons

Long hours, unrealistic expectations, lack of support

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Professional & Secure Employer

PA to Executive Director/Head of Academy (Current Employee) - Kent - 12 March 2022

I have worked for Harris Federation for 12 years and would see myself staying for the duration of my working life. Opportunities and progression always on offer and a job where you will feel supported. I feel proud to be part of the Harris family and the investment we all put in changing so many children's lives.

Pros

No two days the same, always interesting

Cons

Sometimes long hours to complete deadlines

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Do not work at this Academy unless you want no life!

EYFS Leader (Former Employee) - Peckham - 22 February 2022

There is no work life balance at the school and your mental health will suffer as it is very stressful. No matter how many hours and how much you put into the job they are never satisfied and always want more from you despite you doing the best you can and everything better than being at a very high standard. The pay is good but that is about the only positive. I would not recommend working for Harris Federation!

Pros

Slightly better than average pay Good resources

Cons

Long hours, no work life balance, stressful job, management not good and put too much pressure on staff, they are never happy, not recommended!

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Very organised place to work at

Physics specialist teacher (KS3-5) and Head of STEM (TLR) (Former Employee) - Crystal Palace - 20 February 2022

Very professional workplace. Disciplined and great work ethic instilled within the school. Support system is phenomenal and tha includes the Academy consultants going around assisting where applicable

Pros

Senior support and regimented work regime

Cons

Copious meetings and some work hours for some days

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Lots of CPD but limited progression opportunities

Learning Support Assistant (LSA) (Former Employee) - St. John's Wood - 13 February 2022

Good first job. Staff can be supportive. Students are generally well-behaved and fun to work with.Put on a timetable all day- every hour has to be accounted for.

Pros

The kids

Cons

Salary, limited autonomy, progression opportunities

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Depressing place to work.

Counsellor (Former Employee) - Rainham - 19 December 2021

No consideration for staff. They don't care how stressed staff are, they just want the job done. Management care about how the school looks to outsiders more than its staff.