At Mercia Learning Trust, we are committed to creating a working environment where staff feel valued, supported and able to thrive.

Our commitment to staff reflects the importance we place on professional trust, high quality development and a positive working culture.

Everything set out below is designed to ensure that colleagues can focus on what matters most, develop throughout their career and feel proud to work within our trust.

Culture

We want staff to enjoy their work, feel valued and feel proud to be part of our trust.

  • Our culture is rooted in our shared values of kindness, integrity and diligence, and is reflected in how staff support one another, how pupils behave, and how schools are led day to day.
  • All job roles have clear expectations. This is rooted in professional trust and fairness, and aligned with our values, ensuring staff always know what is expected of them.
  • All our schools operate with clear, consistent routines and behaviour systems. Everyone is fully supported by leadership, enabling calm, focused learning environments and reduced workload.
  • Staff work within positive, supportive teams, where staff collaborate and look out for one another. Supportive teams are one of the most frequently cited strengths in staff feedback.
  • Our staff are part of a welcoming and values driven community, where people feel a strong sense of purpose and describe their schools as places where staff genuinely care about each other and the children they serve.

Career progression and opportunity

We place trust in our staff and ensure progression is fair and transparent.

  • All staff have access to clear progression routes, with opportunities to move roles or gain promotion across our trust. One in six staff have been promoted internally or moved into a new role in the past two years.
  • Leadership development programmes are available for teaching and associate staff, supporting staff at every stage of their career.
  • All staff benefit from a coaching based support model, focused on growth and development rather than accountability.
  • There is no appraisal process, and staff progress automatically through each pay point, including through threshold.
  • Apprenticeship and funded training opportunities are available, supporting upskilling, retraining and career change.

Professional development and learning

We invest significantly in high quality professional learning for all staff.

  • All staff benefit from significantly increased training time, with 50 percent more training days than most schools, alongside trust wide conferences and development opportunities.
  • All staff have access to coaching, professional networks and cross-trust collaboration, supporting continuous development.
  • Trust-wide training programmes are in place for teaching and associate staff, including opportunities for job shadowing and secondments.
  • Early career teachers receive an enhanced induction programme, providing structured support beyond statutory requirements.

Workload, systems and support

We are committed to reducing unnecessary workload and enabling staff to focus on what matters most.

  • We operate an internal, secure AI system, designed to support administrative tasks and reduce workload.
  • Enhanced HR policies promote flexibility, wellbeing and long-term career sustainability, supporting staff throughout their careers.
  • We recognise the pressures of assessment periods, so training days are scheduled around these windows (typically two per cycle), with all the time given over to staff so they have dedicated time to plan, catch up and manage their workloads.
  • Priority admissions are available for children of staff, where applicable.

Health, wellbeing and everyday support

We are committed to supporting staff wellbeing and making every day working life healthier and more sustainable.

  • All staff have access to mental health services and wider wellbeing support, promoting a proactive approach to wellbeing.
  • A cycle to work scheme is available, supporting healthier and more sustainable travel.
  • A staff discount programme is available, including reduced gym memberships.
  • Free eye tests and access to discounted glasses are provided, supporting everyday health needs.

Environment and facilities

We believe the working environment matters.

  • Schools across Mercia Learning Trust are high-quality, well-maintained workplaces, creating positive and professional environments.