Connect. Develop. Thrive.
At Manor Hall Academy Trust, we believe that professional learning is key to delivering the best possible outcomes for pupils. Gateway is our trust-wide professional learning and development offer, designed to support every colleague at every stage of their career.
Bringing together high-quality training, resources and opportunities in one accessible place, Gateway helps colleagues grow, collaborate and thrive. At its heart, Gateway is about connecting people, knowledge and practice, providing clear pathways for development whether colleagues are new to the profession, building expertise in their role or preparing for leadership.
Professional Development for All
Gateway supports colleagues across all roles and career stages, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that strengthen skills, build confidence and support professional growth.
Through Gateway, colleagues can access a wide range of training, learning resources and development opportunities designed to enhance practice and support career progression. By providing a structured and accessible approach to professional learning, Gateway helps colleagues continue to develop throughout their careers.
Collaboration Across the Trust
We know that some of the most effective professional learning comes from colleagues learning with and from one another.
Gateway creates opportunities for collaboration across schools and teams by encouraging the sharing of best practice, connecting colleagues with areas of expertise and supporting professional dialogue. By bringing people together, Gateway strengthens relationships across the Trust and helps develop a culture of continuous improvement.
Expertise Across Our Community
Through initiatives such as internal networks and specialist areas of practice, Gateway makes it easy for colleagues to access the wealth of knowledge and expertise that exists across the Trust.
Colleagues can connect with practitioners who have specific expertise, learn from our Bright Spots and access practical, real-world insight and support. This enables successful practice to be shared more widely and helps ensure that colleagues have access to trusted advice and guidance when they need it.
A Focus on Impact
Everything within Gateway is designed with impact in mind.
Professional learning and development opportunities are carefully aligned to improving outcomes for pupils, strengthening professional practice and supporting school and Trust priorities. By ensuring that learning has a clear purpose and tangible impact, Gateway helps colleagues translate development opportunities into meaningful improvements in their work.
Why Gateway Matters
Investing in our people is fundamental to our success as a Trust.
Gateway ensures that professional development is accessible, relevant and sustainable. It provides colleagues with opportunities that are easy to access and engage with, aligned to real needs and priorities, and focused on supporting long-term growth and improvement.
By embedding a culture of continuous learning, Gateway helps us grow together as a community of professionals dedicated to excellence.
The Advantage of Gateway
As part of Manor Hall Academy Trust, schools benefit from access to Gateway’s extensive professional learning and development offer.
This enables staff to learn, collaborate and develop alongside colleagues from across the Trust while providing schools with access to specialist expertise, opportunities to share best practice and support to drive continuous improvement.
Gateway is more than a training offer. It is a connected professional community that strengthens practice, develops talent and helps schools achieve the best possible outcomes for their pupils.
At Manor Hall Trust, we are committed to investing in our people and creating opportunities for every colleague to learn, grow and thrive throughout their career.
Our apprenticeship offer is available to all of our people across all roles and career stages, whether you are just starting your professional journey, looking to develop specialist expertise, or preparing for leadership responsibilities. Apprenticeships provide a unique opportunity to gain recognised qualifications while continuing to work, applying new knowledge and skills directly within your role.
We work with high-quality training providers to offer a wide range of programmes, from business administration, finance and HR through to teaching, leadership and management qualifications. Funded through the Apprenticeship Levy, these programmes enable colleagues to access excellent professional development with no cost to themselves.
By investing in apprenticeships, we strengthen our workforce, build future talent, and support our commitment to providing the very best outcomes for the children, young people and communities we serve.
If you are interested in exploring apprenticeship opportunities, please speak to your line manager or contact our People Team to find out more.
Learn. Develop. Progress.
Recognise. Share. Inspire.
At Manor Hall Academy Trust, we believe that expertise exists across every part of our organisation. Bright Spots is our way of recognising, celebrating and sharing that expertise so that colleagues, schools and ultimately pupils can benefit from the knowledge and experience that already exists within our Trust.
Bright Spots provides opportunities for colleagues to showcase areas of strength, share successful practice and support others across our family of schools. It enables expertise to be recognised not only within a colleague’s own school, but across the wider Trust, creating opportunities for professional growth, collaboration and influence.
Sharing Expertise Across the Trust
We know that some of the most effective school improvement comes from colleagues learning from one another.
Through Bright Spots, colleagues can share innovative practice, successful approaches and specialist knowledge with other schools and teams. This may include leading workshops, presenting at Trust events, contributing to professional development activities or supporting improvement initiatives across the Trust.
By creating opportunities for colleagues to learn directly from trusted practitioners, we strengthen professional practice and encourage collaboration across all schools.
Opportunities to Lead and Influence
Bright Spots provides colleagues with opportunities to extend their impact beyond their immediate role or school.
Whether sharing expertise in curriculum development, SEND, inclusion, leadership, wellbeing, behaviour, operations or another specialist area, colleagues are encouraged to contribute to the wider success of the Trust.
For many colleagues, Bright Spots offers an opportunity to develop leadership skills, grow professional confidence and influence practice across multiple schools.
Supporting School Improvement
Schools benefit from access to a network of colleagues with recognised expertise and proven practice.
This approach allows schools to draw upon the knowledge and experience that exists across the Trust, helping to strengthen provision, build capacity and support continuous improvement.
By connecting schools with colleagues who have specialist expertise, we ensure that no school works in isolation and that successful practice is shared for the benefit of all.
Celebrating Excellence
Bright Spots is about more than sharing good practice. It is about recognising the talent, dedication and expertise of our people.
By celebrating excellence and creating opportunities for colleagues to learn from one another, we strengthen our culture of collaboration and support our commitment to ensuring that everyone belongs, learns and grows.
Trust Leadership Network
Connect. Collaborate. Learn.
At Manor Hall Academy Trust, we believe that strong schools are built through shared learning, collaboration and professional dialogue.
Each term, we bring together leaders from across our family of schools through our Trust Leadership Network, creating opportunities to connect, share expertise and learn from one another.
These events are designed to ensure that no school works in isolation and that leaders can benefit from the collective knowledge, experience and innovation that exists across our Trust.
Headteacher Network Meetings
Our Headteacher Network meets termly through a dedicated full-day event focused on strategic leadership, school improvement and trust-wide collaboration.
These sessions provide opportunities for Headteachers to:
- Receive Trust updates and strategic developments
- Engage with external guest speakers and sector experts
- Share experiences, challenges and effective practice
- Learn from colleagues across the Trust
- Explore key educational priorities and emerging developments
The day also creates valuable time for professional networking, discussion and collaboration within a supportive environment.
Where a Headteacher is unable to attend, schools are welcome to send their Deputy or Assistant Headteacher who would benefit from the opportunity.
Senior Leadership Network Meetings
Alongside our Headteacher Network, we host termly meetings for Deputy Headteachers, Assistant Headteachers and other members of Senior Leadership Teams.
These events provide opportunities to:
- Receive relevant Trust updates
- Engage with expert speakers and specialist practitioners
- Collaborate with peers from across the Trust
- Explore effective practice and solutions to shared challenges
- Build professional networks beyond individual schools
Where a Deputy or Assistant Headteacher is unable to attend, schools are welcome to send another member of their Senior Leadership Team who would benefit from the opportunity.
Workshop Carousels
A key feature of our leadership events is our Workshop Carousel programme.
These sessions are delivered by colleagues from across the Trust who are sharing successful practice, innovative approaches and expertise developed within their schools.
Often linked to our Bright Spots initiative, Workshop Carousels provide opportunities for colleagues to:
- Showcase areas of expertise
- Inspire and support others
- Share practical strategies and resources
- Strengthen collaboration across schools
- Extend their influence beyond their own setting
By creating opportunities for colleagues to learn directly from one another, we ensure that expertise is recognised, celebrated and shared for the benefit of all our schools and communities.
Professional Learning Built on Trust
Attendance at these events is strongly encouraged but is not mandatory.
We recognise the demands facing school leaders and understand that there will be occasions when attendance is not possible. Colleagues who are unable to attend will not be disadvantaged, and schools may nominate an alternative leader to attend on their behalf where appropriate.
This approach reflects our culture of professional trust, collaboration and mutual support.
More Than Meetings
Our Trust Leadership Network is more than a series of meetings.
It is an opportunity for leaders to connect, challenge thinking, celebrate success, share expertise and strengthen the collective capacity of Manor Hall Academy Trust.
Because when great leaders learn together, every school benefits and outcomes for children continue to improve.
Supporting You Inside and Outside of Work
We understand that achieving a healthy balance between work and personal commitments is important.
At Manor Hall Academy Trust, we strive to create a positive and supportive working environment where colleagues feel valued, respected and able to thrive.
Our offer includes:
- Generous annual leave entitlements
- Family-friendly policies
- Flexible working opportunities where roles allow
- Supportive leadership and workplace culture
- Opportunities for professional growth without working in isolation
Supporting a Healthy and Thriving Workforce
At Manor Hall Academy Trust, the wellbeing of our people is a priority. We are committed to creating workplaces where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to perform at their best.
We understand that wellbeing is about more than physical health. That’s why we provide a comprehensive range of support to help colleagues thrive both in and outside of work.
Our wellbeing offer includes:
- Enhanced occupational sick pay when you need it most
- An Employee Assistance Programme offering practical support, including access to schemes for home furnishings, white goods and bicycles.
- Physical health and wellbeing initiatives, such as free eye tests, generous contributions towards the cost of new glasses, and physiotherapy.
- Mental health and wellbeing support, including confidential counselling services, wellbeing webinars, and many other tools, advice and support.
- A positive, inclusive and supportive workplace culture.
We believe that when our colleagues are healthy, happy and supported, they are best placed to make a positive difference to the lives of our pupils. Investing in the wellbeing of our workforce is central to creating thriving schools and achieving exceptional outcomes for every child.
Financial Wellbeing & Everyday Savings
Through our partnership with BHN Extras, colleagues can access a range of benefits designed to support financial wellbeing and help make everyday spending go further.
Cycle to Work Scheme
Save on bikes and cycling equipment through salary sacrifice.
Benefits include:
- Bikes, e-bikes and accessories
- Access to a wide network of participating retailers
- Interest-free repayments
- Health and wellbeing benefits
- Sustainable commuting options
Home & Tech Scheme
Access home and technology products and spread the cost over 12 months through salary sacrifice.
Benefits include:
- A wide range of home and technology products
- Interest-free repayments
- No credit checks
- Potential National Insurance savings
bYond Cashback Card
A prepaid cashback card designed to help colleagues save on everyday spending.
Benefits include:
- Cashback at a large number of participating retailers
- Savings on grocery shopping and everyday essentials
- Online and in-store spending options
- Exclusive offers and promotions
- Easy-to-use mobile app
Extras Discounts
A discount platform providing access to savings across hundreds of brands and services.
Benefits include:
- Discounts on everyday shopping, groceries, leisure and lifestyle purchases
- Digital and physical gift card savings
- Access to regular promotions and exclusive offers
- Available 24/7 through the online platform
Available retailers and offers are updated regularly and may vary over time.
Additional Discounts for Education Professionals
Colleagues may also be eligible for a range of external discounts available to education professionals, covering areas such as retail, travel, technology, fitness, leisure and entertainment.
These may include access to:
- Education sector discount schemes
- Cashback and voucher platforms
- Staff discount programmes
- Other profession-specific savings opportunities
Eligibility criteria may apply and available offers are subject to change.