Our range of employee benefits aims to support the health and wellbeing of our staff ensuring they are valued and supported throughout their time at work.

Pension Scheme

As an employee of Pathfinder Multi Academy Trust you are offered membership of either the Teachers’ Pension Scheme; or for support staff, the Local Government Pension Scheme. As well as employee’s paying contributions into the scheme (banded, based on earnings level) Pathfinder also pays into the scheme on your behalf at the following rates (regardless of earnings):

Support Staff Pension Scheme
Pathfinder contributes an additional 20.5% of your salary

Teachers’ Pension Scheme
Pathfinder contributes an additional 23.68% of your salary

Staff benefits platform

Our dedicated employee benefits platform Vivup provides staff with access to all of our benefits in one easy to use and convenient place. Vivup also provides exclusive benefits through their platform, including discounts from major retailers as part of the lifestyle savings benefit and the option to spread the cost of purchasing items straight from your salary through the home and electronics and cycle to work benefits.

Lifestyle savings
Save on everyday essentials, enjoy money off at the movies and browse frequently updated deals across retail, food, shopping, travel, family essentials, dining out, leisure activities and much more. The lifestyle savings benefits include:

  • Frequently updated discounts from the UK’s leading retailers
  • Updates to offers and discounts sent directly to your email
  • New offers, brands, retailers and discounts added on a weekly basis

Home and electronics
Spread the cost of purchasing a range of tech, homeware and essential appliances from Currys, John Lewis and more with payments taken automatically from your salary. The home and electronic benefits include:

  • An alternative to expensive credit cards and pay day loans with no deposit required
  • spread the cost of essential items via fixed monthly salary reductions
  • Access a huge range of products for the home and garden including the latest tech products
  • Fast home delivery within days of authorisation
  • No credit checks

Cycle to work
Save up to 42% on the latest bikes, high-vis clothing and safety accessories for your commute to and from work. The cycle to work benefits include:

  • Staying fit, healthy and focused
  • Avoiding expensive petrol, parking and public transport costs
  • A huge range of tax free bikes and safety equipment from one convenient location
  • Spreading the cost throughout the year with manageable reductions direct from your salary

Employee Assistance Programme

Making sure everyone at Pathfinder gets the support they need whatever their worries, the Employee Assistance Programme provides specialist counselling and resources 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The service is completely confidential and provides support by telephone or online from specialist call handlers and counsellors who understand the demands of working in education. You can also access:

  • Emotional support and counselling
  • Specialist information on work-life balance
  • Financial and legal advice
  • Management consultation to support those responsible for managing others
  • Up to six sessions of face to face or telephone counselling
  • Access to online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  • Information on local services such as elder care and childcare

TES Magazine subscription

All Pathfinder employees have unlimited access to the online TES magazine keeping you up to date with the latest education news, analysis and teaching and learning knowledge.

Discounted bus travel

As part of the First Bus Commuter Travel Club, Pathfinder staff benefit from discounts on work and leisure travel using First Bus services. The benefits of the Commuter Travel Club include:

  • Savings on discounted monthly bus tickets
  • Unlimited bus travel within your chosen zone
  • Mobile tickets delivered straight to the free First Bus App
  • Automatic monthly ticket renewal
  • Spread the cost of annual travel
  • Price frozen for 12 months

Eye Test Vouchers

For those who work with display screen equipment the school will provide a voucher to cover eye test costs.

Second hand goods community 

Staff have access to a online community where they can trade unwanted items with other staff.

Staff Meals

All staff have access to school meals which can be purchased daily at very reasonable prices.

Car Share

We actively encourage car sharing to reduce the financial burden of commuting to work, we shall soon be a member of a car share pool to be enable staff to easily match up car share partners.

Support with access to external services

Staff can seek support in regard to accessing external services such as Tax Free Childcare, support with budgeting,phone and internet costs, Food banks and benefits.

A great staff community

The school is very keen to foster a ‘community feel’ and believes it’s been successful in achieving this for staff given the low staff turnover and high retention rates we experience. Our success in this area is driven by a number of factors:
  • The staff room was recently extended and refurbished to remain the hub of the school community
  • The school pool and fitness suite are available to staff at no charge
  • A staff extra-curricular programme is in place and brings people from different departments together
  • Senior Leaders have an open door policy for all staff
  • Staff Pulse Surveys allow all staff to share their views anonymously and regularly to ensure their voice is heard
  • The Staff Wellbeing Panel allows for staff to meet and discuss a wide variety of areas and this is feedback the Leadership team each half term
  • The AHS Curry Society meets in York for a curry at different restaurants across the city every half-term
  • Christmas and Summer Staff Celebration Events take place every year
  • Free Food is provided for Training Days and Parents Evenings Informal
  • ECT support provided both by school and the Teaching School Hub is of the highest standard. All new staff benefit from a comprehensive induction programme with key points of support.
  • Almost all staff have their own teaching room – with our aim to ensure that even more staff have a base for September 2023
  • The majority of departments have their own offices where staff can work and socialise.

For more information, read about our 10 key commitments to staff.