Testimonials

“I am the Principal of Three Bridges Education Limited and I became an employee of Melrose Education Limited in June 2023. I have worked in the SEND sector for around 25 years, and to be honest I have never worked for an organisation whose values and ethos are so close to my own; where young people always come first.

Melrose Education work hard to give their schools the best support possible. They are a fair and equitable employer who care and understand what we do. The senior leadership team ensure that they are available to provide support and challenge, as Melrose ensure a quality service and have high standards. This helps us to grow and develop and be the best we can be.

Melrose Education have a good understanding of mental health and wellbeing and support is put in place to help with work life balance, which is very important when working in the education sector.

They also invest in our professional development. So, if you want to work hard and be supported in providing a high quality education for young people with SEND, which makes a lasting difference, then Melrose Education are a great organisation to work for.”

“I have had some fantastic experiences working at Melrose. The company’s commitment to staff welfare is truly commendable. From providing subscriptions to Headspace for mental health well-being, to offering Westfield health benefits, Melrose goes above and beyond for their employees. The opportunities for continuous professional development (CPD) and engaging in various well-being activities further demonstrates the company’s genuine care for its staff. Melrose doesn’t just prioritise the well-being and education of its students; it extends the same level of care and support to its dedicated staff, creating a holistic and nurturing environment for everyone involved.”

“I have worked for The Orchard, which is part of Melrose Education, for over 2 years. I love that we work together as a team to ensure the care of our learners. The vocation we have chosen can be extremely stressful, however, Melrose have introduced some key factors to assist their workforce to deal with the pressures of the job. They have introduced well-being Wednesdays at the end of each month, giving staff time to relax and engage in positive activities with their peers. There is also a listening ear programme providing staff with a safe space to discuss issues they may be facing. We also receive Friday treats for all-stars, these programmes boost staff morale and provide an inclusive approach within the company. 

Melrose also provides free training courses up to level 5 for all staff, including teaching assistant, and teaching in education courses. These enable staff progression within the company which is tailored to suit each staff member’s personal journey within the company. This also ensures our learners are cared for by qualified and professional staff members. Melrose has also introduced the real living wage, and 1 paid sick day per half term which reduces the pressures of the current economic climate and the need for occasional time off due to sickness.  Furthermore, Melrose have introduced the Westfield Health Scheme, this package benefits staff with payment assistance in medical, optical and dental health further alleviating the pressures of paying for medical assistance.”

“I feel I can’t find the words to express how Melrose have supported me; to have faith in me to do my job but they are also always there personally as well.

I have had the privilege of working for Melrose since our school joined the Melrose group in April 2023. 

Executive staff supported me to complete my role with confidence by providing excellent support, advice and guidance. 

I know I am a valued member of the Melrose team, with our learners at the heart of all practice .

My wellbeing is equally as important as the daily work. I feel safe to be able to share my thoughts both professionally and personal with executive staff and know I will be totally supported.”

Heidi

"I was employed by The Orchard in October 2017 and my first role within the school was to work on a 1:1 basis with a learner whose primary need was Autism. My role prior to working at Orchard was working in a SEN school in Humberston, I worked at that school for 10 years but felt ready for a new challenge. When I was offered a job at Orchard, I was very nervous but also very excited!

My role quickly developed from working with one learner to teaching a class of four boys. I loved working with the boys and to make my role even more enjoyable a much respected friend and colleague, Nat was employed as my teaching assistant. My first class left a huge impact on me as the development we saw with these learners was amazing!

Me and my colleague provided our learners with so many different life experiences, including taking them to a zoo, taking part in beach cleans and learners also had the opportunity to take boxing lessons with the class. I taught in KS3 then soon moved onto KS4 and so seeing the boys develop over the years was amazing.

As my passion for teaching continued to grow and my formal qualification being in early years, I knew I wanted to learn more. Orchard offered to support me to complete a Level 3 teaching course onsite. I took up the offer and completed this course within 6 months.

Whilst teaching at The Orchard, I developed a passion for English and became the English lead for KS3. Over the years, and with the support of my colleagues, my knowledge grew so much and I planned and developed the English curriculum. It was such hard work but so rewarding.

Another key thing for me that I have achieved whilst teaching at The Orchard was my functional skills maths! My lovely colleague, Jodie used to take time out of an evening to provide me with maths lessons to ensure I was ready for my functional skills exam. Let’s just say Maths is not my strong subject but with the support of the amazing Jodie I was able to pass. Again, this opened another door for me as I was then able to enrol onto a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE course). I completed my PGCE on an evening course during COVID. Again I was supported by wonderful colleagues, which really got me through. It was really hard work completing my PGCE alongside teaching full time, as well as being a mum of two children, Gallagher and Pixie, but it was all worth it.

As my knowledge continued to grow and I continued to develop within my role, I began to show an interest in supporting other tutors. At this point I was offered the role of KS3 lead. This was such a huge achievement for me, and a challenge I thoroughly enjoyed! Over the years I have worked with some amazing tutors and seeing their personal development has been so rewarding for me.

I continued to teach the hard-to-reach learners and I became really interested in supporting learners using different pastoral interventions. I was used a lot within the school to support learners who had heightened outbursts, and this became a new passion for me. At this point I explained to my managers that this was the career route I would like to pursue. I think they thought I was mad as I was doing so well teaching, but they could see how passionate I was about it.

The Orchard then advertised for a Learning Hub Manager, a position which I knew I had to go for! After a successful interview, I was offered the role. To say I was excited would be an understatement! Once I moved into this role, yes, I did miss teaching, but I was still able to spend time in classrooms and be a part of this, which was great. After being in the role for 4 months I was offered a role to progress from Learning Hub Manager to Centre Manager. I owe a big thank you to another colleague, Kate for supporting me in my Learning Hub Manager role and teaching me all I needed to know. I am also so grateful to our Principal, Steve for allowing me this opportunity to progress.

I thoroughly enjoy being a part of Melrose Education. Since working with them, the development for staff wellbeing has been amazing! I absolutely love my role and hope to continue to grow and develop my career."