About Us
The Sigma Trust is a local partnership of academies in North East Essex. Sigma was formally established in September 2016 and has grown to become the largest multi-academy trust working solely within Essex. The Trust consists of eight secondary schools, one primary, two junior schools and an infant and nursery school and an Initial Teacher Training Scheme.
The Sigma Trust now consists of over 11,000 pupils, approximately 1600 staff and trains around 60 primary and secondary teachers each year. The size of the Trust allows extensive joint working to take place and provides huge opportunities for staff and students alike. We have been able to build a wide range of secondment opportunities linked to staff development and can ensure students have equal curriculum entitlement regardless of the size of school that they attend. The approach taken within The Sigma Trust is unique in this area. There is no lead school, the Trust is built around the belief that best practice becomes shared practice and that every school can become a giver and receiver of support.
All schools are geographically close enough to provide the necessary support and challenge to take all academies to the next level. We have a set of shared values and a common mission and vision that aims to ensure that no school is left behind.
Why Work For Us
We believe we are stronger and more successful working together than we would be as separate institutions. The mission for each academy within The Sigma Trust is to ensure that no child is left behind. Education should foster in its learners a curiosity to discover who they are and what they are capable of, together with developing the resilience for them to test the boundaries of their abilities, and build the skills necessary to face the future with confidence.
Regardless of what role you perform with the Trust, you will have a unique opportunity to really make a difference and help shape the lives and futures of our students.
We have clear career pathways making it easy for you to map out the next step in your development, whether that be within your current school or elsewhere within the Trust. Some of our benefits include:
- CPD Opportunities
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Excellent Pension Scheme
- Wellbeing Initiatives
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Discounted Gym Membership
Vacancies
Our Values
The Sigma Trust values the following attributes:
- Integrity
Be honest, transparent, trustworthy and true to your beliefs. - Aspiration
Aim for your best and set high, realistic goals. - Passion
Be positive and enthusiastic about what you are trying to achieve.
- Resilience
Never give up and strive to improve. - Accountability
Take responsibility for your words, thoughts and actions. - Respect
For yourself, your environment and other people.
Staff Testimonials
Simon Essex
Headteacher, TLA
"I feel very lucky to have the job I have; I lead a fantastic school, with amazing teachers and support staff as well as incredibly inspiring young people. I became Headteacher in January 2021 and had previously worked at the school as Deputy Headteacher. When seeking a Headship, I was very keen to secure a role in a Sigma Trust school; it was amazing that the vacancy at my school became available. The Sigma Trust is a very supportive organisation, in my opinion, one of the strongest features is how close our schools are geographically. This means we are able to work very closely together. Prior to my appointment as Headteacher, I was fortunate to lead a group of Deputy Headteachers across all of our secondary schools. This cross-Trust role was a significant part of my development and preparation for the next career challenge. I am fortunate that I work closely with all of the other Headteachers in the Trust; we have a shared vision, as well as supporting each other with strategies and resources. I am confident that colleagues joining a school in our Trust will find that they are able to grow professionally and will be rewarded from their work."
Nick Goodman
Teacher of Maths, Paxman Academy
"Since starting with The Sigma Trust I have been impressed by the dedication and energy of all of the staff across the Trust. I have been fortunate to train and work in 3 Sigma schools and the commitment to support the learning and development of pupils and staff has been clear throughout.
I have felt incredibly supported by my mentors and colleagues and despite the fast pace, they have always given me their time to help me improve. I have been able to take advantage of many CPD opportunities, which has given me time out of the classroom to improve my own skills and knowledge."
Alison Owen
Cover supervisor, PMSC
"My role is to support all departments in the absence of staff and offer educational and pastoral support to students at Philip Morant School. I have been here almost a year and I have been so happy with the career and development support that I have received from senior leaders. My managers are always happy to support me and this has led to the completion of my QTLS which is a course to enable me to be a qualified teacher in a secondary school provision. While there are some challenges in being a cover supervisor, I enjoy the hustle and bustle and variation it offers my day to day. I have the pleasure of meeting every student in the school and to be involved in all departments seeing the exciting diverse nature of our available subjects."
Lotte Cumming
Sigma Deputy Headteacher
"Teaching is the most incredible profession with so many avenues to explore. The Sigma Trust has enabled me to explore in so many ways as I have a network of schools and partnerships to work with and alongside. The Trust has supported my growth as a leader within the primary phase by funding additional qualifications such as the NPQH that I obtained in 2020. I had been teaching at Monkwick Infant and Nursery school for over 14 years when the chance to take up a secondment arose. I'm now working as a Sigma Deputy headteacher across the trust. The secondment is a privilege that I value. The opportunity to spend time in other schools as part of the senior leadership team has given me the chance to develop my leadership skills. I have learnt to adapt to different priorities to achieve the best for all pupils and communities whilst gaining valuable experience of working with headteachers on a range of school improvement issues."
Aimee Patel
HR Assistant, Central HR Team
"I started with The Sigma Trust in June 2021 as a HR Assistant. Since joining, everyone has been very welcoming and supportive to the start of my HR career. The reason I love working for The Sigma Trust is the focus on working as a team, living up to the Trust’s vision ‘To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts’. Working in education has made me realise that the work we do as support staff, to deliver the best service affects the lives and education of the children in the twelve schools across the Trust. I am really excited about what the future holds for the Trust as I have already seen changes since joining in June."
Owen Whitbread
Teacher, Holland Park
At Holland Park every adult works tirelessly to ensure all children are given the same opportunities to make progress across all subjects. My role as a teacher is extremely rewarding and I have the pleasure of witnessing the children take pride in their learning and accomplishments.
It is fantastic to support every child and I am passionate about my responsibilities. All children require nurture and support and all adults at Holland Park meet the needs of every child. In order to make progress on their learning journey the children need to know that they are an integral part of the classroom. As an adult it takes hard work and determination to build trust with each child.
Every day is a fresh start and a new challenge, which I thoroughly enjoy. Through the school values it is our responsibility to motivate the children for the new day's challenges. Passion and resilience are traits displayed by all adults and also strong working relationships, which is reflected in the children’s learning behaviours and progress.
Ultimately, I enjoy the challenges and opportunities presented to me on a daily basis at Holland Park. Yes, it can be non-stop, but that is what makes my role so rewarding and interesting.