Job Discussion Forums

teddyjewels · Joined: 16 Aug 2010 Posts: 1

Has anyone heard of Leeds Academy or had experience with them? I was recently offered a job, but the recruiter has yet to give me any detailed information.

Shalana · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Istanbul

They emailed me a contract with an email that said if I wanted to work for them, to sign the contract and send it back - no interview, no questions asked apparently. Doesn't sound too professional to me.

isaacbickerstaff · Joined: 20 Apr 2010 Posts: 6 Location: Ankara

Don't do it! Leeds Academy is a fake employer, DON'T SEND ANY IMPORTANT DETAILS!!

Shalana · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 150 Location: Istanbul

Ok, I gotta ask. What do you mean by "fake employer"?

I know they did place people at schools last year. A friend of mine worked with some of these teachers.

And another friend did a summer school for them last year and did get paid in full and on time. Of course, I have heard that they were a better employer as far as summer school went.

atoklas · Joined: 13 Aug 2009 Posts: 24

theyre not a fake a employer. from what ı know they pay on tıme as promısed. they also have contracts wıth a lot of prıvate relıgıous schools, whıch are a bıt unorganızed, but the relıgıous kıds tend to be better behaved than students at most prıvate schools. THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, they don't pay very well... (what you get paıd depends a lot on where you get placed and how many hours you're assıgned... and because of that, they tend to hıre less qualıfıed people. but ıf youre a natıve speaker wıth a ba ın 'pottery' (for example) and very lıttle teachıng experıence, ıt mıght be a good gıg Wink

Kirkpatrick · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: China

They are an agency!!! they will pocket about 30% of your salary, as a fee, and not help you in anyway shape or form... Definetely stay away...

tasha522 · Joined: 24 Sep 2009 Posts: 6

Leeds Academi are liars and crooks. They hire teachers to work all over Turkey. I worked for them in 2009. The cancelled my contract early via email, lied to me about getting me a resident visa and because of that the Turkish government seiged by bank account because I didn't have legal rights to be in Turkey. It took me 4 months to get them to give me that account so I can pay my bills back home.
I know of over 100 teachers who was hired to work all over Turkiye last year and in May there was less than 20 of us left, all with the same experiences.
Leeds Academy is a miserable company to work for. They had a guy named Brian to give out as a reference. Brian is a business partner with the general manager at Leeds who works with them sometimes. They also ask teachers who just started working with them as a reference. Ask for a teacher that worked for them for 6 months or longer and you wont find one.
If there are any other teachers who worked for Leeds in private schools. Please speak your truth.

lov2travel · Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 42 Location: Istanbul

I'm coming to work in September and am going to get my 120 CELTA certificate for easier job hunting in the future and per agreement with my upcoming employer in exchange for a higher salary.

My question is, there are MANY programs for this. Can anybody recommend any programs/schools/etc

I will be working 9-4 every day so will need an evening program that I can study with.

Thanks in advance.

gloomyGumi · Joined: 29 Dec 2010 Posts: 353

ITI is best

lmsunshine · Joined: 11 Jun 2010 Posts: 7

@lov2travel, are you going to istanbul to work for leeds?

lexharvey · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Posts: 51 Location: iow

my friend has worked for them last year and is again this year. he has had no problems with them. They have offered me a job but I am trying to make sure I get a work visa as apparently it is up to the individual school. They seem to be recruiting more people this year and perhaps are a little unorganised...?

lov2travel · Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 42 Location: Istanbul

Imsunshine@ yes I'll be coming to work through Leeds Academy.

cassie1211 · Joined: 20 May 2009 Posts: 18

I did a winter program with them and unorganized is an understatement. There were no materials and no plan. It was chaos. Getting paid was a hassle too. I have one friend who did a contract with them, and she said they were totally useless when she needed anything. My best advice is to not be afraid to come here and get a job. You will be working in a week or less if you just get out there. They take a lot of your pay, and place you at far away schools. They is way easier money to be made.

lov2travel · Joined: 18 Oct 2008 Posts: 42 Location: Istanbul

Gosh for a second I thought you were referring to Wattsenglish Podebrady in Czech Republic. I just got back from their summercamp and had all the same issues you mentioned.

I just signed a contract with Leeds and have an apartment in a convenient location. I haven't experienced any problems yet. They've been reasonable about contract negotiations and nothing seems amiss. Hoping it all goes well (crosses fingers)

beingme08 · Joined: 16 Aug 2011 Posts: 1

My friend and I are going to work for Leeds. We arrive on Tuesday with our fingers crossed as well.