What skills and experience we're looking for
Required as soon as possible, an energetic, resilient person who enjoys a variety of tasks and challenges to join our busy main office. Working hours are 8am – 4pm Monday to Friday (3.30pm on Fridays). This is a term time only post with an additional 5 days, to be worked in the academy holidays or on INSET days. The office staff work on a rota to provide office cover for INSET days.
Confidentiality and a good working knowledge of Microsoft Office are essential for this role.
Having achieved the best results in the school’s history in summer 2023, followed by a visit from Ofsted in May 2024, where we were judged as a strong ‘Good’ in all areas, Buckler’s Mead Academy is going from strength to strength.
This is a challenging and fulfilling role that would equally suit someone starting out on their career, or someone with years of valuable experience. Duties are varied and include assisting visitors at reception, answering the telephone, dealing with enquiries from parents, staff, students and members of the public, word processing and general admin duties, incoming and outgoing mail. There may be some degree of finance work. Knowledge of SIMs and/ or Arbor would be an advantage but training will be provided. A friendly, helpful personality and the ability to work under pressure to meet conflicting deadlines are essential as well as the ability to work well as part of a team.
Main Duties and Responsibilities include:
• Reception duties – greeting visitors, assisting parents and students and answering queries, questions or concerns
• Answering the telephone and dealing with enquiries from parents, students, staff and members of the public
• Secretarial and administrative support to staff across the academy
• Word Processing letters and documents
• Communications to parents via text or email
• Enabling visitors access to the site, using the doorbell system to lock/unlock gates
• Shared administration of appointments and organisation for Parents’ Evenings
• Assisting with student timetables/classes for all departments
• General admin tasks
• Filing of student records
• Administration of Fire Drills
• Incoming and outgoing mail
• Booking meetings for outside agencies, e.g. Social Workers
• Liaising with various outside bodies, providing information assistance and advice (e.g. to police, local organisations, students, Directors, members of the public).
• Administrate new admissions process.
• Support to the school’s Finance Team as and when required
What the school offers its staff
In return, we can offer the full support of a dedicated and committed team of staff, a supportive induction programme and ongoing professional development, plus the opportunity to work in a developing academy in a beautiful area of the South West. Staff benefits include free on-site parking, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and access for all staff to the Employee Assistance Programme “Health Assured” which is a telephone based advice, information and counselling service. A selection of meals, snacks (hot and cold) and drinks is available for staff to purchase from the refectory.
We seek to significantly invest in developing all of our staff. This has been strengthened by our work with Trust partners and the successful candidate will benefit from trust wide opportunities, CPD and working with colleagues across trust schools. Our vision as an academy is “An Inspiring Education For All”. We believe that all members of our community should be given the opportunity to be happy, to achieve, participate and become successful. Our job as professionals is to ensure this happens. All our staff sign up to these aspirations and play a full role in contributing to this vision through inclusive teaching and support. We seek to recruit dedicated and talented staff, highly committed to making a difference.
Further details about the role
Buckler’s Mead Academy is an equal opportunities employer. The campus is a no smoking site.
Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive sufficient applications.
Commitment to safeguarding
Buckler's Mead is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children. We have a duty of care and the right to take reasonable action, ensuring the welfare and safety of pupils. If staff have cause for concern that a child is subject to any form of abuse, we will follow child protection procedures and inform Children’s Services. Buckler’s Mead meets statutory requirements relating to Disclosure & Barring Service – all staff and volunteers who work with Buckler’s Mead Academy who meet the ‘regulated activity test’ (Freedoms Act 2012) are required to undergo an enhanced DBS check prior to employment.