Schools Operation Officer in Esher

Are you a Life Changer? Do you want to lean in and help transform the life of a child?

About the Role

Compass Community puts children first through our therapeutic, innovative approach. Integrity, Courage and Care shape how we work. We listen deeply, challenge each other respectfully, and fix what needs fixing — together. This is the work. And we’d like you to be part of it. Compass Community is seeking a dedicated School Operations Officer to join our Compass Education Schools and support the delivery of high-quality, child‑centred education through outstanding administrative coordination, data management and compliance support. This role is central to the day‑to‑day running of the school. You will work closely with the Head of School and wider teams to ensure that systems, processes and support services operate smoothly, enabling teaching staff to focus on what matters most — helping children feel safe, supported and able to thrive. If you are highly organised, calm under pressure, and motivated by making a real difference behind the scenes, this role offers the opportunity to be part of a values‑led organisation where your work truly matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Administrative & Office Operations — You will oversee the smooth day‑to‑day running of the school office and front‑of‑house, acting as a welcoming and professional first point of contact for parents, carers and visitors. You will manage school systems and databases, ensuring pupil records, attendance and safeguarding documentation are accurate, up to date and compliant. The role involves handling correspondence, document production and filing in line with school standards, drafting letters and emails to parents/carers, and maintaining school noticeboards and communication systems. You will coordinate reception activities, including managing calls, post, deliveries and visitor access, while also providing high‑level administrative and diary support to the Head of School. You will maintain the school calendar, coordinate key operational activities, and manage maintenance requests, health and safety checks, supply orders and contractor liaison to ensure the school environment remains safe, compliant and well‑resourced.
• Educational & Pupil Administration — You will support the collation and submission of statutory data to the Department for Education and Local Authorities and play a key role in maintaining accurate attendance, safeguarding and admissions records throughout the pupil journey. Working closely with families, you will support communication with parents and carers, including absence reporting, welfare updates, appointment bookings and pupil transitions. The role also includes coordinating orders for uniforms, stationery and food, conducting welfare calls where required, providing examination support, and monitoring and responding to the school mailbox and general enquiries.
• Finance & Resources — You will support the school’s financial administration by reconciling petty cash, assisting with invoice processing and query resolution, and supporting budget monitoring and purchase orders. You will liaise with finance teams as required and support the Head of School with financial compliance and reporting, ensuring accurate and consistent use of the school’s Management Information System (MIS), such as SIMS, Arbor or Compass systems.
• Safeguarding, Compliance & Health & Safety — Safeguarding sits at the heart of everything we do. You will attend safeguarding training and ensure all administrative practices actively support safeguarding standards. You will maintain accurate accident and incident records for pupils and staff, ensure GDPR compliance across all administrative processes, and coordinate regulatory health and safety checks, escalating concerns appropriately. You may also undertake additional responsibilities where required, such as First Aid, Fire Warden or Accident Reporting.
• HR & Staffing Support — You will support recruitment administration, staff inductions and onboarding processes, while maintaining staff absence, incident and compliance records. The role also includes coordinating the ordering of staff equipment such as ID badges, keys and devices, ensuring staff are appropriately equipped from day one.
• Meetings, Events & Wider Support — You will organise and service school meetings and events, including distributing agendas and recording minutes. Acting as a key communication link between the school and central support services (Facilities, HR, Finance and Marketing), you will support whole‑school initiatives and provide administrative cover across departments when required.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven administrative experience, ideally within education, social care or another regulated environment
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams)
• Experience of compliance processes, audits or statutory reporting is desirable

Skills & Attributes

• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
• Clear and confident communicator, both written and verbal
• Able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment
• Professional, discreet and committed to confidentiality
• Motivated by supporting others and improving systems and processes

Behavioural & Cultural Fit

• Resilient and calm under pressure
• Collaborative and relationship‑focused, working effectively with staff, families and external partners
• Strongly child‑centred, aligned with Compass Community’s REACH ethos — Resilient, Educator, Accepting, Child‑Centred and Holistic

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Headteachers feel well‑supported, organised and able to focus on leadership and education
• Administrative systems are accurate, compliant and consistently maintained
• Safeguarding and compliance data is proactively managed and inspection‑ready
• Operational processes run smoothly and efficiently
• Staff and pupils experience a calm, organised and welcoming school environment

Why Compass Community?

We exist to create a future of strength and opportunity for every child. Our innovative, therapeutic approach puts children at the centre of everything we do. We’re bold in our ambition: to be the UK’s leading children’s services provider — reaching more children, transforming services, and being the best place to work in the sector.