Receptionist and Admin Assistant in London

Our examination results and student destinations are outstanding and are testament to the hard work and commitment of our staff and students. This post is an excellent opportunity for those wishing to develop their skills, work with an outstanding support staff team and make a difference to the lives of young people across London.

We are looking for a Receptionist and Admin Assistant to join us at Harris Westminster Sixth Form. Our school is one of the top sixth forms in the country, with the aim to deliver high quality education and outstanding outcomes to students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. HWSF is selective on both ability and disadvantage and places first go to academically able students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is a wonderful school with an ethos of "learning is amazing", where staff truly care about the progress their students make over their two years with us.

This role includes Saturday hours until the end of May 2027 (for which you are paid contractual overtime), 7.30am-1.30pm. Monday-Friday hours are either 7.30am-3.30pm or 10.30am-6.30pm, to be discussed at interview.

Main Areas of Responsibility

• Being the first point of contact for all visitors to the academy, staff and students
• Assisting in the management of the reception area and providing administrative support
• Ensuring visitors are signed in and out of the building and that staff/students are displaying the appropriate lanyard
• Receiving packages/mail to the reception area and distributing as appropriate
• Assisting the Senior Receptionist with administration of the annual admissions cycle
• Supporting with phone calls to parents regarding non-attendance
• Assisting in the administration and organisation of the student attendance system
• Answering and directing all calls that come through the switchboard to appropriate departments/staff members

Qualifications & Experience

• Qualifications to GCSE Level or equivalent (including BTEC) in Maths and English, Grade C or above
• Competence in the use of Microsoft Office packages
• Proficiency in the use of computers and databases
• Previous experience in an administrative or front office/reception role
• Demonstrable customer service experience
• A good level of interpersonal and communication skills, with a good standard of written and spoken English
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks appropriately
• Commitment to delivering excellent level of professional customer service
• The ability to remain calm and deal with challenging callers or visitors in an appropriate manner
• A high level of attention to detail and accuracy of work
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team
• The ability to be resourceful and proactive, in particular where unexpected issues arise
• The ability to work effectively with people across a wide range of levels and responsibilities
• The ability to maintain confidentiality; having tact and diplomacy where necessary

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation. Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.