Office Manager – Primary School – Chelmsford

A welcoming and well-established primary school in Chelmsford is looking to appoint an experienced and highly organised Office Manager to oversee the smooth day-to-day running of its school office. This is a varied position for an individual who is confident managing administrative processes, communicating with families and supporting colleagues across the school. The successful candidate will be a key point of contact for parents, carers, visitors and external organisations while also providing effective administrative support to school leaders and staff.

The school is looking for someone who is professional, approachable and able to remain organised in a busy environment. You will need to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records and handle confidential information appropriately.

School Information

This is a well-established primary school in Chelmsford with a strong commitment to providing pupils with a safe, supportive and engaging education. The school places high value on academic progress, positive relationships and the personal development of every child. The school works closely with parents and carers and recognises the importance of effective communication between home and school. The office therefore plays a central role in ensuring families receive accurate information and that administrative processes are handled efficiently. The school has a collaborative staff culture, with teachers, support staff, senior leaders and administration colleagues working closely together. The successful Office Manager will become an important member of this wider team.

The successful candidate will be expected to take ownership of the office's day-to-day organisation while remaining responsive to the needs of pupils, families and staff.

School Office Team

The Office Manager will oversee a wide range of administrative responsibilities, ensuring that the school office operates efficiently and professionally. You will regularly communicate with parents and carers, manage enquiries, maintain records and support senior staff. The role will also involve ensuring that key administrative procedures are followed consistently. Because the school office is often the first point of contact for families and visitors, the successful candidate must be approachable and professional while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing the daily operation of the school office.
• Coordinating administrative tasks and priorities.
• Providing administrative support to senior leaders and school staff.
• Acting as a professional first point of contact for parents and carers.
• Responding to telephone calls and emails.
• Welcoming visitors and following appropriate safeguarding procedures.
• Maintaining accurate pupil and administrative records.
• Updating school information systems and databases.
• Preparing letters, documents and correspondence.
• Supporting admissions and pupil records administration.
• Assisting with attendance-related administration.
• Organising meetings, appointments and relevant paperwork.
• Supporting school events and activities.
• Maintaining electronic and paper filing systems.
• Handling confidential information appropriately.
• Liaising with external organisations and professionals.
• Ensuring messages and information are passed to relevant staff.
• Monitoring incoming correspondence.
• Supporting the organisation of office procedures.
• Identifying opportunities to improve administrative systems.
• Providing guidance and support to other administrative colleagues where required.
• Supporting busy periods across the school office.
• Maintaining a welcoming and professional reception environment.
• Ensuring administrative deadlines are met.
• Following school policies relating to safeguarding, confidentiality and data protection.
• Contributing positively to the wider running of the school.

Experience and Requirements

The successful candidate will ideally have previous experience in office management, school administration, senior administration or a similar role. Experience working in a primary school would be advantageous, particularly where the candidate has experience communicating with parents and maintaining pupil records. You will need to be highly organised and capable of managing several priorities at once. Strong attention to detail is essential because the role involves maintaining important records and handling confidential information.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous office management or senior administrative experience.
• School administration experience would be advantageous.
• Excellent organisational skills.
• Strong time-management ability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Confident telephone manner.
• Strong IT skills.
• Experience using Microsoft Office and databases.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to handle confidential information sensitively.
• Professional and approachable manner.
• Confidence communicating with parents and carers.
• Ability to prioritise effectively.
• Good judgement and discretion.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to support colleagues and work effectively as part of a team.
• Proactive and solution-focused approach.
• Commitment to providing a high standard of administrative support.

Safeguarding

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be expected to follow all safeguarding procedures and contribute to maintaining a safe environment for pupils. All relevant pre-employment checks will be completed, including an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Application

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Office Manager or senior administrator who wants to join a supportive primary school and play a central role in its day-to-day organisation. To apply, please send your CV as soon as possible. The school is looking for someone available for an as soon as possible start.