Office Manager - Secondary School - Watford

Start Date: As soon as possible

Contract: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: Paid to scale

Are you an experienced administrator who is ready to take the next step into a position with greater responsibility? A busy and well-established Secondary School in Watford is looking for a capable Office Manager who can lead the day-to-day administration of the school office and provide an efficient service to staff, students, parents and visitors.

The Office Manager will be responsible for ensuring that the school office operates efficiently and professionally each day. You will manage a varied workload, oversee administrative processes and provide practical support to staff across the school. You will act as an important point of contact for parents and visitors, dealing with enquiries professionally and ensuring that information reaches the correct member of staff. You will also handle correspondence, telephone calls and emails and ensure that administrative tasks are completed accurately.

A key part of the role will be maintaining effective systems. You will oversee records, databases, filing and documentation and ensure that information is kept accurate and up to date. Depending on the school's needs, you may also support areas such as attendance, admissions, finance administration, student records and staff administration. The successful candidate will therefore need to be adaptable and comfortable working across different areas of school administration.

This Secondary School in Watford is committed to providing students with a high-quality education within a supportive and inclusive environment. The school serves a diverse community and places strong emphasis on academic achievement, personal development and student wellbeing. Staff are expected to work collaboratively and contribute to creating a positive school culture. The administrative team plays a vital role in allowing the wider school to operate effectively. The Office Manager will work closely with senior leaders, teachers, pastoral staff, support staff, parents and external organisations.

The school values staff who are organised, approachable and able to solve problems independently. You will be trusted to manage your responsibilities while knowing when an issue needs to be escalated to senior colleagues. This is a varied role that would suit an administrator who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment and wants to make a tangible contribution to the smooth running of a school.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee the daily operation of the school office.
• Manage and prioritise administrative workloads.
• Act as a professional first point of contact.
• Deal with telephone calls, emails and enquiries.
• Communicate with parents and carers.
• Welcome visitors and support visitor procedures.
• Maintain accurate school records.
• Manage electronic and paper filing systems.
• Update databases and school information systems.
• Prepare correspondence and documentation.
• Support senior leaders with administrative tasks.
• Assist with meetings and appointments.
• Coordinate administrative deadlines.
• Support attendance and admissions processes where required.
• Assist with student record management.
• Liaise with external agencies and service providers.
• Maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Support and guide other administrative staff where appropriate.
• Identify improvements to office systems and procedures.
• Ensure school policies and procedures are followed.

Experience and Requirements:

• Previous experience in administration is essential.
• Experience within a school or education setting is desirable.
• Previous experience supervising or coordinating administrative work would be advantageous.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong IT skills, particularly Microsoft Office.
• Experience using databases and administrative systems.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities.
• Professional and approachable manner.
• Ability to handle confidential information appropriately.
• Good problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team.
• Commitment to safeguarding and student welfare.

The successful candidate will need to be confident taking responsibility and making sensible decisions while maintaining a professional and supportive approach.

Safeguarding:

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to complete the appropriate DBS, safeguarding and pre-employment checks.

Application:

To apply, please send your CV as soon as possible.