Senior Administration Assistant in Taunton

Do you have excellent administrative skills and would like to work within a busy academy office? Monkton Wood Academy, Taunton is seeking a Senior Administration Assistant to join its supportive and busy team on a fixed‑term contract. In this role, you will support the Operations Manager with communications, reprographics, newsletters, and a wide range of general administrative tasks. Based in the main academy office, you will work alongside 6 – 8 colleagues and contribute to the smooth running of day‑to‑day operations. During busy periods, you may also be required to provide reception cover and support other areas of the academy as needed.

About you

• Possess a relevant NVQ level 3 in business and administration or equivalent qualification/experience.
• Demonstrate excellent communication skills.
• Have good planning and organisational skills.
• Be an excellent communicator and have a good telephone manner with the ability to take accurate messages.
• Have excellent accuracy and attention to detail.
• Be an experienced administrator.
• Enjoy working within a team player.
• Have a keen interest in working within an education‑based environment and commitment to inclusion and acceptance of all.

Applicants are advised to refer to the full requirements of the role in the attached job description and person specification, prior to submitting an application.

About the Academy

Monkton Wood Academy is an 11‑18 school located in Monkton Heathfield, near Taunton. We are currently going through a period of change and rapid improvement as we seek to make Monkton Wood a place of academic excellence, where children can progress and thrive. We are developing a culture of high expectations and mutual respect, where students and staff can be successful in our roles and become the best possible version of ourselves. Monkton Wood has long been proud of its strong connections with the local community; our parents and our partners at the Tacchi‑Morris Arts Centre are highly engaged in school life. It is incredibly important to us that our students develop a strong sense of belonging and confidence in their own ability to achieve well and to go on to serve their community.

Why work at CLF?

We are a diverse and inclusive community of 36 academies across five cluster regions in the South West that is committed to excellence and making a positive impact. Our people bring unique perspectives, but we’re all driven by a shared moral purpose and a passion for making a positive impact, whether in a teaching, leadership or support role. We’re proud to foster a culture where everyone can thrive, feel valued, and make a meaningful difference to the lives of others. We are an equal opportunity employer and proud to serve a diverse student population and our communities. We strongly believe that representation matters and so encourage applications from underrepresented and global majority groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. We aim to remove any barriers to employment, ensuring everyone can compete on equal terms. Job share, part‑time and flexible working opportunities will be considered.

What we can offer you

• Access to a generous pension through the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Generous annual leave.
• A comprehensive induction and ongoing commitment to wellbeing and career progression, through a range of training, apprenticeships and in‑role/wider‑trust development opportunities.
• Well‑being support through an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Health benefits, including wellness sessions, gym discounts, and flu jabs.
• A range of generous family leave options, including above industry average occupational maternity pay.
• Additional benefits like cycle to work scheme, on‑site parking plus many more!

Recruitment timeline

• Closing Date: Sunday 8th February
• Short‑listing: Monday 9th February
• Interviews: w/c 16th February

We welcome visits from potential candidates. If you would like to arrange a school visit prior to the closing date, please contact the academy/site directly to arrange a suitable appointment. As part of our commitment to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), we do not accept CVs – a full education and employment history must be provided through our application form. We are unable to offer sponsorship with this role. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, should we receive a high level of interest in the role. Therefore, candidates are advised to apply at their earliest convenience to avoid missing out. As a Disability Confident Committed Employer, we are dedicated to equity and inclusion and commit to interviewing applicants with a disability who meet the essential criteria. We aim to provide an inclusive and accessible recruitment process, and support employees throughout their employment. If you have a disability, are neurodivergent, or require any adjustments to support you through the application or interview process please let us know how we can assist.

Safeguarding Statement

The Cabot Learning Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All roles across the trust have a varying level of responsibility for ensuring safeguarding practice, with some roles holding significant responsibility and involving working with children on a daily basis in regulated activity. Regardless of the level of responsibility and involvement in each role, we expect all staff, visiting professionals and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates will undergo a comprehensive pre‑employment checking process, including an enhanced DBS check (including a further check against the appropriate barred list), references from current and previous employers, health, right to work in the UK, child disqualification (where applicable), prohibition from teaching/management and online checks. You must also tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.