Receptionist / Administration Assistant in Sunderland

Join Our Outstanding Team at St Aidan's Catholic Academy! Following our recent Ofsted inspection in February 2025, St Aidan's has been graded Outstanding in all areas, including Quality of Education, Behaviour, Personal Development, and Leadership and Management. St Aidan's is a thriving and happy school where pupils are extremely proud to be part of a highly ambitious and nurturing environment. St Aidan's is a Catholic learning community for boys aged 11-18, in which all individuals are provided with the opportunity to flourish in a way that is rooted firmly in the values of the Gospel where each child can 'Celebrate life to the full'. Our ethos and practice is proudly rooted in these beliefs and in the core values: Hard Work, Trust and Fairness.

We are seeking to appoint a Receptionist/Administration Assistant to provide efficient, effective and confidential administrative support within the school office. This role is central to ensuring that visitors, parents, students and external contacts receive a professional and welcoming first point of contact, while supporting the smooth day-to-day operation of the school.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a professional and welcoming reception service, acting as the first point of contact for visitors, parents, students and external agencies.
• Manage enquiries in person, by telephone and via email, ensuring queries are resolved efficiently or referred appropriately.
• Maintain accurate administrative systems and student records in line with data protection requirements.
• Ensure safeguarding and visitor procedures are consistently followed to maintain a safe environment.
• Provide reprographics and general administrative support including photocopying, filing, distribution of information and document preparation.
• Manage the main school email inbox, ensuring timely and professional responses.
• Receive and distribute incoming mail and support general office organisation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to support the wider administrative function of the school.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with a wide range of stakeholders. You will be organised, adaptable and able to manage competing priorities in a busy environment with frequent interruptions. You will have:

• Experience of administrative work, including use of Microsoft Office applications.
• Good attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records.
• The ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines.
• A professional, calm and responsive approach to enquiries and communication.
• A commitment to confidentiality and handling sensitive information appropriately.
• The ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• A proactive and flexible approach, with a willingness to learn and develop.

Applicants are welcome to have an informal discussion about the post with Miss Victoria Atkinson (usually this would be to arrange a visit to school), please email vatkinson@staca.co.uk to arrange this. Completed application should be submitted via My New Term by 9am on 24th November 2026. The position we are filling is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and a satisfactory Enhanced DBS from the Disclosure and Barring Service is required as part of pre-employment checks. An online search will be completed for all shortlisted candidates. Bishop Chadwick Catholic Education Trust is an equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and we expect staff and volunteers to share this commitment.