School Operations & Compliance Manager in Crewe

About Us

Oakfield Lodge School is a 60-place secondary pupil referral unit providing short stay education for children aged 11-16 years. The school caters for students who are outside of mainstream education as a result of a permanent exclusion. Students are referred by the local authority education access officer from Cheshire East. We are a part of Manor Hall Academy Trust, which is an expanding Multi-Academy Trust, uniquely founded by a collaboration of special schools, united by a shared ethos, values, and collective aspirations. Guided by our commitment that Everyone Belongs, Learns and Grows, it truly is a special place to work. At the heart of our approach is mutual respect, where the exchange of best practice, expertise, support, and challenge thrives. We maintain high expectations across all aspects of our work, ensuring continuous growth and improvement.

Why Join Us

Joining Oakfield Lodge offers you the opportunity to be part of a forward-thinking and inclusive environment. Our collaborative and supportive culture, combined with a commitment to professional development, creates excellent opportunities for growth, learning, and making a meaningful contribution to the success of our school community.

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a highly organised, proactive, and experienced School Office Manager to play a pivotal role in the smooth and effective running of our school. This is a key leadership position within the support staff team, offering the opportunity to make a real impact across all non-teaching functions, including administration, finance, HR, compliance, and estates management.

As School Office Manager, you will lead and develop a dedicated team of support staff, ensuring high-quality service delivery across the school. You will work closely with senior leaders and the governing body, providing essential administrative, organisational, and strategic support. Your role will be instrumental in shaping and improving systems, processes, and policies to enhance efficiency and compliance.

This varied and rewarding position also includes responsibility for overseeing financial operations, managing budgets, ensuring HR compliance (including safeguarding and safer recruitment requirements), and maintaining key records such as the Single Central Record. You will play a central role in ensuring the school operates in line with statutory requirements while continuously seeking opportunities to improve and innovate.

Alongside your operational responsibilities, you will contribute to the wider life and ethos of the school by supporting staff, engaging with stakeholders, and promoting a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and continuous improvement. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about supporting education through strong organisational leadership.

We are looking for someone who is:

• Organised, methodical and attentive to detail
• Experienced in finance and administrative processes
• Confident with ICT systems
• Proactive and able to take responsibility
• Skilled in managing confidential information
• A supportive team member
• Customer‑focused, with a friendly, professional and respectful approach when dealing with staff, pupils, families and external stakeholders
• Adaptable and open to change
• An effective communicator, able to provide clear information, guidance and support to others
• Committed to high standards, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and consistent quality across all administrative, finance and HR tasks
• Motivated to work in a school environment

We can offer:

• 25 days annual leave plus 2 additional Trust Discretionary days, plus bank holidays (pro‑rata), increasing with service
• Excellent working environment
• Generous local government pension scheme
• Tech & Cycle to Work Schemes
• Health and wellbeing support including 'Think Well', fast track counselling service & Physiotherapy
• Eye-sight testing
• Retail discounts in supermarkets, high street shops, restaurants and days out
• Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As a ‘Disability Confident’ employer, we are committed to ensuring disabled candidates are included in our recruitment process. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria of the role, we will invite you to interview. Please let us know if you are eligible for this scheme at the application stage.

Safeguarding and Child Welfare

Manor Hall Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. Child safety recruitment procedures operate, and appointment is subject to satisfactory references, enhanced DBS, qualifications check and all other relevant employment checks. Please also note that if you are shortlisted for the role, we may conduct an online search as part of our due diligence on shortlisted candidates.