Receptionist & Administrative Assistant

The Outwood Institute of Education (OIE) is recruiting a Receptionist and Administrative Assistant to be based at our Conference Centre at Outwood Academy Adwick, Doncaster. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing a professional and efficient reception service as well as administrative support under the direction of the OIE Manager.

The OIE is the heartbeat of the Outwood Family; focused on recruiting, retaining, developing and deploying talent through collaborative sector partnerships, helping to raise outcomes for children and young people across the North of England.

We are proud to:

• Coordinate a programme of professional development equipping staff with the skills and knowledge needed to excel and prepare them for the next stage in their career.
• Help develop a pipeline of future educators, from the DfE-funded Teaching Internship to partnerships with local and national Initial Teacher Training providers.
• Coordinate school improvement activity within the Family of Schools and externally as part of sector-wide school-to-school support.
• Continually foster an extensive range of partnerships so that pupils and staff are afforded a broad programme of opportunities from international travel to high quality CPD.
• Lead the Trust's Community & Family strategy; supporting the work of schools in serving their wider communities.
• Strengthen the critical oversight of schools through supporting the work of school governance.

Professionalism and excellent organisational and communication skills will be essential, as the Receptionist and Administrative Assistant will be the first point of contact for the Conference Centre.

Normal working hours are 8:00am - 4:00pm (Monday to Thursday) and 8:00am - 3:30pm (on Fridays).

To find out more about the role, please contact Steph Wattam, OIE Manager at S.Wattam@outwood.com or 01302 720787.

Closing date: Monday 14 September 2026 at 9:00

Interview Date: Monday 21 September 2026

Responsibilities

You will be integral to the smooth running of the academy, taking responsibility for answering incoming communications and greeting and dealing with all visitors. A key duty is ensuring all visitors are properly recorded, sign-in procedures are followed, and lanyards are issued to meet safeguarding procedures.

Duties also include supporting the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) with radio contact and assisting with internal and external meeting arrangements, which includes booking rooms and catering, preparing papers, and minute-taking as required. You will maintain up-to-date filing systems, handle post distribution and franking, and be prepared to act as a Fire Marshall. The role requires compliance with the academy’s Child Safeguarding Procedures and liaising with the Designated Child Safeguarding Person over any concerns.

Qualifications

We require candidates with considerable experience of working in an admin/office environment. Experience of working in a school environment is desirable.

The role demands a strong ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of audiences, both verbally and in writing, and the ability to work well under pressure and manage competing deadlines.

Essential skills include proficiency in using standard ICT packages, including Microsoft Office, and the essential ability to respect and maintain confidentiality. Candidates must possess Level 2 qualifications in English and Maths, or equivalent, and be willing to obtain or enhance qualifications and training while in the post. A satisfactory DBS check is essential.