Receptionist/Admin Assistant in Worthing

Salary: NJC GRADE 5 point 7 (£26,403 FTE) Actual salary at 34.5 hours: £21,210

Location: Worthing High School

Contract: Permanent contract (Term time only plus Inset days)

Accountability: Reports to Office Manager

Role Description

The postholder is based in the reception in the Main Office. The appointee’s duties will include reception and administrative support to the main office.

Qualifications and Experience

• Educated to GCSE Standard (A*-C) or equivalent, including English and Maths
• First Aid (desirable) or willing to undertake

Skills, Knowledge and Experience

• Experience of administrative work
• Experience of working in a school (desirable)
• Experience of working with young people (desirable)
• Ability to communicate with staff and parents/carers both verbally and in writing
• Excellent phone and written manner
• Ability to act decisively and confidently under pressure
• Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise work
• Experience of using SIMS or a similar database (desirable)
• A good knowledge of Microsoft Office, specifically Google, Outlook, Word and Excel

Key Responsibilities

Reception Duties

• Receiving visitors and meeting their needs appropriately.
• Maintaining the Inventory signing in system and issuing ID badges.
• Ensuring visitors are also signed out.
• Ensuring the Single Central Register is kept up to date.
• Taking telephone calls and passing on messages as appropriate, following school procedures.
• Transcribing messages from the answerphone and passing on as appropriate.
• Emailing First Call Rota to duty staff every morning and following up first call requests.
• Updating the Fire Register lists when there are staff changes and ensuring they are available in case of emergency.
• Dealing with incoming and outgoing post.
• Assisting students, staff, parents and carers with general enquiries.
• Making up new staff induction handbooks.
• Organising and making up Packs for staff at the start of the new academic year.
• Responsible for pigeon holes for new starters/leavers.

General Duties

• Assisting with the entry and maintenance of student records both electronically and manually.
• To be responsible, under the supervision of the Office Manager, for receiving incoming student personal files and for archiving outgoing student files.
• Retrieving information from the SIMS student database for students and teachers, e.g. timetables, class lists and other reports.
• General clerical assistance, including photocopying, emailing, document preparation, scanning, shredding, etc.
• Organising regular shredding collection in the school.
• Stationery stock control and ordering for the Main Office.
• Ensuring that the staff telephone extension list is up to date.
• Booking school tours for parents.
• Dealing with uniform enquiries, including logging orders delivered to school on behalf of parents and notifying them accordingly.
• Stand in for staff absence in Student Services as required.
• Any other duties required to assist with the smooth running of the Main Office, Student Services and the school.
• Monitoring and coordination of First Aid Training logistics.
• Supporting the administration of the students' confiscated items.
• Compiling and maintaining new staff starter packs.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

• Good interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proactive and helpful attitude towards staff, students and parents.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Self‑motivated.
• Reliable, punctual, and committed to high standards of work.

Values and Professional Conduct

• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
• Commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion.
• Respect for confidentiality and professional boundaries.
• Alignment with the school’s ethos and values.
• Willingness to engage in training and continuous development.
• Commitment to providing excellent service to pupils, families, and other staff.

What We Offer

• A unique opportunity to shape the people strategy of a growing Multi‑Academy Trust.
• A collaborative and supportive working environment, with access to senior leadership and decision‑making processes.
• Opportunities for professional development and career advancement.
• The chance to make a lasting impact on the lives of staff and students.
• Competitive salary package and benefits aligned with sector standards.
• The chance to work in a DfE Attendance and Behaviour Hub Lead school.

Benefits

• A friendly and supportive environment.
• The opportunity to work with well‑motivated students and supportive parents and staff.
• A location on the coast very close to main line railway services and road networks.
• Free well‑being and medical support cover.
• The opportunity to be part of the South Downs Education Trust MAT.
• Free use of our fitness suite.