HR Assistant in Farnham

Your Role

HR Assistants (1 x Fixed-Term & 1 x Permanent)

Background: The Weydon Multi-Academy Trust (WMAT) is a family of seventeen schools and a sixth form college, serving communities across Surrey and Hampshire. In addition, we have the School Centred Teacher Training provider, the i2i SCITT. WMAT has recently integrated with The Prospect Trust, which has brought along wonderful opportunities for both students and staff across the organisation. The Trust vision is clear: Stronger together, transforming lives, creating memories which are celebrated for a lifetime. Guided by our core values of aspiration, ambition, trust, and integrity, we strive to provide an inspiring educational experience for every student.

Our HR function plays a central role in shaping a modern, people focused Trust. We are committed to delivering progressive, data informed and service driven HR practices that strengthen our culture, support our staff and enable exceptional outcomes for our learners. We are seeking a HR Assistant to join our dynamic and professional HR Team. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual who is motivated by high standards, continuous improvement and delivering a consistently positive employee experience. The successful candidate will be joining at an exciting time as we are expanding our service to more academies within the Trust.

As part of an ambitious and forward-thinking HR function, you will contribute to the smooth and effective delivery of key people processes, supporting our commitment to being an employer of choice within the education sector. The role will be based onsite, with required travel between the different academies across the Trust depending on where support is required. Hybrid working is available during academy closure periods.

Key purpose of the role:

As our HR Assistant, you will play an important part in providing a responsive, supportive and professional HR service across the Trust. Working collaboratively with the wider HR and Payroll team, you will be involved in a varied range of activities, including:

• Acting as the first point of contact for day-to-day HR and payroll enquiries, offering clear and helpful information
• Supporting the full employee lifecycle: recruitment, pre-appointment checks, onboarding, contractual changes, attendance, family leave and leaver administration
• Assisting with payroll administration and routine payroll queries
• Maintaining accurate and secure HR and payroll records, ensuring data integrity and compliance
• Coordinating key people processes such as induction, probation, training and wellbeing initiatives
• Supporting attendance monitoring and helping ensure timely follow-up
• Providing administrative support for HR meetings, projects and wider Trust initiatives

This varied and rewarding role will enable you to gain broad generalist HR experience while contributing to a welcoming, people centred culture.

Our ideal candidate:

We are looking for someone who enjoys working with people, builds positive professional relationships, and takes pride in delivering an efficient and high-quality HR service. You will be well suited to this role if you can bring:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams
• Good organisational ability, with confidence in managing multiple priorities in a busy environment
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly when handling confidential or sensitive information
• Proficiency in IT systems, including Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, and spreadsheets/databases
• A positive, proactive approach, with a willingness to learn and grow within a generalist HR role

Experience in a HR or customer focused environment is essential. Holding or working towards CIPD Level 3 is desirable, as is experience within a school, college or wider education setting.

What we offer:

We are committed to supporting your success and wellbeing, providing a professional and rewarding working environment, including:

• A collaborative HR team and a supportive Trust-wide culture
• Opportunities for professional development, including CIPD progression
• Access to wellbeing initiatives and staff support resources
• A meaningful role that supports colleagues who in turn support thousands of learners
• Generous pension scheme
• Westfield Health Cash Plan, which includes an Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to Vivup benefits (cycle to work and lifestyle savings)
• Ample free parking
• Modern, well-maintained campuses and attractive working environments

Other information:

WMAT takes the control and processing of employee data very seriously and is committed to acting in line with the GDPR regulations; please read the attached applicant privacy notice which explains how your data is processed. Prior to the interview, an online search will be conducted by HR, to identify any past or current incidents or issues that might affect your suitability to work with children and undertake this role. Please note this online search will be carried out only on publicly available information and be limited to issues relating to your suitability to work with children and/or in an educational environment. Issues that arise will not automatically be a bar to your employment at the Trust but may be discussed with you at interview. This is in line with statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education.

We are an equal opportunities employer that values diversity and encourages applications from all, aiming to build a respectful, inclusive culture. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified applicants. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria will be invited for an interview. WMAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people within our care and requires all staff and volunteers to share and demonstrate this commitment. Any future offer of employment remains subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks, including enhanced DBS clearance, a health check and references.

Qualifications

• 5 GCSEs including Maths and English (grade 4-9) or equivalent essential
• CIPD or other appropriate HR qualification or relevant experience desirable

Skills Personal Attributes

• Committed
• Ability to travel within the Trust as required
• Good written and communication skills

Safeguarding Information

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks. We recognise our moral and statutory responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. We make every effort to provide a safe and welcoming environment underpinned by a culture of openness where both children and adults feel secure, able to talk and believe that they are being listened to. We maintain an attitude of "it could happen here" where safeguarding is concerned.