Administrative Assistant

HARRIS FEDERATION; London; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Job summary

HARRIS FEDERATION is seeking an Administrative Assistant for their London academy. This maternity cover role involves being the first point of contact for visitors and providing administrative support. Applicants should have GCSE qualifications and experience in front office or administrative roles, coupled with strong interpersonal and organizational skills.

Benefits

Harris Allowance

Performance and Loyalty Bonus

Pension Scheme

Wellbeing Cash Plan

Qualifications

• Previous experience in an administrative or front office/reception role.
• Demonstrable customer service experience.
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy of work.

Responsibilities

• Presenting a professional and welcoming face of the Academy.
• Responding to queries from parents/carers and the general public.
• General administrative duties such as typing, photocopying, and filing.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Customer service

Attention to detail

Education

GCSE level or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office

databases

Job description

About Us

At Harris Academy Merton we promote the ethos "Achievement is Success" and believe every student has the right to the highest standard of education so that they can accomplish their aspirations. Our aim is to give every student an educational experience that is enjoyable and holistic so that they develop into responsible, articulate and successful young people.

We combine the traditional values of strong discipline, good manners, respect and pride in appearance with contemporary best practice in teaching and technology. With these core values embedded, we develop our students into confident and capable individuals that have a desire to excel academically and personally now and in the future.

Summary

We are looking for an Administrative Assistant to be the first point of contact for all visitors, staff and students at Harris Academy Merton. You will assist in the management of the reception area as well as providing administrative support to contribute to the smooth running of the academy.

This role is a maternity cover position from September 2025.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Presentingthe professional and welcoming face of the Academy to all visitors, staff and students, including telephone callers
• Ensuringall visitors are signed in to the academy in accordance with safeguarding procedures
• Respondingto queries from parents/carers and the general public with exemplary professionalism, ensuring that any messages or complaints are immediately dealt with, forwarded to the appropriate member of staff or escalated as required
• Ensuring the overall appearance of the reception area is tidy, professional and presentable at all times
• General administrative duties such as typing, photocopying, filing, collation and distribution of post
• Contributing to the maintenance of academy information databases and filing systems relating to pupils, ensuring confidentiality is observed at all times and records are accurate and up to date
• Assistingacademy staff in all aspects of academy life, including contacting parents and pupils where necessary
• Providing general support as required, including preparation of documentation, and administrative duties relating to specific areas such as academy calendar maintenance, extra-curricular activities, school trips, school meal arrangements

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to GCSE level or equivalent
• Competency in the use of Microsoft Office packages
• Proficiency in the use of computers and databases
• Previous experience in an administrative or front office/reception role
• Demonstrable customer service experience
• Good level of interpersonal and communication skills, with a good standard of written and spoken English
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Commitment to delivering excellent level of professional customer service
• Ability to remain calm and deal with challenging callers or visitors in an appropriate manner
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy of work

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includesour Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS,a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more aboutour benefitson our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.