Administrative Assistant (17181)

Southampton City Council; Southampton; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 21,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site parking

Pension scheme

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

Southampton City Council seeks an Administrative Assistant for Springwell School, a daytime SEN school for ages 4–11. You will be the first point of contact, providing a warm welcome to visitors and handling a broad range of admin tasks to support staff, pupils and families.

The role focuses on reception, attendance, meal orders, records, and event support within a friendly, busy school office. Term-time only, 27.5 hours/week.

Qualifications

• Has English and Maths GCSE Grade C or above (or equivalent).
• Excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Well organised with ability to prioritise a varied workload.
• Strong IT skills and confident using a range of computer systems.

Responsibilities

• Reception and phone handling duties.
• Support pupil attendance and register administration.
• Process school meal orders and monitor meal accounts.
• Maintain accurate records and confidential information.
• Communicate with parents and staff via school systems.
• Assist with ordering, filing, photocopying and general admin.
• Support school events, parent evenings and other admin tasks.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Organised / multitask

IT skills

Education

GCSE English

GCSE Maths

Job description

Administrative Assistant

School Name - Springwell School

Job Title - Administrative Assistant - Reception

• Salary Grade 6, SCP 12 - 17
• Actual MIN £19,045 pa to MAX £21,116 pa
• Scale point dependent upon length of service/experience
• Hours Part time 27.5 hours per week
• Monday to Friday: 08:00 am - 1:30 pm
• Permanent, Term Time only
• Start Date As soon as possible
• Closing Date 9 am, Wednesday 14th October 2026
• Shortlisting date Monday 19th October 2026
• Interview Dates Friday 23rd October 2026

Are you organised, welcoming and passionate about making a difference to the lives of children and young people with special educational needs?

Springwell School is located on the edge of the city of Southampton and is a designated day special school for children aged from 4 - 11 years.

We are a warm, ambitious, and inclusive Special Educational Needs (SEN) school committed to providing high quality education and care for children with a range of complex learning and behavioural needs. Our pupils thrive in an environment where every achievement is celebrated, individuality is valued, and nurturing relationships come first.

The school encourages a supportive and positive learning ethos that enables both staff and pupils to work and learn together to develop their full potential, providing the highest possible standards of education and support to children, families, and staff.

The Role

Springwell School is seeking a dedicated and professional Administrative Assistant to join our friendly administration team. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in the smooth running of our busy reception area and school office, supporting staff, pupils, families, and visitors every day.

As the first point of contact for visitors, parents, and external agencies, you will provide a warm and professional welcome while supporting a wide range of administrative functions across the school. Working as part of a supportive team, you will help ensure the efficient operation of the school's administrative processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Reception and telephone enquiries.
• Supporting pupil attendance and register administration.
• Processing school meal orders and monitoring meal accounts.
• Maintaining accurate records and confidential information.
• Communications with parents and staff through school systems.
• Assisting with ordering, filing, photocopying and general office administration.
• Supporting school events, parent evenings and wider administrative activities.

About You

• Has English and Maths GCSE Grade C or above, 4 - 9 (or equivalent)
• Has excellent communication and customer service skills.
• Is organised and able to prioritise a varied workload.
• Has strong IT skills and is confident using a range of computer systems.
• Can work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Remains calm and professional in a busy environment.
• Shares our commitment to safeguarding, inclusion and supporting children with additional needs.

Previous experience working in a school or reception environment would be advantageous, although not essential.

Why join Springwell?

• A welcoming and supportive staff team.
• A rewarding role where you can make a real difference every day.
• Membership of a school community that values wellbeing, collaboration and inclusion.
• Competitive salary with regular salary progression
• Free on-site parking
• Pension Scheme
• High-quality support and training
• Monday - Friday working pattern
• Excellent development opportunities to grow within a positive and supportive team
• Employee Assistance Programme and Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

Please refer to the Job Description and Person Specification for the full responsibilities of this role and knowledge required.

Working pattern - 27.5 Hours per week Monday to Friday: 08:00 am - 1.30 pm

If you do not hear from us regarding your application, unfortunately this means that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion. We thank you for your interest and wish you every success in your future applications.

Please note that we reserve the right to close a vacancy earlier than the advertised date if we receive applications that meet the criteria. We may also interview candidates at a mutually convenient time before the closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.