Business Support Assistant - Virtual School

Together for Children Sunderland; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 29,000; Full time

Job summary

An education support organization in Sunderland is seeking a Business Support Assistant for their Virtual School. This role requires providing professional administrative and financial support, managing communication and personnel while ensuring compliance with education standards. The ideal candidate will possess solid IT skills, experience in administration, and be able to collaborate effectively with a diverse team. Flexibility in working arrangements and benefits such as a Local Government Pension Scheme are offered.

Benefits

Agile working arrangements

Local Government Pension Scheme

Flexi-time

Comprehensive health and wellbeing programme

Qualifications

• Experience in administration and financial support within an education or multi-agency environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong IT skills and ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to prepare documents, minute meetings, and support training and events.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality professional administration and financial support.
• Manage administrative functions including communication, personnel, and finance.
• Attend and minute meetings; produce meeting documents within agreed timescales.
• Maintain the Microsoft Teams system and act as the first point of contact.
• Provide support for training events.

Skills

Administration

Financial support

IT skills

Teamwork

Job description

Overview

Business Support Assistant – Virtual School

Salary - Grade 3 £26403 - £28142

Interview Date: 14th October 2025

About the Virtual School

The Virtual School is part of Together for Children’s Education Directorate. It consists of a highly experienced team dedicated to ensuring vulnerable children and young people receive an education that meets their individual needs. The team works with multi-agency partners to raise educational standards, promote inclusion and wellbeing, and improve life chances.

Responsibilities

• Provide high quality professional, flexible, proficient and constructive administration and financial support to colleagues within the Virtual School.
• Manage administrative functions including communication, personnel and finance.
• Attend and minuting meetings as required; produce meeting documents within agreed timescales.
• Maintain the Microsoft Teams system and act as the first point of contact for all stakeholders.
• Provide support for training events: ensure paperwork is prepared, assist with construction of presentations, venue booking, and technological support.
• Ensure accurate records are maintained; possess a sound knowledge of developed IT systems; contribute to statutory procedures, legislation, corporate standards and policies.
• Work within established procedures and guidelines; prioritise day-to-day work and refer only exceptional or complex queries to managers.
• Support safeguarding by adhering to Together for Children’s Safeguarding Policies.

Requirements / Qualifications

• Experience in administration and financial support within an education or multi-agency environment.
• Ability to work effectively in a team and with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong IT skills and ability to maintain accurate records.
• Ability to prepare documents, minute meetings, and support training and events.

Additional Information

Together for Children is committed to developing and retaining a workforce representative of diverse local communities. We aim to build an inclusive workplace culture where all employees feel valued and diversity is celebrated.

• Accessibility Network
• LGBTQ+ Network
• Racial Equality Network

We welcome applications from candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, belief or race, and background. Benefits include agile working arrangements, Local Government Pension Scheme membership, flexi-time, and a comprehensive health and wellbeing programme.

If you have a disability, contact our Accessibility Network Chair for recruitment process and workplace support at [e-mail].