Cover manager

Tradewind Recruitment; West of England; On-site; GBP 31,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

CPD courses access

Support from Tradewind consultant

Career opportunities across education

Job summary

Tradewind Recruitment is supporting a Bristol secondary school in appointing a Cover Manager to oversee daily cover arrangements and staff absences. You will coordinate internal and agency cover, maintain records and support the Cover Supervisor team.

The role requires strong organisational and communication skills, the ability to work under pressure and ensure lessons are staffed. Start date September 2026; salary £31,000–£34,000 depending on experience, with opportunities for professional

Qualifications

• Experience coordinating staff, cover or operations within a school or education setting.
• Available to work full-time in Bristol from September 2026.
• Right to work in the UK and an enhanced DBS, or willingness to obtain one.

Responsibilities

• Coordinating daily cover requirements and responding to staff absences.
• Arranging internal and agency cover efficiently.
• Managing the school's cover administration and maintaining accurate records.
• Supporting and overseeing the Cover Supervisor team.
• Providing classroom supervision when required and maintaining a positive learning environment.
• Monitoring agency usage and preparing information for senior leadership.
• Working in line with safeguarding requirements and school policies.

Skills

Coordination

People management

Organised

Communication

Job description

Cover Manager - Bristol

Salary: £31,000-£34,000 per annum

Start date: September 2026

Are you an organised education professional with strong coordination and people-management skills?

Tradewind Recruitment is supporting a Bristol secondary school in the appointment of a Cover Manager.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who can manage competing priorities, respond quickly to changes and help ensure the school operates effectively when staff are unavailable.

Before applying, please confirm:

• Do you have experience coordinating staff, cover or operations within a school or education setting?
• Are you available to work full-time in Bristol from September 2026?
• Do you have the right to work in the UK and an enhanced DBS, or are you willing to obtain one?

The Opportunity

As Cover Manager, you will take responsibility for the school's daily cover arrangements, responding to staff absences and ensuring lessons are appropriately staffed.

You will coordinate internal and external cover, oversee the school's cover processes and provide direction to the Cover Supervisor team.

The role also involves monitoring agency use, maintaining accurate staffing information and providing relevant updates to senior leaders.

Where required, you may also provide classroom cover, supervising students and delivering pre-prepared work.

This role would suit someone who is highly organised, decisive, confident under pressure and able to communicate effectively with staff at all levels.

Key Responsibilities

As Cover Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Coordinating daily cover requirements and responding to staff absences.
• Arranging internal and agency cover efficiently.
• Managing the school's cover administration and maintaining accurate records.
• Supporting and overseeing the Cover Supervisor team.
• Providing classroom supervision when required and maintaining a positive learning environment.
• Monitoring agency usage and preparing information for senior leadership.
• Working in line with safeguarding requirements and school policies.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary: £31,000-£34,000 per annum, depending on experience.
• Professional development: Access to over 2,500 free CPD courses, webinars and resources through the National College.
• Dedicated support: Work with an experienced Tradewind consultant throughout the recruitment process and beyond.
• Career opportunities: Access to further roles across the education sector through Tradewind Recruitment.
• A trusted employer: Tradewind is proudly recognised as a Sunday Times Top 100 employer for four consecutive years.
• We are committed to providing an excellent service to candidates and schools and are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer.