HR Adviser

Coast and Vale Learning Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

N/A

Job summary

Bedford School is seeking a proactive HR Adviser to support staff across the school, working with the HR Services Team to deliver a high-quality HR service.

You will handle employee relations, absence management, recruitment/onboarding, and safeguarding compliance in a fast-paced educational setting.

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar HR position.
• Strong generalist HR knowledge and awareness of employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience working with HR systems and data.
• A proactive, customer focused approach.
• Commitment to safeguarding, compliance and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Support staff across the school, working with the HR Business Partner and HR Manager to deliver a professional HR service.
• Support employee relations and absence management processes, coordinate recruitment and onboarding with the HR Services Team, and ensure safeguarding compliance.
• Join a fast-paced HR function that supports both operational and strategic priorities across the school.

Skills

HR generalist

Employment law awareness

HR systems experience

Data handling

Customer focus

Safeguarding compliance

Education

CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent)

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Are you an HR professional looking for your next challenge?

Bedford School is seeking a proactive HR Adviser to join our busy Human Resources team. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in supporting staff across the school, working alongside an experienced HR Business Partner and HR Manager to deliver a professional, responsive and high-quality HR service.

The role will be varied and cover a number of elements of the HR function. From supporting employee relations and absence management processes, coordinating recruitment and onboarding activities with the HR Services Team, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding requirements. You will be at the heart of a fast-paced HR function that supports both operational and strategic priorities across the school.

We are looking for someone who has experience in a generalist HR role, excellent communication and organisational skills, and the confidence to build positive relationships with colleagues at all levels. You will be highly organised, adaptable and committed to delivering an outstanding service.

Applicants must have a good standard of education and be working towards CIPD Level 5 (or hold an equivalent relevant qualification).

What we're looking for:

• Experience in a similar HR position.
• Strong generalist HR knowledge and awareness of employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience working with HR systems and data.
• A proactive, customer focused approach.
• Commitment to safeguarding, compliance and continuous improvement.

If you are looking for an opportunity to further develop your HR career within a stimulating and rewarding educational setting, we would love to hear from you.

HR Manager, Amy Baron would be happy to talk to prospective applicants about the role and can be contacted via email in the first instance on: [e-mail] to arrange a suitable time.

Further details and how to apply can be found via the school website: Working with us - Bedford School.

Closing Date: Thursday 3 September 2026

Interview Date: w/c 7 September 2026

Please note, we reserve the right to close the vacancy early should we receive a sufficient number of suitable applicants.

If you have any queries regarding this vacancy, please email [e-mail] or ring 01234 369500.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The School may carry out online searches on shortlisted applicants.The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The School is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions on a self-declaration form in advance of attending an interview (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.

Bedford School is part of The HarpurTrust.