HR Assistant

Outwood; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

CPD opportunities

Flexible leave

25 days holiday

Free on-site parking

Employee discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Outwood Academy Acklam is seeking an HR Assistant to support the Business Manager with HR administration in a fast-paced school environment, including end-to-end Safer Recruitment, payroll, attendance management, and the Single Central Record maintenance.

This is a high-impact role requiring prior HR and payroll experience to ensure safeguarding compliance, precision, and operational excellence, with the opportunity to contribute to staff development in a supportive academy culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in HR and/or payroll within a professional environment.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality and discretion.
• Strong communication skills with diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment and compliance processes end-to-end.
• Manage onboarding, pre-employment checks, DBS checks.
• Maintain the Single Central Record with safeguarding standards.
• Oversee payroll and basic pension administration; track attendance.
• Arrange Occupational Health referrals and support staff wellbeing.
• Provide high-level administrative support for HR meetings.

Skills

HR experience

Payroll experience

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Job description

Job Description

Role: HR Assistant

Academy: Outwood Academy Acklam

Start Date: 07/9/2026

Salary (Actual Salary): £28,824-£30,292

Working Pattern: 37 Hours Per Week, Monday to Friday, Term Time only + 20 days

Are you an enthusiastic, organised and experienced HR or payroll professional looking to take the next step in your career?

What are we looking for?

We are looking for an enthusiastic, organised professional with experience in HR and/or payroll. Join us as a HR Assistant, a key role focused on supporting the Business Manager with all aspects of HR administration in a fast-paced school environment, including the end-to-end management of Safer Recruitment, payroll, attendance management, and the maintenance of the academy's Single Central Record.

This is a high-impact, professional role requiring prior HR and payroll experience to ensure absolute compliance, precision and operational excellence.

Welcome from the Principal:

Thank you for your interest in Outwood Academy Acklam. As Principal, I'm incredibly proud of our GOOD-rated, vibrant, and diverse 11-16 academy in Middlesbrough. We have nearly 1,200 students who benefit from our spectacular building, state-of-the-art facilities, and strong, inclusive community.

Our energetic and passionate academic and pastoral teams are committed to making a significant impact. This is evident in our consistently improving student outcomes, including being the highest performing school in the town on the Fairer Schools Index with 'Well Above Average' progress. Everything we do is driven by our ACKLAM values.

We are an outward-facing school that celebrates diversity and widens opportunities for both our students and the community. Staff love working here, and we trust you will too.

Responsibilities

In this dynamic post, no two days are the same. You will be responsible for leading on essential recruitment and compliance processes, driving end-to-end onboarding, conducting pre-employment and DBS checks, as well as managing the vital Single Central Record to ensure the highest standards of safeguarding. Beyond recruitment, you will oversee payroll and basic pension administration, as well as accurately tracking staff attendance and arranging Occupational Health referrals to support staff wellbeing.

Crucially, you will serve as the warm, professional face of HR, acting as a first point of contact for staff queries and providing high-level administrative support for key HR meetings.

Qualifications

Whilst prior experience in a school setting or experience with school management systems would be a bonus, a critical factor is your ability to handle sensitive matters with absolute confidentiality, as well as a proven track‑record of your ability to communicate warmly and effectively with diverse audience

About Us

Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) places staff development at the heart of its strategy to deliver excellence, aiming to recruit, develop, and retain the best staff through the Outwood Institute of Education (OIE).

What will we do for you?

We offer a supportive package focusing on professional advancement, secure benefits, and work-life balance:

• Secure Pay & Pension: Competitive salary, automatic pay progression, and enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Training & Progression: Access to diverse CPD opportunities, including apprenticeships and vocational qualifications.
• Flexibility & Leave: Flexible family policies, enhanced occupational benefits (with no qualifying period), and 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays for non-term time staff. (Holiday for part-time staff is calculated on a pro‑ratio basis)
• Wellbeing & Perks: Dedicated mental well-being strategy, free on-site parking, employee discounts, and access to a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Please note, we reserve the right to close advertisements early, either on the advertised closing date, or sooner if required.

Outwood Grange Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are made in accordance with safer recruitment practices and the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education. Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates, and all appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references and checks regarding suitability to work with children.