HR Coordinator

Highgate Wood Secondary School; Wood Green; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Highgate Wood Secondary School in London seeks an experienced HR Coordinator to own the day-to-day HR function and deliver an outstanding service to staff and leaders. You will work within the school and collaborate with Haringey HR Service to align practice with local authority policies.

This role blends operational HR management with improving systems, processes and the employee experience, contributing to a positive, inclusive workplace culture.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 3 qualification as a minimum.
• Proven HR experience, preferably within a school/educational setting.
• Sound understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience supporting recruitment, absence management and employee relations processes.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Confident communicating with colleagues at all levels and building positive professional relationships.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications and HR information systems.
• Ability to work independently while liaising with the Haringey HR Service and school leadership.
• Understanding safeguarding and promoting welfare of children and young people.

Responsibilities

• Manage the full employee lifecycle from recruitment to leavers.
• Provide guidance on employee relations, attendance, performance and conduct matters.
• Act as first point of contact for day-to-day HR queries from staff and managers.
• Coordinate pre-employment checks and safer recruitment processes.
• Work with Haringey HR Service to ensure policy consistency.
• Maintain confidential personnel records and HR systems.
• Coordinate employment contracts and variations; support probation reviews.
• Assist workforce planning and HR administration for managers.
• Monitor absence data and HR reports as required.
• Support staff wellbeing and professional development initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with safeguarding and Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance.
• Drive continuous improvement of HR processes and administrative systems.

Skills

CIPD Level 3

HR experience

UK employment law

Recruitment support

Absence management

Employee relations

MS Office

HRIS

Confidentiality

Safeguarding

Tools

Microsoft Office

HRIS platforms

Job description

Highgate Wood Secondary School is a successful, popular and oversubscribed secondary school in the London Borough of Haringey. We are seeking to appoint an experienced, professional and highly organised HR Coordinator to take ownership of the school's day-to-day HR function and provide an outstanding service to staff and leaders across the school.

This is an exciting opportunity for a capable HR professional who enjoys working in a busy environment and wants to make a visible contribution to staff wellbeing, organisational culture and employee experience.

As our dedicated HR Coordinator, you will be based within the school and play a key role in supporting leaders and staff across all aspects of the employee lifecycle. The school buys into the Haringey HR Service, meaning that you will work closely with Haringey's HR professionals and employment specialists, ensuring that all HR practice is aligned with local authority policies, guidance and employment procedures.

This role offers the opportunity to combine operational HR management with the chance to improve systems, strengthen processes and support the continued development of a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

What will you be responsible for?

You will:

• Manage the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through to leavers.
• Provide advice and guidance on employee relations, attendance management, performance, capability and conduct matters.
• Act as the first point of contact for day-to-day HR queries from staff and managers.
• Support safer recruitment processes and ensure all pre-employment checks are completed accurately and compliantly.
• Liaise closely with the Haringey HR Service, seeking advice where appropriate and ensuring the consistent application of policies and procedures.
• Maintain accurate, confidential personnel records and HR systems.
• Coordinate employment contracts, contract variations, probation reviews and other employment documentation.
• Support managers and senior leaders with workforce planning and HR administration.
• Monitor absence data, employee records and workforce metrics, producing reports as required.
• Assist with casework preparation, meetings and documentation relating to employee relations matters.
• Support staff wellbeing, engagement and professional development initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, safeguarding requirements, Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance and relevant school policies.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of HR processes and administrative systems.

About You

We are looking for someone who:

• Holds a CIPD Level 3 qualification as a minimum.
• Has proven experience working in an HR role, preferably within a school, academy, college or other educational setting.
• Has a sound understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Has experience supporting recruitment, absence management and employee relations processes.
• Can manage confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.
• Has excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Is confident communicating with colleagues at all levels and building positive professional relationships.
• Is highly proficient in Microsoft Office applications and HR information systems.
• Can work independently whilst also developing effective partnerships with the Haringey HR Service and school leadership team.
• Understands the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

The Opportunity

This is a permanent position within an established and successful secondary school where you will have genuine responsibility for the HR function and the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the wider staff experience.

You will be supported by an experienced leadership team and benefit from working in partnership with the Haringey HR Service, gaining access to specialist advice while maintaining ownership of HR operations within the school.