Office Manager

Kedleston Group; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & well-being programmes

Discounts on retail, travel & leisure

Cycle to work

Generous life cover

Job summary

Kedleston Group is seeking an Office Manager for Oakbridge School in Birmingham to oversee the school office, welcome pupils, families and visitors, and ensure smooth day-to-day operations. You will manage pupil administration, HR and payroll support, referrals, marketing and systems, helping staff and families feel supported.

The role requires strong organisation, confidentiality, and IT skills with experience in school systems; you'll lead a small administrative team and promote safeguarding

Qualifications

• GCSEs in English and Maths as a minimum.
• Level 3 qualification in Business Administration or related field is desirable.
• Proven experience in office management, preferably in a school.
• Experience handling confidential information and payroll HR support (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Coordinate referrals and assessments, maintain records, and support marketing and stakeholder engagement.
• Lead HR and payroll administration, recruitment, employee records, payroll processing, and reporting.
• Oversee day-to-day school office operations, attend SLT, manage attendance, meetings, and communications.
• Supervise administrative staff, conduct performance reviews and appraisals, ensure efficient office operations.
• Promote safeguarding and school values, pursue professional development, and handle additional duties.

Skills

Organisational skills

IT skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Independent working

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Level 3 in Business Administration (desirable)

Tools

Arbor

SAMpeople

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Teams

Job description

Are you an organised, proactive, and dedicated professional looking to make a real impact within a school environment?

We're looking for a dedicated Office Manager to be the friendly face of our school, providing a warm welcome to pupils, families and visitors while ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the school office.

As a key member of our team, you will oversee a wide range of administrative functions, including pupil administration, HR and payroll support, referrals, marketing, and systems management. You will play a vital role in supporting staff, pupils, and families, helping to create an efficient, welcoming, and well-organised school environment.

As an Office Manager you will:

• Coordinate referrals and assessments, maintain accurate records, and support marketing and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Manage HR and payroll administration, including recruitment, employee records, HR systems, policy compliance, payroll processing, and workforce reporting.
• Lead the day-to-day running of the school office, providing administrative support to SLT, managing attendance, meetings, communications, and office resources.
• Supervise and support administrative staff, including performance management, appraisals, and ensuring effective office operations.
• Promote safeguarding, uphold the school's values and culture, undertake professional development, and carry out additional duties as required.

What we’re looking for:

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths
• Level 3 (or higher) qualification in Business Administration or a related subject (desirable)
• Proven experience in office management, ideally within a school or educational setting
• Significant administration experience in a busy, fast‑paced environment
• Experience of HR administration, with payroll experience (desirable)
• Experience handling confidential and sensitive information
• Experience supervising or supporting administrative staff
• Excellent organisational skills with strong attention to detail
• Ability to prioritise workload effectively, meet deadlines, and work independently using initiative
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams
• Experience of school systems such as Arbor and SAMpeople (desirable)

Why work for us?

• Supportive and friendly school community
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• A rewarding role where you’ll make a real impact!

We value your hard work and dedication, and we’re committed to ensuring you feel supported, both professionally and personally so that you are in the best position to make the most impact for the children in our care.

When you join Kedleston Group, you can be certain that your work will have purpose and meaning. You can also expect a supportive environment which enables you to excel in your role and grow in your career.

You will have access to an attractive benefits package including;

• Access to health and well‑being programmes, including a free and confidential 24/7 helpline and counselling service
• Discounts on retail, travel, and leisure through our benefits platform
• Cycle to work scheme
• Generous life cover

Who are we?

Established in 2018, Oakbridge School is an independent special day school in Birmingham with a specially designed learning environment created to meet the needs of autistic children. In November 2025, Oakbridge School moved into its newly developed site in Handsworth Wood, further enhancing our specialist facilities and educational provision. We provide a calm, low arousal, safe, positive and nurturing place where young people can learn and grow.

Oakbridge School is part of Kedleston Group. We specialise in providing specialist education for children aged 7-19 with a range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). These include autistic spectrum condition (ASC), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and social emotional and mental health needs (SEMH).

We are committed to safeguarding and protecting children and we expect all colleagues to share this commitment. We will do everything possible to ensure that only those who are suitable to work with children are recruited to work for us. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020 and is subject to a range of vetting checks including a criminal records disclosure.

We are a disability confident committed and equal opportunities employer, welcoming applications from all sections of the community.

Interested in more information about one of our vacancies?