Office Manager

St Mary's Catholic Primary School; Newcastle-under-Lyme; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 31,000; Full time

Job summary

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Newcastle-under-Lyme is seeking an experienced Office Manager to run the reception and provide administrative support to the school. You will maintain records, coordinate pupil admissions, manage staff details and facilitate communication with parents and visitors.

The successful candidate will be proactive, well-organised and able to work independently as part of a team, with strong IT skills and a friendly, professional approach to safeguarding and daily

Qualifications

• Experience in school office administration or similar environment.
• Proficient IT literacy and experience with school information systems.
• Strong communication and safeguarding awareness.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operation of the school reception and office.
• Maintain manual and computerised records for pupils and staff.
• Coordinate admissions, attendance, and building entry procedures.
• Provide administrative support to staff and leadership, including letters and IT tasks.
• Lead and manage non-teaching administrative staff and volunteer helpers.

Job description

Office Manager

St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School

Part of St Gabriel the Archangel Catholic Multi Academy Trust

Salary £29,071 - £31,015 (actual £25,757 to £27,480)

37 hours per week, 40 weeks per year (term time plus 10 days)

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School are looking to appoint an experienced Office Manager to be responsible for the day-to-day operation and management of the reception office to ensure the provision of an effective administrative and clerical support to the school.

We are seeking a friendly, proactive and self‑motivated individual who will be the focal point of the school for staff, parents, children and visitors, ensuring a friendly, welcoming and efficient environment, and to act as a first point of contact within the school to filter enquiries appropriately and efficiently, including all visitor checks and health and safety processes are in place to monitor entry in and out of the building. Other responsibilities will include:

• Manage effective maintenance of manual and computerised record/information systems for pupil concerns, school registers, pupils arriving late, manage staff details on school management information system.
• Ensure that all staff absences are recorded.
• Provide personal, administrative and organisational support such as ensuring school letters (undertaking work processing and IT based tasks) are issued in a timely manner.
• Ensure liaison takes place with admissions and appeals to co‑ordinate the intake of Reception Class pupils and other year groups throughout the year. Follow up on offers made and advising places refused, ensuring information is exchanged regularly and numbers co‑ordinated.
• Support whole school events such as parents’ evenings, open evenings and attend operation meetings where necessary.
• Contribute towards the planning, development and organisation of the support service systems, procedures and policies including performance management of administrators.
• Undertake the administrative duties associated with all aspects of supporting pupil’s needs as required.
• Line Management of non‑curriculum support staff.
• Supervise and plan the day-to-day work of the administrative function of the school office and the lunchtime supervisory team

The school has a positive and caring environment, which is a happy place where children thrive and have a passion for learning within a community of love. Our staff are fully committed to providing children with a broad and exciting learning experience. There is a sense of a warm and caring atmosphere embracing all who learn, work and visit and the ideal candidate will share the vision and educational aims of the school and be inspired to improve young lives as well as their own.

The ideal candidate will have a positive approach to work, and will be confident to work independently as well as working part of a team. You will also need strong planning skills, decision‑making, time management and IT skills. It is preferable to be ideally familiar with financial school processes and procedures but not essential. You will need to possess the tact and tenacity to perform in an environment where there is daily interaction with pupils, staff and parents and have excellent communication skills with an ability to work under pressure, prioritise workload to meet tight deadlines and are reliable.

Closing Date: 9am on Monday 2nd November 2026

Visits to the school are welcomed and encouraged. To arrange an appointment to visit the school, please contact the school office on 01782 619685

Safeguarding Commitment

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, and pre‑employment medical clearance. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), online searches will also be carried out for shortlisted candidates. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.