Personal Assistant/ Administrator

Carrington Wood; East Devon; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment consultancy is seeking a Personal Assistant/Administrator for a school in Devon. The role entails providing administrative support to the Head, managing windows of communication, and ensuring compliance with safeguarding policies. Successful candidates will have strong organisational skills and be proficient in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office. Benefits include school holidays and free lunches.

Benefits

Free lunch

Pension

Free on-site parking

Short-term accommodation could be provided

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior administrative or secretarial role, ideally within education.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• High attention to detail with compliance and record-keeping.
• Calm, professional, and approachable.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Head's diary, appointments, and meetings.
• Prepare high-quality documents, reports, and presentations.
• Act as first point of contact for enquiries.
• Maintain the school’s Single Central Record (SCR).
• Lead the recruitment process for staff.

Skills

Organisational skills

Written and verbal communication

Attention to detail

Proficiency in Google Workspace

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Interpersonal skills

Job description

Personal Assistant/ Administrator – East Devon – Permanent
💰Salary: £21,855 - £25,352 (Paid for 43.71 weeks evenly over 12 months, working 39 weeks)
📍Location: Devon – Office-based
🕒Hours: Full-time, Term-time only plus 10 days during school holidays
🚀Start Date: Immediate start available

Are you an experienced administrator or PA looking for a role with real purpose, responsibility, and variety? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, professional environment where attention to detail and discretion are key? This could be your ideal opportunity.

Carrington Wood has been engaged to support with the appointment of a Head’s Secretary for a highly regarded school in Devon. This is a pivotal and confidential role at the heart of the school’s leadership team, providing exceptional administrative and organisational support to the Head, while overseeing key compliance and recruitment processes.

What You’ll Be Doing:

• Managing the Head’s diary, appointments, meetings, and correspondence
• Preparing high-quality documents, reports, and presentations
• Acting as first point of contact for internal and external enquiries.
• Maintaining the school’s Single Central Record (SCR), ensuring full safeguarding compliance
• Leading the end-to-end recruitment process for teaching and support staff
• Preparing contracts, onboarding materials, and maintaining accurate personnel files
• Supporting inspections, audits, and safeguarding reviews
• Upholding professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality in all aspects of the role

What We’re Looking For:

• 💡 Proven experience in a senior administrative or secretarial role, ideally within education
• 💡 Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• 💡 Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• 💡 High attention to detail, especially with compliance and record-keeping
• 💡 Proficiency in Google Workspace and Microsoft Office
• 💡 Calm, professional, and approachable with strong interpersonal skills

Desirable:

• ✨ Experience in a school or similar setting
• ✨ Knowledge of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and ISI compliance frameworks
• ✨ Experience managing recruitment and safeguarding checks

Why You’ll Love This Role:

• ✅ Join a respected and welcoming school community
• ✅ Work directly with senior leadership in a varied and rewarding position
• ✅ Play a vital role in safeguarding and supporting the wider school operation
• ✅ Enjoy school holidays (term-time only contract plus 10 additional days)
• ✅ Be part of an organisation that values professionalism, trust, and integrity
• ✅ Enjoy benefits such as free lunch, pension and free on site parking. Short term accommodation could be provided for the right candidate as they seek longer term arrangements.

📅 Apply now for immediate consideration – or contact Fraser Wood at Carrington Wood for a confidential discussion about this Head’s Secretary opportunity based in Devon.

Carrington Wood is a specialist recruitment consultancy supporting organisations across Cornwall, Devon, and the wider South West. We recruit across Education, Administration, HR, Finance, Customer Service, and Business Development on both a temporary and permanent basis.