Receptionist/Admin Assistant

Hillingdon Manor School; Ashford; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Assurance

Pension scheme

Your Wellbeing Matters programme

Discount platform

Job summary

Heath Farm School in Ashford, Kent is seeking a Receptionist / Administrative Assistant on a Fixed Term contract for 6 months. The role is 25 hours per week, with a salary of £7,386.88 per annum (not pro rata). Start date October 2026. UK applicants only – no sponsorship available.

The post combines front-of-house duties with administrative support for safeguarding and GDPR compliant operations, ensuring a welcoming environment for pupils, families and staff.

Qualifications

• Experience in a reception or administrative role.
• Proficient with Word, Excel and Outlook.
• GCSE English and Maths; NVQ Level 2 in Administration desirable.
• Strong communication and confidentiality skills.

Responsibilities

• Greet and assist visitors and staff at reception.
• Handle telephone calls, emails, enquiries, messages and deliveries.
• Provide confidential administrative support and prepare documents.
• Maintain accurate pupil records and attendance data.
• Support admissions processes and upcoming meetings.
• Arrange meetings, room bookings and refreshments as required.
• Ensure GDPR, safeguarding and confidentiality policies are followed.
• Assist the wider school team with ad hoc admin duties.

Skills

Reception experience

Administrative skills

Education

GCSE English

GCSE Maths

NVQ Level 2 in Administration

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Heath Farm School

• Ashford
• Fixed Term

Salary: £7,386.88 per annum

Hours: Monday 11am-15pm,Tuesday 11am-15pm, Wednesday 8.30am-16.30pm. Thursday 11am -15pm. Friday 11am-16.30pm

We work smarter so that you can enjoy the things that matter outside of work

Job Title: Receptionist/Admin Assistant
Location: Heath Farm School, Ashford, Kent, TN27 0AX
Hours: 25 hours per week | Monday to Friday | Mon & Tues 11am-3pm | Wed 8.30am-4.30pm | Thur 11am-3pm | Fri 11am-4.30pm
Salary: £7,386.88 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract: Fixed Term contract- 6 months | Term time only
Start: October 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

We are seeking a Receptionist / Administrative Assistant to join our dedicated school team. This varied and rewarding role combines front-of-house responsibilities with administrative support, ensuring the smooth day-to-day running of the school while providing a professional and welcoming experience for pupils, families, staff, and visitors.

As the first point of contact for the school, you will play a key role in creating a positive environment while providing efficient administrative support across the organisation. You'll manage enquiries, maintain accurate records, support admissions and meetings, and ensure all information is handled confidentially and in line with safeguarding and GDPR requirements.

What you will be doing

• Welcoming visitors, parents, staff, and professionals and managing reception services.
• Handling telephone calls, emails, enquiries, messages, post, and deliveries.
• Providing confidential administrative support, preparing correspondence, reports, and documentation.
• Maintaining accurate pupil records, attendance data, and databases.
• Supporting admissions processes and responding to enquiries.
• Organising meetings, room bookings, and refreshments as required.
• Ensuring compliance with GDPR, confidentiality, and safeguarding policies.
• Supporting the wider school team with additional administrative duties when required.

What you will bring

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience in a reception or administrative role.
• Possesses strong IT skills, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Has excellent communication, organisational, and time-management skills.
• Can prioritise workloads and work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Understands the importance of confidentiality, safeguarding, and professionalism.
• Is approachable, reliable, adaptable, and customer-focused.
• Is committed to inclusion and delivering excellent service to all stakeholders.
• Experience within an education or SEND setting
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths, NVQ Level 2 in Administration is desirable.

About Us

Heath Farm is an independent SEN school that offers a unique and stimulating environment where every student can make outstanding progress in their personal development and enjoy success in their education. From our nurturing approach for Primary through to Secondary students aged 5 to 16, all students are encouraged to reach high standards in every aspect of their lives.

Our pupils present with a wide range of needs, including social and emotional issues, learning difficulties, mental health problems and associated conditions. However, they are able to enjoy extraordinary outcomes and be happy at school.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference.We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

Wherever you work – whether in a city location or one of our more rural settings – you’ll be part of one dynamic family, aiming high and dreaming big, and helping the people we work with achieve their own personal goals

Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Salary: Up to £43,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday - Friday

Hours: 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday

With amazing teams working across our family of brands – Acorn Education, Options Autism, Momenta Connect and Blenheim Schools– we offer a huge range of exciting career opportunities.Take a closer look and discover how fulfilling your career could be.

Meeting the social and emotional needs of pupils who have faced trauma or adversity, equipping them for life’s important steps.

Supporting autistic pupils to value their uniqueness and access the world in their own way.

At Momenta Connect we support young people to overcome barriers and engage with education.

We are committed to enabling outstanding futures for all children through a portfolio of inclusive, high-quality independent and international schools.