Administration assistant school receptionist- September 2023 at West Buckland School

“An outdoorsy, inclusive and happy school that

WE’RE HIRING provides a genuinely holistic education in a

Start Date: Immediate start wonderful setting.”

GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE

Office Assistant & School

Receptionist

Founded in 1858, our intention is to offer an

excellent education based on Christian values.

Standing in almost 100 glorious acres of

North Devon biosphere, close to the surfing

beaches and surrounded by countryside.

The area is listed World Class by nature and

we count ourselves a school offering a world

class education.

WE THINK YOU’LL LIKE IT HERE.

West Buckland School, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 0SX +44 (0) 1598 76000

Email: [email protected] www.westbuckland.com Reg. Charity No: 1167545

OOuurr SScchhooool l

The school’s buildings and facilities have

developed steadily throughout its history and, in

recent years, over £14m has been invested in

outstanding facilities. These include an excellent

sports complex, including the Jonathan Edwards

Sports Centre, and the award-winning 150

Building, which includes the Art and Design &

Technology Departments and a Theatre. Parker’s,

a seventy bed, Sixth Form boarding house and

The Michael Morpurgo Library, a state of the art

building comprising of study facilities, library and

resource centre, opened in autumn 2015. More

recently, the school has built ‘The Hub’, a centre

for personalised learning and development, Café

58 sixth form dining and social space, as well as

Potbury studio theatre.

The school is fully co-educational and has grown

considerably in recent years. In total there are

just under 650 boys and girls aged, 3 to 18 years,

with 160 in the Sixth Form and 150 weekly and

full boarders. The school has its own co-located

Preparatory School and Nursery, for pupils aged 3

to 11.

Academic standards at the school are high and,

for many years, West Buckland has been one of

the most consistently high-performing schools in

the South West at GCSE and A-level. A-level

results typically exceed 75% A* to B and at GCSE

over 50% of grades are A* and A. Perhaps, more

importantly, we prize most what our students

become, not what they get. There is excellent

university guidance and considerable emphasis HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

on extracurricular activities at the school, with a

proud record in Sport, Drama, Music, the

Combined Cadet Force, Outdoor Education and

the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

Our School

Job Description

Administration assistant and school receptionist

This post presents an opportunity to join a well-established independent school set in the foothills of

Exmoor and the North Devon coastline.

The principle and operational purpose of the Office Assistant is to work as part of the Administration

Service Team and provide daily support to deliver the functional services of the schools main Reception

Office, Reprographics Office and all aspects of associated administration aligned to the efficient

operation of the busy office and team supporting this popular, vibrant and busy Independent school.

The successful candidate will have excellent administrative and organisational ability and must be able

to work on their own initiative. You will be able to demonstrate good IT skills and be required to be

willing and helpful in the running of the main reception, be able to meet deadlines being adaptable

and flexible in the management of your time and duties.

Main responsibilities

The job description is not intended to be a complete list of duties and responsibilities but indicates the

major requirements of the post. It may be amended at any future time and is reviewed annually, to

take account of the developing needs of the school.

• to provide professional comprehensive and confidential assistance to the Senior Leadership Team
• to deal efficiently with emails, telephone calls and enquires from parents, staff, students, visitors,

other schools and outside agencies

• to liaise, with tact and diplomacy with school staff and others outside the school, particularly

parents and the local community generally

• to assist co-ordinating key dates and events into diaries at the beginning of the year and monitor

throughout the year

• to upload relevant documents onto the School Website and Parent Portal
• to use school management information systems to maintain accurate records, to communicate

with parents or pupils and to generate reports as needed

• Registration – to assist with recording morning and afternoon registration using the school’s iSAMS

database, during the specific registration periods, when on duty

• to assist with the day-to-day administration support to the school

The following qualities are essential:

• a highly professional, methodical and expeditious approach to handling data
• a calm and personable manner
• good interpersonal skills: the ability to communicate effectively with a variety of people and to

assess and diffuse confrontational situations

• discretion and proven tact and diplomacy in dealing with adults and children
• ability to work as a member of a collaborative team
• Oaubirlit yS toc phriooritoisel work efficiently and effectively
• energy and enthusiasm
• excellent ICT skills
• strong administrative skills

Hours of work

This is a part-time appointment based on 24hours per week over 3 days. The reception operates

Monday to Friday between the hours of 08:00am and 5:30pm. The incumbent is expected to be flexible

in his or her attitude to hours of work and will be expected to manage working hours in line with the

needs of the school which will include some evening and weekend work. Overtime is not applicable,

but time off in lieu of additional hours worked can be claimed.

The Process

Interviews will be held on receipt of a positive application.

There will be an opportunity to meet other members of staff and to see the school at work.

A letter of application should accompany a completed application form, and the names and

addresses of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer.

Details of West Buckland School competitive salary will be discussed at Interview.

Our School

Applications

Interested applicants should submit their applications to:
HR Manager

West Buckland School

Barnstaple

Devon

EX32 0SX

e-mail: [email protected]

Applications may be e-mailed and it is not necessary to also send by post.

Further information may be found on our website at www.westbuckland.com

Safeguarding Policy Statement

The post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young

persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact, will be to adhere to

and ensure compliance with the school’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy at all times. If, in

the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the post holder becomes aware of any actual or

potential risks to the safety or welfare of children in the school, s/he must report any concerns to

the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or to the Headmaster.

West Buckland School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and

applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including

reference checks with past employers and the Independent Safeguarding Agency.

This post is identified as being within the scope of Regulated Activity and requires a cleared

Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Agency. As such all previous criminal

convictions deemed to be expired under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act are required to be

declared, this may not negate the applicant from being appointed.

In line with KCSIE guidance the school will conduct an internet search of short-listed candidates on

Google and Social Media and limited to the information provided on the application form. Any

information that is publicly available online and relevant to safeguarding or your suitability to work

with children might be discussed at interview.