School Receptionist & Administrative Assistant

Location: Waltham Forest

Ofsted Rating: Outstanding

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Term-Time Only + 1 Week (36 hours per week)

An Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’ secondary school and Sixth Form in the vibrant East London Borough of Waltham Forest is seeking a warm, organized, and articulate Receptionist & Administrative Assistant to join their front-of-house and office support team. As the first point of contact for the school, this role is perfect for a customer-focused, highly efficient professional who excels at creating a welcoming environment while delivering essential administrative support.

About the Role

In this dual-focus front-of-house position, you will represent the school's high standards to parents, visitors, staff, and students alike. Combining front-desk coordination with core administrative duties, you will manage daily visitor arrivals, handle telephone inquiries, assist with pupil attendance and admissions logging, and support the broader administrative team in keeping daily school operations running smoothly.

• Start Date: Immediate or upcoming term

• Environment: A flagship Outer London secondary school celebrated for academic achievement, an inclusive community ethos, and modern learning facilities

• Culture: A friendly, energetic, and collaborative workplace where every team member plays an integral part in supporting student success and school life

Key Responsibilities

• Front-of-House Coordination: Serve as the primary receptionist, greeting parents, contractors, and official guests with warmth and professionalism while enforcing secure visitor badge and sign-in protocols.

• Communications & Switchboard: Answer, screen, and direct incoming calls efficiently, responding to general inquiries via phone and email with accurate information and discretion.

• Attendance & Student Support: Assist with logging pupil attendance, tardiness, and medical appointments on the school’s MIS database (e.g., SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom), and liaise with parents regarding unexcused absences.

• Administrative & Reprographics Support: Assist departmental teams with drafting routine letters, photocopying, filing, processing incoming/outgoing post, and preparing student induction packs or event materials.

• Safeguarding & First Aid Support: Maintain strict adherence to child protection guidelines at reception, manage visitor safeguarding checks, and assist with basic pupil welfare or first-aid coordination when required.

Requirements

• Prior experience in a front-of-house reception, customer service, or administrative role (experience within an educational, public sector, or busy office setting is highly desirable).

• Strong IT literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 / Google Workspace; familiarity with school MIS software (e.g., SIMS, Arbor, Bromcom) is an advantage.

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with a welcoming, composed, and professional manner when dealing with parents, staff, and young people.

• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to prioritize tasks calmly in a bustling environment.

• Understanding of school safeguarding principles, confidentiality, and data protection rules (GDPR).

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Outer London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with administrative experience, pro-rata for term-time plus 1 week).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous holiday pro-rata allowance, funded professional development/MIS training, and access to staff health and wellbeing schemes.

How to Apply

If you are an approachable, proactive, and detail-oriented administrative professional ready to be the welcoming face of an Outstanding secondary school in Waltham Forest, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application as soon as possible for consideration.