School Receptionist & Front Office Administrator

Location: Barking & Dagenham, East/Outer London

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

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (Term-Time Only or Term-Time + 1 Week, 37 hours per week)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP

A welcoming, dynamic secondary school and Sixth Form in the East London Borough of Barking & Dagenham is seeking an articulate, warm, and highly organized School Receptionist & Front Office Administrator to serve as the face and voice of their school community. Positioned at the heart of daily school life, this pivotal front-of-house role is perfect for a polished receptionist, customer service ambassador, or experienced administrative assistant looking to deliver exceptional service, maintain campus security, and support smooth daily operations.

About the Role

As the School Receptionist, you will set the tone for the entire school, creating a professional, secure, and reassuring environment for visitors, parents, staff, and students alike. Working collaboratively within a fast-paced school office, you will manage main reception, handle incoming multi-line calls, administer visitor management systems, and deliver core administrative support that keeps the school day running seamlessly.

• Environment: A modern East London secondary school featuring a vibrant main entrance, digital visitor sign-in technology (e.g., Inventry, EntrySign), and integrated school management databases (e.g., SIMS, Arbor)

• Culture: A friendly, team-oriented, and inclusive working culture where positive customer service, pupil safeguarding, and operational efficiency are celebrated every day

Key Responsibilities

• Front-of-House Hospitality & Security: Welcome parents, official visitors, contractors, and agency staff with warmth and professionalism; verify identification, issue visitor passes, and strictly enforce site access and safeguarding protocols.

• Call Handling & Switchboard Management: Direct incoming phone calls efficiently, take precise messages, manage main school email inboxes, and handle parent inquiries with clarity and tact.

• Student Welfare & Support: Assist pupils attending reception during the school day, liaise with pastoral staff regarding student appointments, sign late arrivals in/out, and coordinate emergency first-aid contact procedures when necessary.

• General Administrative Support: Maintain front-office digital filing systems, distribute daily mail/deliveries, process parent communications (e.g., ParentMail, SMS alerts), and assist the School Business Office with routine administrative tasks.

• Event & Visitor Logistics: Coordinate visitor sign-in logs and refreshment arrangements for open evenings, parents' nights, governor meetings, and external audit visits.

Requirements

• Proven experience in a busy receptionist, front-of-house customer service, or administrative role (experience in a school, college, or public sector environment is highly desirable).

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills with a welcoming telephone manner and a calm, composed presence under pressure.

• Strong digital literacy, including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Excel); familiarity with school management systems (e.g., SIMS, Arbor) or digital visitor portals is a major advantage.

• High attention to detail, strong multi-tasking abilities, and absolute discretion regarding confidential student and family information.

• A proactive, solution-focused attitude and a strong commitment to promoting child safeguarding and pupil welfare.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Outer London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with administrative experience).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), term-time working hours supporting work-life balance, structured professional development/training opportunities, and access to staff health and wellbeing programs.

How to Apply

If you are a polite, organized, and customer-focused administrator ready to be the welcoming face of a thriving secondary school in Barking & Dagenham, we encourage you to apply. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.