School Receptionist & Front Office Administrator (ASAP Start)

Location: Redbridge, East/Outer London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational, Ofsted Rated "Outstanding")

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

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP Start

An Ofsted-rated "Outstanding" secondary school and Sixth Form in the London Borough of Redbridge is seeking an articulate, welcoming, and highly efficient School Receptionist & Front Office Administrator to join their vibrant central support team for an immediate (ASAP) start. Serving as the primary ambassador for the school’s front-of-house operations, this role is ideal for a polished receptionist, customer service professional, or administrative assistant seeking an immediate placement within an ambitious, high-performing educational environment.

About the Role

As the School Receptionist, you will set the benchmark for professionalism and warmth, creating a secure, organized, and inviting atmosphere for pupils, staff, parents, and high-profile visitors. Positioned at the hub of daily campus life, you will manage main reception, handle incoming multi-line communications, operate visitor management portals, and deliver versatile administrative support that keeps the school’s operational engine running impeccably.

• Environment: An Outstanding Outer London secondary campus equipped with digital visitor entry systems (e.g., Inventry, EntrySign), modern switchboards, and integrated school management databases (e.g., SIMS, Arbor)

• Culture: A high-standard, supportive, and child-centered community where front-of-house hospitality, statutory pupil safeguarding, and administrative precision are prioritized daily

Key Responsibilities

• Front-of-House Management & Campus Security: Greet parents, official dignitaries, contractors, and visiting professionals with poise; verify credentials, issue visitor passes, and strictly enforce safeguarding and site access protocols.

• Switchboard & Communication Logistics: Manage incoming multi-line telephone inquiries efficiently, direct calls, take accurate messages, monitor central email inboxes, and issue urgent parent broadcasts (e.g., ParentMail, SMS alerts).

• Student Services & Welfare Support: Assist pupils coming to main reception during the day, coordinate student late arrivals/early departures, liaise with pastoral leads, and direct emergency first-aid calls as required.

• Administrative Operations: Maintain organized digital and physical record systems, process incoming/outgoing post and deliveries, update pupil attendance logs, and assist the Office Manager with routine clerical projects.

• Event & Visitor Logistics: Coordinate visitor registration logs and hospitality for parent consultation evenings, open mornings, governor meetings, and external inspection visits.

Requirements

• Proven background in a fast-paced receptionist, customer service, or administrative role (experience within a school, college, or public sector setting is advantageous, but transferrable high-level front-of-house experience is warmly welcomed).

• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, featuring a professional telephone manner and a calm, composed demeanor under pressure.

• Strong digital literacy, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook); familiarity with school MIS tools (e.g., SIMS, Arbor) or digital visitor sign-in systems is highly desirable.

• Outstanding organizational abilities, sharp attention to detail, and absolute discretion when handling sensitive student and family data.

• Immediate (ASAP) availability, with a strong commitment to supporting child safeguarding and school security policies.

Salary & Benefits

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

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), structured continuous professional development (CPD), term-time working pattern supporting work-life balance, and access to comprehensive staff health and wellbeing benefits.

How to Apply

If you are a customer-focused administrative professional available for an immediate start at an "Outstanding" secondary school in Redbridge, we encourage you to submit your application and CV as soon as possible for immediate review.