Receptionist/ School Secretary

Relish working as part of a team and being the first welcoming face for all of our visitors? Come and join our friendly and buzzing school We are looking for an enthusiastic and unflappable Receptionist/ Secretary to act as the initial point of contact for the School, providing a warm welcome to all visitors, incoming callers, families and staff. You will also assist with the smooth and organised administrative service of the School Office, contributing to the effective running of the School.

**Job Description: Receptionist/ School Secretary**

**Post **Receptionist/ School Secretary

**Reporting to **Bursar

**Salary **£22,000 pa (negotiable)

**Hours of Work **39 weeks per year
7.45am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday plus additional hours at the Bursar’s discretion

**The School**
St Christopher’s School is an independent day prep school for over 250 girls aged 4 to 11. It was founded in 1883 by an enthusiastic educationalist, Miss Roberts, based in her father’s drawing room. It started as a mixed school; by 1950 it had become primarily a girls’ school. It became known as St Christopher’s School in 1919 when it moved to its current site.

Anyone who has stepped through the gates of St Christopher’s School knows that with its grand wooden staircase, bright open classrooms and constant sense of creativity and warmth, it is, quite simply, magical. There is a welcome balance between the girls reading and singing in the cosy halls of this Victorian house and playing and experimenting in our modern outside classrooms, mud kitchen and playgrounds.

**The Staff**
Kindness, thoughtfulness and inclusion are key values in our school. St Christopher’s is an ambitious and warm community created through an equal love of intellectual fascination and freedom of creativity. Just like our pupils, our staff are celebrated as individuals; they feel supported and challenged, they thrive and are encouraged to be the best version of themselves today and tomorrow. We have an extensive professional development programme and actively encourage colleagues to seek new challenges and training opportunities.

All staff contribution is valued and encouraged at St Christopher’s, whether in staff meetings, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion forum, or the Staff Consultative Committee. Admin and teaching staff work closely together, supporting our ethos of inclusion and transparency.

**Purpose of Post**:

- **To act as the initial point of contact for the School, providing a warm welcome to all visitors, incoming callers, families and staff**:

- **To assist with the smooth and organised administrative service of the School Office, contributing to the effective running of the School**

**Person Specification**
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Efficient and well-organised with the ability to plan in advance and meet deadlines
- Excellent administrative and ICT skills
- Outstanding command of written and spoken English, good standard of numeracy
- Exceptional interpersonal skills and confidence to communicate effectively with colleagues, parents and children
- Able to work comfortably and calmly with repeated interruptions and unexpected requests
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and to use discretion at all times
- A working understanding of safeguarding in schools and up to date knowledge of safeguarding regulations
- Relevant experience in a similar role
- Current Paediatric First Aid or First Aid in the Workplace certificate (desirable)
- Flexibility on evenings of parent events to work outside normal hours

**Principal Accountabilities**

**1. Reception**
- Be responsible for the School Office area, welcoming visitors and ensuring the appropriate procedures are followed including safeguarding and fire policies
- Ensure that the School Office area is kept tidy at all times as is befitting of the main entry point for visitors to the School
- Receive incoming deliveries and post, forwarding to appropriate staff members
- Order Front Office resources, including keeping stationery supplies replenished

**2. Parent Liaison**
- Act as a key point of contact for parents, supporting their communications with teachers including appointments, responses to queries and communication of issues that arise
- Support the management of events led by the Parent, Teacher and Friends Association (PTFA), working with the Deputy Head Strategy and Operations

**3. Collection arrangements and club attendance**
- Maintain daily collection lists and club attendance registers, and ensure adherence to late collection procedures

**4. Pupils**
- Maintain form lists and uniform lists
- Arrange whole school photography

**5. Administrative Support**
- Provide administrative support to Front Office as required
- Work with and provide support to the Office Manager as required

**6. School Calendar**
- Send out weekly reminder and menu to parents and staff and update website
- Maintain online staff calendar and publish termly school cal