Grade + Salary: G6 – starting salary £25,583 pro rata (actual salary £8,465)
Hours: 14 hours per week over 2 days, term time only including INSET days (39 weeks)
Working pattern: Two days per week, Thursday and Friday.
This is a permanent contract commencing on 01.09.2026.
Probation period: This role is subject to passing a satisfactory probation period.
Cotham School, a successful, vibrant and diverse 11-18 comprehensive school, wishes to appoint an experienced Administrator to join the Administration team in our busy school office and reception.
The successful candidate will provide efficient and effective administrative support to ensure the smooth operation of the school, including reception duties. Applicants must have experience in performing all aspects of administration using Microsoft Office and Gmail; experience of using Google Docs is desirable. Experience of SIMS or other school Management Information Systems would be highly advantageous, but full training will be provided.
We offer:
- The opportunity to join a hugely successful and oversubscribed school.
- A wonderfully diverse student body.
- A highly cohesive, experienced and high-performing Senior Leadership Team.
- A committed and enthusiastic staff group.
- Excellent opportunities for personal and professional development.
Cotham School is a great place to work. Our staff are a cohesive, friendly and high performing team of professionals who are keen to welcome new colleagues into our school community to contribute to and share in our achievements. Join us and you’ll receive a wide range of employee benefits including:
- Access to employee assistance programme – this includes counselling, physio sessions, menopause support, bereavement support and much more.
- Ongoing learning and development opportunities and access to the school CPD library.
- At least 5 inset (training) days per annum with the provision of free onsite drinks and meals.
- Comprehensive induction process.
- Competitive salaries which are reviewed annually.
- Family friendly policies and wellbeing support initiatives.
- Access to staff sports - yoga sessions and team sports are currently available.
- Option to participate in the cycle to work scheme.
- On site free car parking (when available).
- Free eye tests (Display Screen Equipment Users) and free annual flu jab.
As a diverse school community, we particularly welcome applicants from underrepresented groups with regards to ethnicity, gender, age and disability.
Cotham School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff will need to be DBS checked.
Please visit our website for further details and application pack.
Closing date: Tuesday 16.06.26 at 9.00 am
Interview date: Friday 19.06.26
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title:
Receptionist / Administrator
Responsible to
Office Manager/PA to Headteacher
Accountable to
Director of Finance and Resources
CORE PURPOSE
To provide an efficient and welcoming reception service, and to meet the administrative and clerical needs of the school as a part of the Administration Team.
This will include working within the school’s reception areas and to be the first point of contact for all internal and external callers to the school.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Administrative duties
- Provide routine clerical support as required, e.g. photocopying, e-mailing, prepare letters, complete routine forms, maintain confidentiality of all the School’s records.
- Maintain and update the school’s management information system (SIMS).
- Work with the administrative team to ensure that all work received into the office via the Admin Helpdesk is completed in line with agreed timeframes.
Reception
- Lead role in managing reception to ensure an excellent “front of house” service is provided to students, parents, carers, teachers and other visitors at the various reception points.
- Receiving, logging, passing on and if necessary following up messages regarding students in a timely and effective manner.
- Use the ICT systems and programmes to assist in the production of reports as and when required.
- Answer incoming calls to the school, dealing with all queries professionally, relaying messages to relevant staff members as required.
- Send text messages using the school communication system as requested for trips, behaviour, etc.
- Log student mobile phone confiscations, adhering to school policy.
- Assisting with reception fire evacuation procedures
General Duties
- Comply with the requirements of health and safety, other relevant legislation and school policies and to understand and comply with the school’s Equal Opportunities Policy.
- Maintaining high and professional standards as the front-line service to the school.
- Have a commitment to Child Safeguarding, to promote the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the School's agreed procedures.
To contribute to the overall ethos/work/aims of the school
- Support the main administrative function within the school.
- Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to safeguarding, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to the appropriate person.
- Be aware of and support services to ensure all pupils have equal access to opportunities in which to learn and develop.
- To participate in the school’s performance management scheme, ensuring that performance standards and targets are set and met within the agreed time scale and taking personal responsibility for professional development in discussion with the line manager.
- Undertake any reasonable duties from time to time commensurate with the grade of the post.
Review
This job description does not define in detail all duties or responsibilities of the post. It will be reviewed and may be subject to modification or amendment after consultation with the post holder.
Date of Job Description: June 2026
Pay: From £8,465.00 per year
Work Location: In person
