The Opportunity
FTE Salary: NJC Grade 6 £27,254 to £28,598 per annum
Pro-rata Salary: £11,048 to £11,593 per annum
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract/Secondment until 31 March 2027
Internal candidates wishing to apply for this role will be considered for a secondment position. Please can you discuss and agree this with your manager before applying.
Working Pattern: Part time, 15 hours per week, across Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
Location: Arun Civic Centre, Littlehampton, with hybrid working
Closing date: 16 June 2026
Interview date: 29 June 2026
West Sussex County Council have a great opportunity to join a welcoming team who administer the arrangements for children requiring school places.
As a Pupil Admissions Officer, you will advise parents on the Authorities Admission Policy and the catchment areas served by primary and secondary schools. You will consider and determine, in consultation with Headteachers, requests for places at schools.
You will respond to enquiries about admissions of children to school, and be familiar with the Admissions Policy of academies, voluntary-aided schools, and foundations schools in order to liaise with Headteachers and schools. You will work collaboratively with other WSCC teams such as the School Transport, Special Educational Needs Assessment Team, and Fair Access.
Key responsibilities of the role include:
- Preparation and analysis of statistical data on trends and patterns in school admissions.
- Maintaining statistics for ‘In Year’ entry and transfer of pupils.
- Preparing paperwork for Independent School Admission Appeals.
- Responding to enquiries regarding admission of children to school.
- Advising parents, schools, and colleagues as required.
About You
We are looking for someone with excellent organisational and communication skills, and who can work well under pressure. It is essential you can work sensitively with members of the public.
You will need significant experience in an administrative post and have experience of dealing with the public.
There is a regular and intrinsic requirement to communicate in English with members of the public.
The role of the Admissions Officer involves regular contact with parents who may experience disappointment at the outcome of their allocated school. On occasion, this can require emotional resilience and the ability to maintain appropriate communication whilst giving parents the relevant information.
An interest in education is desirable.
Please refer to the key skills in your cover letter as these will be used for shortlisting criteria.
Key Skills:
- Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, including a professional telephone manner.
- Ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail.
- Self-motivated with the ability to use your own initiative when appropriate.
- Ability to work flexibly and as part of a team.
- Ability to work to tight deadlines and under pressure on occasions.
For more information on the Key Skills, Qualifications and/or Experience required, please refer to the Job Description attached.
About Us
The Pupil Admissions Team provides high quality advice and support to parents, school managers, and governors on admissions policies and procedures, incorporating responsibilities such as preparation and analysis on statistical data and trends.
We work together with schools and families to ensure children and young people have access to their entitlement to a suitable education. Our Education and Skills service supports the independent and autonomous nature of schools and acts on behalf of children and their families, working in partnership with schools and academies.
Benefits
As an employer we recognise that it is our employees that are central to everything we do. We aim to create a supportive and dynamic working environment where employees can achieve their full potential, achieve a healthy work-life balance, and are rewarded for the work they do.
For a full list this can be found at our Rewards and Benefits page.
Upon joining us you will have access to a range of benefits including the following:
Employer Pension Contribution: TBC, this alters per annum on the 1 April each year (previous employer contribution for 2025 18.70%)
FTE Annual leave: 25 days holiday + Bank Holidays = 33 days (this will be pro rata'd for part time)
How to Apply
The reference number for this role is CAFHE06366.
For an informal conversation or for further information regarding the role, please contact Sarah Bideleux, Team Manager, Pupil Admissions (South/West) at [email protected]
To apply, please follow the links below to upload your CV and Cover Letter.
In your cover letter please outline your motivations for applying and explaining the skills and experience you can bring to the role (please refer to the key skills) ensuring that any gaps in employment are covered in your CV. Please ensure you have saved the job description attached to the main advert on our website as, once the job has closed, you may not have the opportunity to download again.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
This post is subject to three years referencing, and an occupational health check.
Equity, inclusion, and accessibility is very important to West Sussex County Council. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, as this helps us build a diverse and talented workforce, that reflects the communities we serve. We ensure our approach to recruitment is flexible and supportive to enable all applicants to be at their best and to ensure they have the best possible chance of success.
We operate a guaranteed interview scheme for applicants that have a disability, are a veteran or are a care leaver. More information can be found on our application help page.
If you require any reasonable adjustments to support your application, please contact Natalie Greene, Recruitment Specialist, at [email protected]
