Receptionist Apprentice

About Us

At Harris Academy Purley, you will join a dedicated team of teachers and staff supporting our excellent students. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow, inspire and develop, this may be the role for you. Working at Harris Academy Purley, you will make a real difference to the lives of young people and their families in South London who value the learning and school environment we offer. Our school is oversubscribed; we have families, from a number of boroughs, who choose us for the high standard of education we provide, and staff come from across London as well as Sussex and Surrey to come and work with us. You will be given ample opportunities to develop and progress your career, and all staff are encouraged to develop their interests and areas of expertise. Our professional development is tailored to ensure all staff are able to continue learning regardless of their role or stage of career.

Summary

We are looking for a Receptionist Apprentice to be the first point of contact for all visitors, staff and students at Harris Academy Purley. You will assist in the management of the reception area as well as providing administrative support to contribute to the smooth running of the academy.

Upon completion of your apprenticeship (12-16 months), you will receive:

• Business Administrator Apprenticeship Standard Level 3 Certificate
• Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English (if no prior exemption)

The actual salary for this role will be £20,838.47 (38 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week).

Main Areas of Responsibility

Your responsibilities will include:

• Presenting the professional and welcoming face of the Academy to all visitors, staff and students, including telephone callers
• Ensuring all visitors are signed in to the academy in accordance with safeguarding procedures
• Responding to queries from parents/carers and the general public with exemplary professionalism, ensuring that any messages or complaints are immediately dealt with, forwarded to the appropriate member of staff or escalated as required
• Ensuring the overall appearance of the reception area is tidy, professional and presentable at all times
• General administrative duties such as typing, photocopying, filing, collation and distribution of post
• Contributing to the maintenance of academy information databases and filing systems relating to pupils, ensuring confidentiality is observed at all times and records are accurate and up to date
• Assisting academy staff in all aspects of academy life, including contacting parents and pupils where necessary
• Providing general support as required, including preparation of documentation, and administrative duties relating to specific areas such as academy calendar maintenance, extra-curricular activities, school trips, school meal arrangements

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Qualifications to GCSE level or equivalent
• Competency in the use of Microsoft Office packages
• Proficiency in the use of computers and databases
• Previous experience in an administrative or front office/reception role
• Demonstrable customer service experience
• Good level of interpersonal and communication skills, with a good standard of written and spoken English
• Excellent organisational and time management skills
• Commitment to delivering excellent level of professional customer service
• Ability to remain calm and deal with challenging callers or visitors in an appropriate manner
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy of work

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Professional Development & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.

In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process.

We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.