School Secretary/Senior Administrator

About the role

About the role

We are looking for an experienced, highly organised and personable School Secretary / Senior Administrator to join Northfields Infants and Nursery School from January 2027. This will be on a Fixed Term contract for one year with the opportunity to move to permanent following the probation period.

This is a key role at the heart of our school. The successful candidate will help ensure that our busy school office runs smoothly, accurately and professionally and will be an important point of contact for pupils, families, staff, visitors and external professionals.

We are particularly looking for someone who already understands how a school office works and who can take responsibility for a range of important administrative systems and processes.

The role includes responsibility for:

• maintaining pupil and staff information using Arbor;

• attendance administration and first-day absence processes;

• Nursery, Reception and in-year admissions administration;

• pupil transfers and statutory data requirements;

• supporting school census returns;

• maintaining the school’s Single Central Record;

• safer recruitment and pre-employment administration;

• staff records and HR administration;

• payroll administration and liaison with payroll services;

• using The Hertfordshire Grid for Learning (The Grid) and relevant HCC/HFL systems;

• supporting the Headteacher and wider staff team with school administration;

• liaising closely with our Finance Assistant where administrative and financial processes overlap;

• providing a professional and welcoming first point of contact for parents, carers, professionals and visitors.

Our Finance Assistant retains responsibility for the school’s financial management, accounting and budget administration, but effective communication between the school office and finance function is an important part of this role.

About you

We are looking for somebody who is organised, accurate, calm and able to use their initiative.

You will ideally already have substantial experience of working in a school office and be confident using Arbor. Experience of maintaining or contributing to a Single Central Record, safer recruitment, HR administration and school payroll is particularly important.

Experience of working within a Hertfordshire school and familiarity with The Grid, HCC and HFL systems would be an advantage.

You will need excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work professionally and sensitively with parents, pupils, colleagues and external professionals.

You will also need to be able to manage competing priorities. School offices rarely provide the luxury of finishing one thing before the next arrives, so the ability to remain calm, organised and accurate when the telephone rings, a visitor arrives and somebody needs something urgently will matter just as much as technical knowledge.

Most importantly, we are looking for someone who wants to become part of our school community and who understands the contribution an excellent school office makes to the experience of pupils, families and staff.

About Northfields

Northfields is a friendly, inclusive infant and nursery school in Letchworth Garden City.

We have a committed staff team and place great importance on positive relationships with our children and families.

Our school values are REACH:

Respect – Expression – Achievement – Creative – Hearts full of fun

Our school strapline is:

“Nurturing and inspiring our learners to reach for the stars.”

We are looking for somebody who will share those values and bring professionalism, warmth and reliability to our office team.

We can offer

• a friendly and supportive staff team;

• a welcoming school community;

• a varied and genuinely important role;

• appropriate training and professional development;

• support from an experienced Headteacher, senior leadership team and Finance Assistant;

• the opportunity to take real ownership of the school’s administrative systems and processes;

• membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme, subject to eligibility.

Visits to the school are warmly encouraged. We would be very pleased to show prospective candidates around and talk informally about the role.

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the post.

Safeguarding

Northfields Infants and Nursery School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The successful applicant will be subject to all appropriate pre-employment checks, including satisfactory references, identity and right-to-work checks, an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check and other checks required under current statutory safeguarding guidance.

References will include questions regarding suitability to work with children.

An online search may be undertaken for shortlisted candidates as part of the school’s due diligence checks.

Northfields Infants and Nursery School is an equal opportunities employer.

Our school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and shortlisted candidates will be asked to share any relevant criminal history prior to interview.

The successful applicant will also be subject to enhanced DBS and barred list checks in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.