The Causeway School

Personal Assistant to Headteacher

Salary Single Status Scale 7 Spinal Column 17- 19

(£19,231 – £20,383 pa pro rata)

37 hours per week full time

INFORMATION FOR

APPLICANTS

CONTENTS

  1. Letter from Headteacher
  2. Job Description
  3. Person Specification

Dear Applicant September 2014

Post: PA to Headteacher

Thank you for your interest in this post. I hope that you find the enclosed information useful.

The Causeway School is an 11-16 comprehensive school of approximately 800 students. The school is just 16 years old, built in 1998 and is co-located with Hazel Court Secondary Special School.

The Causeway School is one of the most successful schools in England. Through exceptional teaching and learning we transform the lives of our students. We have in the recent past been named as the 5th most improved school in England with our students making more progress academically than those in any school in East Sussex.

It is a privilege to be Headteacher of The Causeway School and I am committed to making it an even more exciting place to learn, where all our students achieve far more than they thought it was possible when they joined us.

We believe every student can achieve exceptional outcomes. As well as achieving academically, we want them to be happy, fulfilled and successful – both at school and when they leave us to continue their education or join the world of work. Our role is to help every Causeway student become skilled, confident and committed – able to grasp new opportunities and challenges, now and in the future.

“Students display good attitudes to their learning, to each other and their teachers when in class and around the school.” Ofsted Dec 2012

“Teachers use their good subject knowledge and information about students to plan well for their individual needs, use questioning skills to check on progress and set a lively pace to engage students in their learning” Ofsted Dec 2012

“I have had the opportunity to experience first-hand the level of ambition for young people and the commitment of staff. There is a real energy in the school, a serious intention to create something exceptional and a desire to do it in partnership with students, parents and the local community. It is a school where interesting things are going to happen.” Innovation Unit

You would be joining the school at an exciting time in its development and we are therefore seeking to appoint a committed and dynamic candidate.

The Post

A PA is required to provide organisational and executive support to our Headteacher. You will have experience of producing documents to a high standard, undertaking a range of administrative duties, experience of handling confidential correspondence with discretion, knowledge of a range of computer applications in particular SIMS and demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills. A good knowledge of the work of a school would be an advantage. High levels of efficiency and resilience will be essential.

The Person Specification for this post is enclosed.

Your application

Completed application forms should be sent to Mrs S Windsor, Personnel Manager, by the closing date of noon, Friday 10 October 2014. Applications may be sent by E mail to: ; or posted to Mrs S Windsor, The Causeway School, Larkspur Drive, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN23 8EJ.

Please complete the standard application form accompanied by a letter of application. We are unable to consider CVs in place of application forms unless you are a candidate with a disability and a CV is the most convenient method of applying. Please ensure you relate your skills, experience and abilities against each of the requirements listed in the person specification.

Please note, Causeway School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. Successful applicants will be required to undertake a criminal record check via the DBS.

Interviews will take place during October. If you have not heard by that time you should assume that, on this occasion, your application has been unsuccessful. Having read this information we hope that you will decide to apply for the post but wish you good luck in your future whatever you decide.

Yours sincerely

G W Payne

Headteacher

The Causeway School

JOB DESCRIPTION

POST: Personal Assistant to Headteacher

GRADE: Single Status Scale 7 Spinal Column 17 - 19

RESPONSIBLE TO: Headteacher

Main Purpose of the Job

To provide administration and organisational support to the Headteacher in support of his role.

Main Functions

  1. Act as a first point of contact within the school for staff, governors, parents and others seeking contact with the Headteacher.
  1. To assist the Headteacher in organising his administrative workload recommending items to be dealt with in order of priority. To ensure that the Headteacher responds to particular approaches within timescales identified in any agreed priority action list.
  1. Maintain the diary for the Headteacher, arranging appointments as appropriate, and ensure that he is adequately briefed on matters to be discussed.
  1. To make travel arrangements for the headteacher and to provide care for his visitors, including the provision of refreshments
  1. To assemble and prepare papers required by the headteacher to attend meetings, prepare reports, or reply to requests for information.
  1. To handle all confidential correspondence with discretion
  1. To arrange meetings and, when required, take notes. To ensure that matters arising from meetings are dealt with by the appropriate people within agreed timescales.
  1. If required, to line manage other staff in the school office
  1. Competent use of SIMS including design and run SIMS reports to assist Headteacher and SLT in data analysis
  1. Sorting and prioritising all incoming post, dealing with telephone calls for the Headteacher, and other school post not individually addressed. To keep a log of mail received and how dealt with.
  1. After discussion, to draft, as appropriate, outgoing correspondence and school documents that are the direct responsibility of the Headteacher.
  1. To support the headteacher and other senior managers in the organisation and detailed planning of special events, such as Awards Evening, Certificate Evening.
  1. To undertake all matters relating to the maintenance of key information on the school website.
  1. To undertake all matters relating to the admissions of incoming Year 6 students.
  1. Undertake all matters relating to the exclusion of students.
  1. To foster links between the school, the local community, local schools and other organisations
  1. To maintain the Headteacher’s filing system
  1. To undertake such other reasonable duties as may be required within the school

This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. The post holder may be required, from time to time, to undertake other duties within the School as may be reasonably expected, without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. This is a common occurrence and would not justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.

THE CAUSEWAY SCHOOL

PERSON SPECIFICATION: Personal Assistant to Headteacher

Attributes / Essential / Desirable
Qualifications and training: / Good standard of education particularly in English, Mathematics and ICT. / Administration /
Secretarial Qualification
Knowledge, Understanding &
Experience: / Experience of previous administrative post
Experience of producing documents to a high standard using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Powerpoint
Experience of using SIMs. Social Media and Web sites
Knowledge of school policies
Experience of undertaking a range of clerical and administrative duties.
Experience of managing and supervising other staff
Experience training other members of staff
Experience of handling confidential correspondence with discretion
Experience of organising administrative workload to meet deadlines / Any relevant experience of working within a secondary school environment
Knowledge of Every Child Matters Outcomes
Skills and Abilities: / Ability to demonstrate developed interpersonal and communication skills
Ability and commitment to work with students in a calm, compassionate and consistent manner
Ability to organise own workload and demonstrate initiative
Ability to respond proactively to unexpected problems and situations
Ability to develop efficient record keeping systems
 Ability to produce accurate and up to date records and reports as required
Ability to communicate with a range of audiences including other employees within the school, governors, students and parents
Ability to show sensitivity and objectivity in dealing with confidential issues
Ability to identify work priorities and manage own workload to meet deadlines, whilst ensuring that lower priority work is kept up to date
 Ability to produce accurate record of meetings
Ability to work effectively and supportively as a member of the school support team.
Personal Qualities: / Is self-motivated and hard working.
Can work effectively and professionally even when under pressure.
Ability to present a professional school image
Exemplary health and attendance record.
Appreciation of the significance of maintaining complete confidentiality relating to students and all school matters.
Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
To demonstrate equal opportunties
Willingness to positively promote the Schoool’s aims and ethos.
Willingness to participate in further training and developmental opportunities offered by the school and County, to further knowledge
Ability to foster links between the school, local community, other schools and parents

Criterion assessment by: =application form; = letter of application;  = interview;  test