Communications Assistant
Full time, 40 hours per week
5 weeks annual leave
circa £24,000
The school
St Paul’s Girls’ School is one of the country’s leading independent secondary day schools for girls aged 11-18 and is a lively academic community with excellent facilities for all subjects. There are approximately 740 pupils with a thriving sixth form. Entry to the school is by competitive exam, held in January, and there is heavy demand for each place. Public exam results are consistently outstanding and about half of all students every year move on to Oxford and Cambridge. Increasing numbers also go on to higher education at Ivy League colleges in the United States. Aspirations and achievements in many areas go well beyond what one would normally expect from a school, making St Paul’s a very exciting and stimulating place in which to work.
Full details of the school, including our curriculum and public exam results, are available on our website at
The post
Reporting to the Director of Communications the Communications Assistant will be responsible for:
1. School Website, micro-sites and parent portal
-updating the school website with news, staff, school information etc
-liaising with other departments to ensure all areas of the website and parent portal are up to date (including calendar, HR, policies etc)
-suggesting new initiatives (such as new films) and functionality, and liaising with 93digital (website developers)
-helping co-ordinate content for other websites including iPaulina, the Senior School website and the Dads4Daughters website.
2. Electronic newsletter (The Bulletin)
-commissioning, chasing and editing copy for fortnightly newsletter
-meeting with journalism team (girls Yrs 8-12) to discuss articles and ideas
-sourcing images and commissioning photograph, and liaising with AV technician and others as necessary
-laying out the newsletter using Mailchimp
-sending out the newsletter to staff, parents and girls
3. Publications
a. Paulina Magazine (c. 50 pgs)
-commission, chase, edit and proof copy from every department for the annual magazine and primary prospective material
-commission, chase, and source suitable images
-liase with Jamjar Creative on the design of the entire publication
b. Other publications
-Producing the annual school Almanac
-Producing copy and assisting the Foundation Report
-Proof-reading The Review
-Updating of the MIV Handbook and Senior School Handbook
-Managing all other prospectus materials e.g. admissions advertisments, mugs, bags, banners etc
4. Student Journalism
-overseeing all student journalism in the school e.g. approving and working on new publications, helping with funding, design and printing, and proof-reading
-helping appoint/oversee new student editors of The Marble, M2and The Foodie
-overseeing student website iPaulina and helping approve and publishing content
5. Social Media
-managing the D4D account and working with students on any school accounts that may be created
-launching a new school twitter/instagram account and being responsible for this.
6. Crisis Management Support
- as required.
The Communications Assistant will also work with the Director of Communications to support other communications activity within the school. This may include working on other publications, proof-reading documents, assisting staff with branding enquiries, advising on design, monitoring the school’s appearance in the media and assisting with press enquiries, and helping with broad initiatives such as Dads4Daughters.
The role holder may also assist with covering the school Reception at lunchtimes and any other general school administrative duties as required.
This job description may be amended from time to time in consultation with the role holder. As the needs of the school change the duties will be adjusted accordingly.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The role will suit a bright and enthusiastic graduate, probably with an arts’ degree, with a fine eye for detail, creativity and design. Energy, confidence and the ability to work with pupils, academic and other members of staff are crucial, as is positive ‘can-do’ attitude. Initiative and an eagerness to come up with new ideas are also highly desirable; there is scope to contribute intellectually to the communication strategy of the school. Previous experience of writing copy and editing would be an advantage, as would an interest in developing social media platforms. Training will be provided.
Terms and Conditions
-40 working hours a week, 52 weeks a year
-5 weeks’ annual leave, normally expected to be taken during the school holidays. Additional discretionary leave for any days the school closes between Christmas and New Year
-Contributory pension scheme
-Free lunches, tea and coffee
-Use of school sports facilities during allocated staff times
-Access to season ticket, cycle and computer loans and childcare vouchers.
Salary: circa£24,000
Application and interview procedures
Please submit applications using the on-line form provided on the school careers site. As well as requiring details of your qualifications, experience and referees, the form will provide an opportunity for you to write a short personal statement and to upload your latest curriculum vitae.
Applications should be submitted by the closing date ofFriday 9 March 2018.
If you do not receive an automated acknowledgement of your application you are advised to e-mail or telephone to confirm that the application has been received. Candidates who have not heard further from the school within two weeks of the closing date may assume that their application has not been successful.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and overseas police checks
St Paul’s is a “registered body” under the Police Act 1997 because employment here involves access to children under the age of 18. This post will require an enhanced DBS check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau) before we can confirm an offer of employment. Unless you are a member of the DBS Update Service you will need to apply for a new disclosure, even if you already hold one. Former members of staff who are not on the Update Service who re-join us also require fresh disclosures unless less than six months have passed between their leaving and their re-employment date. If you have lived or worked abroad you will also need to provide appropriate paperwork, such as a police certificate of good conduct, from the countries you have lived in.
Safeguarding guidelines
The post-holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young persons for whom s/he is responsible, or with whom s/he comes into contact, will be to adhere to and ensure compliance with our child protection policy statement at all times. If, in the course of carrying out the duties of the post, the post-holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety or welfare of children at St Paul’s, s/he must report any concerns to our safeguarding designated teacher or to the High Mistress.
Closing date:Friday 9 March 2018
Contact details:
Ms Tobi Ojuri
Human ResourcesDepartment
St Paul’s Girls’ School
Brook Green
London W6 7BS
Tel: 020 7605 1117