Information Pack for candidates

for the role of School Administrator

Contents

Welcome letter

  1. What is a free school?
  2. About Judith Kerr Primary School
  3. Vision and Ethos for Judith Kerr Primary School
  4. The Free School Proposers
  5. Job description
  6. Person specification
  7. Appointment and remuneration
  8. How to apply




CfBT Schools Trust is a charity and a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England & Wales. Company No. 7468210.

Registered Office: 60 Queens Road, Reading, RG1 4BS. CfBT Schools Trust is part of CfBT Education Trust which is a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. Company No. 867944 Charity No. 270901


June 2017

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for expressing your interest in the post of administrator for our school. We hope that you will be as excited as we are by the potential for enhancing life chances for all young people and the wider community in this area, and by the opportunity to work with us. Our administrator will work with the Director of School Business and Headteacher to develop and shape this ground-breaking bilingual school in the heart of multicultural London.

We are ambitious for Judith Kerr Primary School and want it to become a beacon of excellence not only for the local community and CfBT Schools Trust, but also for bilingual education in the UK and beyond. Children at Judith Kerr Primary School will be excited by the learning opportunities open to them, stretched and challenged to succeed academically and personally, and confident in the care and respect of the whole school community.

Ideally, as our school administrator, you will have some experience of working in an educational setting. Whatever your background, if you have the skills, experience, and enthusiasm we are looking for, we will be delighted to receive your application.

Yours sincerely

Marta Correia

Head of School

1.What is a free school?

Free schools are all-ability, state-funded schools set up in response to parental demand. Free schools in England can be set up by a wide range of proposers, including parents, teachers, charities (such as CfBT Schools Trust), businesses, universities, and religious or voluntary groups.

2. About Judith Kerr Primary School

Judith Kerr Primary School will be an inclusive, non-denominational, dual language primary school teaching children aged 4 to 11, from Reception to Year 6, in English and German.

The school plans to admit 50 children per year in two classes of 25 each. In 2013, our first year of operation, we admitted two full classes into the Reception year and one class into each of Year 1 and Year 2. At full capacity (by 2020 at the latest), our school will have 350 pupils.

Judith Kerr Primary School will be a free school operated by CfBT Schools Trust under contract with the Secretary of State for Education. Originally conceived by a parent promoter group based in South London, the school project combines the founders’ passion and local knowledge with CfBT’s long track record in education.

A stimulating, enjoyable environment will give pupils a foundation for life-long learning, and allow them to develop important social and personal skills. In an area of great social and economic diversity, our integrative approach will create opportunities for all children and increase social mobility.

3.Vision and Ethos for Judith Kerr Primary School

Founding vision

We want to make a bilingual education accessible to everyone. All children at Judith Kerr Primary School will learn in English and German. Our bilingual environment will foster:

  • Academic excellence;
  • Community engagement; and
  • Personal development.

Our Ethos

A focus on language and literacy to encourage children to express themselves clearly and confidently, whatever the situation, in two important world languages.

An international, multi-lingual, and multi-cultural outlook. Whatever their cultural or ethnic backgrounds, our pupils will become self-aware and culturally sensitive throughout their lives as they encounter the cultures of the world.

All children will acquire a strong sense of participation in an open society full of wonderful opportunities.

4.The Free School Proposers

The project to form Judith Kerr Primary School is being managed in partnership by CfBT Schools Trust as school sponsor with the parent-promoter team.

For more information, please visit

5. Job description

The following job description is not exhaustive. It is expected that the school administrator will work with the Director of School Business Manager to develop the role to reflect the needs and demands of the post.

Core purpose

In consultation with the Headteacher and Director of School Business, to offer effective administrative support to the staff of Judith Kerr Primary School, including marketing, finance, personnel and data management duties detailed below.

Main activities

Administrative duties

  • Act as the first point of contact for Judith Kerr Primary School, greeting visitors, ensuring security processes are in place and followed, and providing hospitality as appropriate;
  • Act as personal assistant to the Headteacher including dealing with confidential and sensitive issues;
  • Upkeep of the school diary and that of the Headteacher as appropriate;
  • Dealing with the Headteacher’s email as directed;
  • To provide the administrative support for the organisation of school trips and events, to include, for example, the collection of contributions and coach bookings;
  • Maintain the register for annual license reviews, ensuring renewal and negotiations where appropriate.

Admissions and Attendance

  • Act as lead officer for liaison with the Education Welfare Officer
  • Produce reports to identify attendance data
  • Act as lead admissions officer for liaison and meetings with Southwark Council.
  • Act as In-Year Admissions Officer to process in-year admission applications and
  • provide assistance to the Southwark Admissions Coordinator in relation to primary co-
  • ordinated admissions.

Marketing duties

  • Co-ordinate the content for school publications including newsletters, reports, questionnaires and liaise with external publishers as necessary;
  • Manage the school website ensuring content is accurate and up to date (training will be provided in support of this activity);

Financial duties

  • Work with the Director of School Business and CST School Finance Officer to ensure that financial administration is carried out in accordance with agreed procedures;
  • Liaise with CST’s Finance Officer to ensure accurate and timely raising and processing of invoices;

Personnel duties

  • Work with the CST HR Business Partner to process documentation required for staff appointments or changes, including drawing up advertisements;
  • Create, maintain and update confidential staff files;
  • Complete monthly absence returns for CST.

Data management

  • Update and maintain the school’s information management systems;
  • Complete required returns including, for example, for the DfE, Southwark Council, or CST, for approval and sign off by the Headteacher;
  • Support the Headteacher in producing assessment data or other statistical information.

Support for the school

  • Support the school’s commitment to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare at a level appropriate to this role;
  • Be aware of and comply with policies and procedures relating to health and safety, security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to the appropriate person;
  • Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the school;
  • Participate in training, other learning activities and performance development as required;
  • Attend and participate in meetings as required;
  • Any other duties commensurate with the role as agreed with the Headteacher or Director of School Business.

To help raise pupil attainment and in the interests of effective team working, all staff in school should be reasonably flexible over working arrangements and the allocation of duties including those normally allocated to other team members.

6.Person specification

This section outlines the skills and experience against which candidates for this position will be assessed. The selection panel will expect candidates to show knowledge and understanding of each area, and to show how they have applied (or are aware of how to apply) this knowledge and understanding in contexts relevant to Judith Kerr Primary School. You should provide clear and objective evidence of how you meet these requirements when completing your application. Short-listed candidates will be involved in a variety of activities directly related to the person specification that will form part of the evidence base.

The panel will assess the following:

  • Application form (A)
  • Interview meeting and interview day activities (I)
  • References and other pre-employment checks (R)

We may take up references for short-listed candidates before inviting to interview. Please therefore provide names and contact details of two professional referees with your application.

Required Attributes / Desirable Attributes / Assessed by
A.
Qualifications /
  1. Good numeracy and literacy skills
  2. Appropriate training in the use of ICT packages including Microsoft Office
/
  1. Working towards NVQ in office management/administrator NVQ 2 or 3 (or equivalent qualification or experience).
/ A/I
B.
Skills /
  1. Able to prioritise and manage issues for the headteacher
  2. Excellent organisation skills
  3. Excellent communication skills
  4. Fluent in English
  5. Able to use own initiative and work as a member of a team
  6. Competent in ICT
/
  1. Appropriate knowledge of first aid
  2. Website maintenance
  3. Experience of using and maintaining databases
  4. Fluent in German
/ A/I
C.
Experience /
  1. Development, management and operation of administrative systems
  2. Preparing documents for meetings
/
  1. Dealing with confidential and sensitive information relating to staff, parents or children
  2. Operating basic finance systems
  3. Previous experience in a school setting
/ A/I
D.
Personal qualities &
abilities /
  1. Able to meet deadlines
  2. Able to relate well and sensitively to children and adults
  3. Able to promote the school in the wider community
  4. Able to work constructively in a team
  5. Able to identify learning needs and seek personal learning opportunities
  6. Committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare at a level appropriate to this role
  7. Excited by the chance to be involved in a new school
  8. Enquiring, independent thinker
  9. Approachable, open, honest, reliable, resilient
/ A/I/R

CST is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and all teachers must give the highest priority to this. The successful candidate will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

7.Appointment and remuneration

We are determined to attract the right school administrator to Judith Kerr Primary School. In order to achieve this we expect to be flexible over the terms of employment, depending on candidates’ experience.

The appointment will be made by CfBT Schools Trust as Employer, to begin 21 July 2017 or sooner. The Trust is able to offer the successful candidate access to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS). The terms and conditions of the contract will be discussed at interview.

The role is Term Time only i.e. 40 weeks a year, 9am to 5.00 pm Monday to Friday. Longer hours will be required with agreement.

The selection process will be undertaken by CST and the Headteacher.

8.How to apply

Please complete the CST application form provided and submit together with a personal statement of no more than two A4 pages, detailing why you believe you are the right person to fill this position. Please ensure you refer to the person specification in this application pack when preparing your statement and provide objective evidence.

Please note that stand-alone CVs will not be considered.

Completed applications should be emailed to to arrive no later than 9am, Monday 19th June 2017.

Interview assessment timetable for shortlisted candidates

Shortlisted candidates will be advised by Friday 23 June 2017..

Interviews will take place in London. Shortlisted applicants will receive further details including travel suggestions nearer the time. CST will reimburse reasonable travel costs.

CST may also request references ahead of interview or require a preliminary internet interview.

Details will be agreed with candidates depending on individual circumstances.

Interviews will take place week commencing Monday 26 June 2017. You will need to be available on this week. Dates will be confirmed once we have booked the venue.

Questions

If you would like a confidential discussion about this job opportunity, in the first instance please 7contact the school office on or telephone 0207 7386481, who can arrange a conversation for you with the Headteacher or School Business Manager. We look forward to hearing from you.

Judith Kerr Primary School administrator application packpage 1