Personal Assistant to the Principal

Post Reference: 1024

Academy: Leeds West Academy

Job Title: Personal Assistant to the Principal

Grade: SO1 – Actual Salary (£25,052 - £26,710)

Hours: 37 hours per week Term Time Only plus 15 days 

Accountable to: Principal/Executive Assistant  

Leeds West Academy is a school with a remarkable sense of community and a strong and safe culture, a place where staff and students can thrive.  We were judged as ‘Good’ by Ofsted in May 2019 because teaching is strong, the support we provide for our students and staff is unrivalled and because our results have improved year-on-year since 2016.  In 2020, our students secured the best results in the school’s history.  In short, there is no better time to join Leeds West Academy, as a colleague, a leader or as a student.  

Leeds West Academy is a fabulous place to work.  We are a caring and supportive community, as part of the White Rose Academies Trust and ground-breaking Luminate Education Group, we benefit from exceptional CPD like no other in the City.  A broad, varied and highly bespoke package is well-established, driven by the latest in educational research focused on the development of all professionals in the organisation at each career stage.  Colleagues train with us, they grow with us and they progress with us.  

Our academy predominantly serves the community of Bramley in Leeds.  We are oversubscribed and popular within our community.  More families are choosing Leeds West Academy as first-choice for their children than ever before.  

Our students are amazing; they are generally respectful young people who embrace diversity and have a strong sense of fairness.  We benefit from world-class facilities, and are accommodated in a £30 million building, which opened in late 2011. Staff and students at the academy benefit from a bright, modern, heavily resourced learning environment, which is highly flexible to meet the needs of the 21st century learner.  

Role:  

Provide a confidential secretarial service to the Principal, ensuring that the Principal is briefed for all meetings with relevant correspondence, documents/presentations and that the Principal’s diary is kept up to date and accurate.  

To undertake any other appropriate duties, as requested by the Principal / Executive Assistant and Academy Business Manager, to assist with the efficient running of the Academy’s support services.  

Key duties and responsibilities: 

• To proactively organise and manage all aspects of the Principal’s and senior leadership team’s business to ensure the effective running of the Academy.  

• To respond to emails, written correspondence and telephone calls on behalf of the Principal and senior leadership team as requested, using own initiative to take action on standard administrative and secretarial matters.  

• To deal with enquiries from parents, students, staff, governors, external organisations including feeder schools and prospective parents and pupils, on a wide range of issues.  

• To maintain databases ensure it is up to date as well as overseeing the filing and admin responsibilities and compliance trigger points in HR.

• To maintain the Academy website/social media content liaising with the WRAT services to ensure all remain compliant and contain up to date and relevant information.

• Under the direction of the Executive Assistant and senior colleagues, assist with the organisation and preparation of Academy events, e.g. Parents Evening, Open Day.  

• To take/record and compose minutes at meetings, circulate agendas and other papers as required  

• To ensure the Principal is briefed for all meetings with relevant correspondence, documents/presentations and in the Principal’s absence refer matters to relevant members of the SLT for action.  

• To liaise with parents, clerk and Governors, staff students, general public, unions, government departments, local authority and VIP visitors to the school; including arrangements of Ofsted inspection.  

• To provide a confidential secretarial, clerical and administrative service to the 

Principal and SLT. 

Part of The White Rose Academies Trust, Leeds West Academy is accelerating on a thrilling journey, which will ultimately see the school, its staff and its students, secure an Ofsted rating of ‘World Class’.    

We're securing our 2025 vision for ‘World Class’ by growing our family of exceptional education professionals; dedicated specialists and passionate leaders with the shared goal of transforming future prospects for the next generation of West Yorkshire. 

We provide exceptional life training; harnessing the skills and fortifying the aspirations of young people, who we know will transform the region and provide a positive, progressive contribution to society. 

The White Rose Academies Trust is a local Trust dedicated to raising and fulfilling the ambitions of young people. Our academies throughout Leeds are at the heart of the communities they serve, which is why we are committed to delivering an outstanding education to every one of our students. 

The Trust employs over 400 outstanding professionals who are committed to unlocking the potential of the next generation. Our CPD Programme is focused on innovation, leadership development and delivery of excellence for vulnerable groups. Our Beginner Teacher Programme is amongst the best in the region. We are on a significant journey which will see all of our schools Ofsted rated as World Class within five years. 

The White Rose Academies Trust is a member of Luminate Education Group, other members include Harrogate College, Keighley College, Leeds City College and Leeds Conservatoire. The Group provides expertise, international networks and highly desirable employability prospects within education and beyond. 

Closing Date : 18th October 2021

Interview Date: 22nd October 2021

Start Date: ASAP

For more information, please visit our website at www.leedswestacademy.org.uk .  To apply, please view the application pack and follow the application instructions. Please note we are unable to accept CV’s.  

The White Rose Academies Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expects all staff and volunteers to share the commitment. Appointments will be subject to Safer Recruitment Procedures and a DBS check.  Please note this role will involve contact with children and you will be engaging in regulated activity. It is an offence to apply for the role if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. 

PLEASE NOTE THE REQUIREMENT TO ATTACH YOUR APPLICATION FORM AS A SEPARATE DOCUMENT TO YOUR EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES FORM WHEN EMAILING YOUR APPLICATION TO US.