Administrative Assistant

Harris Academy Ockendon is an 11-18 academy with a thriving Sixth Form and a lovely building. It is a school where we are as passionate about developing our staff as we are about developing our students.

We are currently looking to appoint a General Administrative Assistant to join our happy and successful school.

At Harris Academy Ockendon you will join a dedicated team of teachers and staff supporting our vibrant students. If you are looking for an opportunity to grow, inspire and develop, this may be the role for you.

Our location just outside the M25 means we attract staff not only from Essex but from London. Indeed, over half our staff live in Kent/Surrey/South East and Central London. Some of our team even travel from West London because they like the school so much.

About Us

The Harris Federation is a highly successful group of schools who serve many of the most deprived areas of London and Essex. We are collaborative, enterprising and share a passion for turning lives around, yet each school is autonomous and free to set its own vision and strategy for how it does that.

Each Harris school feels completely different in terms of culture and ethos. Perhaps this is the school you've been looking for.

Our role here is to help students and staff dream bigger than they ever thought possible, and to make that dream come true through our culture of “work hard, be kind, take responsibility” which beats at the heart of our school.

“I am passionate about three things:

1. Leading staff to become happy, successful, highly trained professionals who stay in the game and don't burn out or lose their way.
2. Creating a fulfilling secondary experience for students where they can grow to become well-rounded, ambitious and successful young adults ready to put a ding in the universe.
3. My life outside work.

Being great at number 1 and number 2 should not mean we can't do number 3!”

- George McMillan, Executive Principal and National Leader of Education.

A lovely secondary school where the students say, “Good Morning”, and actually mean it. Check out our school via our video https://tinyurl.com/HAOC-Video

The Executive Principal is George McMillan. Originally from Glasgow, he graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an MA (hons) degree in English Literature and a burning desire to teach. After teaching in Edinburgh, then moving to senior management in Chafford (Essex), George took over Harris Academy Greenwich in 2011 and led its transformation to hitting the top 15% of schools in the country for progress 7 years in a row. Harris Greenwich is one of only a handful of schools in London to retain its Outstanding status (2014 then 2022) under the new Ofsted framework, and the World Class School status twice in a row.

The Principal is Ms Jo Rainey. Originally from Belfast, she graduated from the University of Ulster with a first class degree in History and Geography. Over the past 21 years, she has taught history and led in schools across London and Essex with most of her senior leadership career being spent in Hackney. Jo has been Principal at Ockendon since 2018. She is highly respected for her strong sense of integrity, her passion for student life chances, and loyalty to the school.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Organisation

• To represent the Academy in a professional and welcoming manner to all visitors, staff and students, including telephone callers
• Undertake reception duties, answering general telephone and face to face enquiries and signing in visitors
• To complete first day of absence calling for all students who are absent, recording reasons on Bromcom, recording calls in attendance events, checking directly with AWO if there are any concerns.
• Assist with pupil first aid/welfare duties, looking after sick pupils, liaising with parents/staff etc.
• Assist in arrangements for school trips, events etc.

Administration

• Provide general clerical/admin support e.g. photocopying, filing, faxing, e-mailing, completing standard forms, responding to routine correspondence
• Maintain manual and computerised records/management information systems
• Produce lists/information/data as required, e.g. pupils' data
• Undertake typing, word processing and other IT based tasks
• Sort and distribute mail
• Ensure reprographics requests are fulfilled on time;
• Undertake general administrative procedures
• Maintain and collate pupil reports

Resources

• Operate relevant equipment/ ICT packages (e.g. word, excel, databases, spreadsheets, internet)
• Maintain stock and supplies, cataloguing and distributing as required
• Assist in ordering uniform
• Provide general advice and guidance to staff, pupils and others
• Undertake general financial administration, e.g. processing orders

Qualifications & Experience

Qualifications, Knowledge and Training

• NVQ2 or equivalent qualification or experience in relevant discipline
• Good numeracy/literacy skills
• Minimum of 2 years school office experience

Experience & Knowledge

• General clerical/administrative/financial work
• Knowledge of safeguarding procedures for young people
• Experience of Reception duties including dealing with visitors to the Academy

Skills & Abilities

• Appropriate knowledge of first aid
• Effective use of ICT packages
• Use of relevant equipment/resources
• Good keyboard skills
• Ability to relate well to children and adults
• Work constructively as part of a team, understanding of school roles and responsibilities and your own position within these
• The ability to take initiative and work independently
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Good communication skills
• Good organisational and time keeping skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Able to work independently and manage own workload

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.