Executive Assistant
Sevenoaks School
Sevenoaks, Kent
- Expired
- Salary:
- c£35,000 to £40,000 p.a plus benefits
- Job type:
- Full Time, Permanent
- Apply by:
- 2 June 2018
Job overview
The Role
This is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous Executive Assistant or PA experience at senior level, who is interested in being involved in a fast-paced and rapidly developing school community. The post holder will provide first class secretarial, administrative and organisational support to the Bursar of Sevenoaks School, allowing her to meet all of the competing demands on her time and energy.
The work will be varied, interesting and challenging and will require a high degree of professionalism and discretion given the sensitivity of many matters that will be dealt with by the Bursar and her assistant.
The role reports to the Bursar and Clerk. However the post holder will develop good working relationships with colleagues of all levels within the school, and will enjoy working within a highly professional, collaborative and collegiate environment. There will also be frequent contact with governors, trustees, various professional advisors and other external connections.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop a knowledge and awareness of the ethos and mission of the school, its activities and future plans, and the identities and various responsibilities of staff, particularly those in regular contact with the Bursar
• Act as the first point of contact for staff, parents, and visitors to the Bursar, communicating effectively and promoting the reputation of the School at all times
• Maintain the complex diary for the Bursar, ensuring that scheduling is aligned with working priorities and objectives, and makes the most effective use of available time
• Deal with all incoming emails, post and phone calls; prioritising and either responding or forwarding to relevant colleagues, consulting with the Bursar or others as necessary. For complex or longer running queries/issues, it may be necessary to make further enquiries, prepare a verbal or written briefing, and make recommendations for action
• Organise internal and external meetings, book venues and meeting rooms, make arrangements
Experience and Qualities
The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following:
• Outstanding experience of working as a PA / Executive Assistant in a complex and busy environment
• Ability to plan and manage own work, prioritise competing demands and meet multiple or simultaneous deadlines
• A working knowledge of Data Protection requirements (ongoing training will be available)
For full details of key responsibilities and experience required, please download the attached job description.
Contract and Salary
This is a full-time all-year round role based on 40 hours per week. Office hours are normally 9:00 to 5:00, but additional hours are likely to be required from time to time to meet deadlines. You may also be asked to help with, or invited to attend, occasional evening or Saturday events. A competitive salary will be offered, subject to the qualifications, skills and experience of the successful candidate, but is likely to be in the region of £35,000 - £40,000 p.a.
Attached documents
About Sevenoaks School
Founded in 1432, Sevenoaks enjoys a global reputation as a centre of academic excellence and a flagship school for the International Baccalaureate. A co-educational day and boarding school, it offers a stimulating, intellectually demanding and balanced education for over 1200 students from ages 11 to 18.
Sevenoaks is one of the world’s leading IB schools, having taught the International Baccalaureate for over 40 years. For nearly 20 years, all Sixth Form students have taken the full IB Diploma with consistently outstanding academic results which are testament to the school’s experience and commitment to the programme.
In 2023, the average Diploma score was 39.0 points, about eight points above the world average. The Higher Education department supported applications of 246 students to universities in the UK, USA, Canada, Europe and Hong Kong with an outstanding 93 per cent progressing to their firm choice university. The majority attend Oxbridge, London universities, or other Russell Group universities such as Bristol or Durham. We also support about 20 per cent of our students in applying to international universities with increasing numbers going to North America, specifically Ivy League and top universities in the United States.
The school is situated in the Kent market town of Sevenoaks and has a prime position at the top of the high street. The 100-acre site, which includes several listed buildings and attractive gardens, is beautifully landscaped and adjoins the medieval deer park of Knole. London is only a 30-minute train ride away. Gatwick airport is only 30 minutes by car, and there are good transport links to other London airports and the Channel Tunnel.
Sevenoaks students have access to a fantastic range of facilities on campus for co-curricular pursuits, including sport, music, drama and art, at least 70 clubs and societies, a wide range of study trips and exchanges, and a well-established community service programme. Recent developments on campus include a superb sports centre, and a state-of-the-art performing arts centre, and a world-class Science and Technology Centre and a Global Study Centre for the Sixth Form. An additional boarding house for boys, a contemporary building with light, modern facilities, opened in 2019, and a new girls’ boarding house is expected to open in 2024.
With seven distinctive and comfortable boarding houses, our boarding community is fun, friendly, and busy. Boarding provides an excellent transition from home to independence and maturity; the Sixth Form boarding houses enable boys and girls to enjoy the benefits of boarding at an important stage in their school careers, and to prepare for life at university.
Accolades
In 2018 Sevenoaks School was, for the second time in 10 years, awarded The Sunday Times Independent School of the Year. In the same year, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) awarded Sevenoaks School the highest grade – ‘Excellent’ – in both categories which formed the basis of the inspection: ‘Pupils’ Achievement’ and ‘Pupils’ Personal Development’.
Teaching at Sevenoaks:
Teaching here is immensely rewarding: we work in high-performing teams towards a shared endeavour. Everyone appointed to teach at Sevenoaks School is expected to engage actively in all aspects of our broad and well-rounded education.
We want all our pupils to enjoy their subjects, to be inspired by their teachers and to become independent, lifelong learners. Teachers are enthusiastic and well-qualified graduates. We have an exceptionally lively, talented and committed staff body. We welcome applications from experienced teachers and newly-qualified teachers, but can also provide training including PGCE for those joining the profession at whatever stage. All new staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme. Sevenoaks is committed to supporting its staff with training and professional development tailored to staff needs and interests.
All teachers are involved in proactive pastoral care. All teachers participate in the co-curriculum and, as our outreach activities expand, contribute to our work with local pupils and schools. Teachers at Sevenoaks are innovative and forward-thinking many are involved in the Institutes of Teaching and Learning, Higher Education and Professional Insight, and Service and Partnerships, shaping further development and initiatives for students and staff alike.
What people say about us:
‘Tough for any university not to be an anti-climax after Sevenoaks.’ Good Schools Guide.
The International Baccalaureate
All new staff undertake a comprehensive induction programme. No previous experience of teaching the International Baccalaureate, which we have taught since 1978, is necessary; gaining experience of teaching the IB, an internationally recognised qualification which we believe offers outstanding preparation for university and beyond, is stimulating and undoubtedly a valuable career asset. Information about the IB can be found on the website www.ibo.org.
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