Job Description

Receptionist

Important Application Information

Please note that Upper Shirley High (USH) does

not

accept applications or CVs submitted via Indeed.

To apply, you must:

Visit our website: http://uppershirleyhigh.org/staff-vacancies Complete the application form under the

Join USH

section. Email your completed application to:

recruitment@ushschool.org

Contract:

12 Months Fixed Term - Maternity cover

Hours:

37 hours per week, Term time plus one week

8.00am to 4.00pm - Mon to Thursday

8.00am to 3.30pm Friday

Annual Salary:

23,254 - 24,844 (FTE 26,402 - 28,207)

(depending on experience)

Start Date:

As soon as possible - date to be agreed

Closing Date:

Midday Monday 3rd November 2025

We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic

Receptionist

to join our friendly and supportive administration team and be the first face that our visitors see when entering our school. You will working with the public, parents, staff and pupils and will need a kind and pleasant manner and also high standards of verbal and written communication. You will need to work independently and as part of a team with a flexible approach to your work, as schools are dynamic environments where no two days are ever the same.

USH is a heavily oversubscribed community school with just over 1050 students and 140 staff. We are incredibly proud of our family ethos and our success in delivering values-led education. We are known for our excellent career progression routes and we attract professionals who are willing to contribute to our sustained success. USH is a Leading-Edge School, consistently ranked high in Hampshire schools for overall achievement. The school was delighted to be awarded SSAT accreditation for Transforming in Principled Curriculum Design in 2023.

If you are motivated to make a difference to the lives of young people and have a commitment to excellence, then this could be the job for you. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about the role or would like to come into school to see the USH family in action.

The successful candidate will:

Be a friendly and welcoming face to all visitors, students and staff

Be proactive, confident and reliable, with a warm and professional approach

Be an active listener, with a good memory for names, faces and details

Be a natural organiser, and able to multi-task and work independently

Be patient, calm and able to work under pressure

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

We positively encourage prospective candidates to enquire about our school prior to applying. Please contact our recruitment team via email: recruitment@ushschool.org

Full details and application forms can be downloaded from our website: http://uppershirleyhigh.org/staff_vacancies. Please return your completed applications to recruitment@ushschool.org. Please note we only accept CV's if accompanied by a fully completed application form.

Please submit your application as soon as possible as we may invite candidates to interview before the closing date.

To give your application the best chance at being short-listed, where at interview you can demonstrate suitability for the role, please ensure you read the person specification and job description and give examples in your application. Should you be new to the education sector or do not have direct examples related to the person specification, do please provide examples from a similar experience.

SAFEGUARDING

All schools within the Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.

THE JEFFERYS EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP

The Jefferys Education Partnership is part of an umbrella Trust called the Hamwic Education Trust. At the Hamwic Education Trust we offer unique opportunities for those individuals that excel in education.

We aim to deliver an outstanding education to our pupils and to do so we must employ

outstanding people.

We offer a training pathway for all employees including teachers, support staff and our middle and senior leaders.

Our staff have opportunities to work on cross phase projects and to work in other schools within the Trust in order to gain invaluable experience and enhance their skills.

Job purpose:

To manage incoming enquiries in an efficient, helpful and friendly manner

To act as the first point of contact with visitors to the school

To assist in the efficient administration of the school

To ensure safeguarding practice is rigorously adhered to

To act with discretion at all times

Key Duties:

To act as first point of contact within the school by telephone, email or in person.

Contribute to the smooth running of the school by:

Filtering enquiries and dealing with them as appropriate Taking and passing messages to appropriate staff in a timely and efficient way
o Welcoming a wide range of people including official visitors, parents

Arrange reserved car parking for visitors, as and when requested.

To receive all visitors in accordance with the school's safeguarding procedures, i.e. signing in and out, wearing the correct lanyard, DBS checks.

Deal with all enquiries from visitors, callers, staff and students on a daily basis and endeavour to provide a resolution.

To sort and distribute incoming mail and ensure outgoing mail is franked, ready for collection.

To complete clerical and administrative tasks such as photocopying, printing etc.

To undertake word processing of documentation (letters, reports etc.)

Proof reading outgoing school communications to ensure correspondence is error free with a consistent style and message

Sending whole school and specific electronic letters and texts to parents

Inputting information onto the school's MIS database, extracting information as needed

Updating the school calendar, adding and removing content as appropriate

Updating the school's website, adding and removing content as appropriate

To record details of students who are late to school and to ensure students who leave during the school day, follow the correct procedures.

Deal with the safe storage and/or return of lost, found, or confiscated student property.

To undertake designated duties during emergency procedures, to include fire evacuation and lockdown.

To ensure that the Reception area is kept tidy, informative and welcome to visitors, staff and students, at all times.

Using the Student Receptionist to deliver messages, small parcels, etc. to staff and pupils.

Organise tours of the school for prospective students and parents.

Assist with organising school events, e.g. Open Morning, Grandparents' Remembrance Service, etc.

Deal with admission enquiries and direct to the relevant person/organisation.

Undertaking such other duties as may be assigned by the School Business Manager and any other member of the Senior Leadership Team.

Supporting the school:

At an appropriate level, according to the job role, grade and training received, all employees in the school are expected to:

Support the aims, values, mission and ethos of the school and participate in a team approach to all aspects of school life.

Attend and contribute to staff meetings and INSET days as required, and identify areas of personal practice and experience to develop.

Take appropriate responsibility for safeguarding and children's welfare and be aware of confidential issues linked to home/child/teacher/school and keep confidences appropriately.

Be aware of health and safety issues and act in accordance with the school's Health and Safety Policy.

Carry out lunchtime and break time duties as directed

Other Duties:

The postholder may be expected to carry out duties other than those given in the job description where the level of responsibility is similar and he/she has appropriate qualifications or receives appropriate training to carry out these duties.

The postholder must:

Ensure that Trust policies and procedures are implemented and followed.

Work as appropriate with the Trust Central Services team in matters relating to finance, HR, IT and Health and Safety

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: 23,254.00-24,844.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension
Work Location: In person