Write a short description of your company, a boilerplate of the business, service or product that you offer. Include your business idea and the target audience. This text is primarily supposed to be descriptive, not selling.
The Opportunity
Guildford is a town that balances historic market charm with its status as a high-tech and academic powerhouse within the Surrey Research Park and the University of Surrey. We are seeking a highly organized and proactive Administrative Assistant to join a leading multi-academy trust (MAT) based in Guildford. In this role, you will be the operational backbone of a fast-paced educational environment, ensuring that the administrative systems supporting our students and teaching staff run with absolute precision.
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The Environment & Professional Culture
* You will be based in a modern central office or a school-based reception, serving as a primary point of contact for parents, visitors, and regional stakeholders.
* The trust prides itself on "Professional Excellence," meaning every administrative task—from data entry to event coordination—is viewed as a vital contribution to student success.
* You will join a collaborative support team that utilizes cloud-based management systems (such as SIMS, Arbor, or Microsoft 365) to maintain seamless communication across the trust.
* As an organization rooted in the Guildford community, we foster an environment of continuous improvement, offering professional development in school business management and advanced administrative software.
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Core Responsibilities
1. Operational Support: Managing the daily flow of the front office, including handling complex phone inquiries, managing school emails, and welcoming visitors in line with strict safeguarding protocols.
2. Data Management: Maintaining accurate student and staff records on the School Information Management System (SIMS), ensuring data integrity for statutory returns and attendance tracking.
3. Communication Coordination: Drafting professional correspondence, newsletters, and digital bulletins to ensure parents and the local community are informed and engaged.
4. Logistics & Events: Assisting in the coordination of school trips, parent evenings, and trust-wide events, including the management of bookings, consent forms, and transport logistics.
5. Financial Administration: Supporting the School Business Manager with basic financial tasks, such as processing purchase orders, managing petty cash, and reconciling school dinner accounts.
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The Successful Candidate We are looking for a professional who remains calm under pressure and possesses a "no task is too small" attitude. Requirements include:
* Administrative Experience: Previous experience in a busy office environment; experience within a school or the public sector is highly desirable but not essential.
* Technical Proficiency: Strong skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and the ability to quickly master specialized educational databases.
* Interpersonal Excellence: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to handle sensitive information with total confidentiality and empathy.
* Organizational Flair: The ability to multitask in a high-traffic environment, prioritizing urgent safeguarding tasks alongside routine administrative duties.
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Why Join Us?
* A role within a stable and prestigious educational sector that offers long-term career progression and job security.
* Access to specialized training in educational administration, safeguarding (Level 1), and GDPR compliance.
* The opportunity to work in Guildford—a city offering a high quality of life, excellent shopping and dining, and superb rail links to London and the South Coast.
* A friendly, mission-driven workplace where your administrative contributions are recognized as essential to the school’s educational mission.
How to Apply
Please submit your current CV and a brief summary of your relevant administrative experience to begin the application process.