Overview
John Smeaton Academy is seeking to recruit an inspirational colleague for the role of Personal Assistant (PA). This role is of great importance to our work as an Academy. The successful candidate will be expected to provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to the Principal, requiring discretion, confidentiality, and decision-making. They will also take responsibility for specific tasks without the direct involvement of the Principal.
Responsibilities
* Provide comprehensive secretarial and administrative support to the Principal, including diary management, correspondence, and meeting coordination.
* Make complex administrative and meeting arrangements, including agenda preparation and note taking.
* Take responsibility for specific tasks with minimal direct involvement from the Principal.
Qualifications and Skills
* GCSE Grade C/4 and above (or equivalent) in English.
* Ability to make complex administrative/meeting arrangements including agenda preparation and note taking.
* Minimum of two years’ relevant experience in a personal secretary role.
* Excellent organisational skills, and ability to effectively prioritise time and work.
What we offer you
As a trust, we want to ensure that professionals at every stage in their career have the opportunity to enjoy expert support and training. We are pleased to offer a generous benefits package to our team – as we work together to create a rewarding future for all including:
* Membership of a teacher or local government pension scheme, depending on the role.
* A commitment to continued investment in our professionals, supporting every member of staff throughout their career in the trust.
* Access to an Employee Assistance Programme which provides confidential professional advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
* Discounts and online offers at major high street/online retailers.
* £2k Cycle to work scheme.
About us
On 1 September 2021 John Smeaton Academy joined The GORSE Academies Trust, an organisation renowned for excellence in education. The trust has a nationally recognised track record of transforming inadequate schools and making them great again, or for the first time in their history. Consequently, this role represents an incredibly exciting opportunity for any candidate who is eager to be a part of an organisation that seeks to secure the very highest educational standard for every student. We are determined to ensure students at John Smeaton Academy are inspired to ‘Secure the Gift of Choice’ and we expect any successful candidate to be passionate and tenacious in their quest for all round academic and pastoral excellence.
A unique opportunity to be part of the rapid transformation of an academy, and its wider community.
In 2019 John Smeaton Academy\'s performance data placed it as the lowest performing secondary school in the city of Leeds and one of the worst performing in the country. It is fair to say that John Smeaton Academy was a school whose performance for many years was unconvincing, resulting in the community losing confidence in the school.
The academy has already improved significantly as evidenced by parent/carer and student feedback alongside the day-to-day experience of the students.
If you would like to know more about our academy, please visit our website at John Smeaton Academy.
Please note if you submit an electronic application, we will not require a hard copy. CVs are not accepted.
Application details
Closing date for applications: 29 September 2025
Interviews will take place: 1 October 2025
We will consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Equality Act (2010), to enable an applicant with a disability (as defined under the Act) to meet the requirements of the post.
Safeguarding and diversity
We are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to full employment checks, including an enhanced DBS disclosure and barring service check. We promote diversity and aim to establish a workforce that reflects the population of Leeds.
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