The Grammar School at Leeds
Leeds
£41,934 - £44,450 per year
Salary:
SM1 P35 - P37 £41,934 - £44,450 FTE + a retention bonus of £5,000 will be payable on successful completion of the full maternity cover contract.
Job type:
Full Time, Maternity Cover
Start date:
08 December 2025
Apply by:
29 September 2025
Job overview
Contract: Temporary maternity leave cover from 8 December 2025 – 29 January
Hours: Full time, 35 hours per week Monday to Friday all year-round, with flexibility to work remotely out of term time.
Salary: SM1 P35 - P37 £41,934 - £44,450 FTE + a retention bonus of £5,000 will be payable on successful completion of the full maternity cover contract.
Are you a highly skilled EA or PA who thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments? Do you combine exceptional organisation and attention to detail with the ability to build strong, trusted relationships at every level? If so, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.
We are seeking a proactive, professional and dedicated Executive Assistant to provide strategic and confidential support to the Principal/CEO during a maternity cover period from 23 January 2026. This is a key role at the very heart of our school, ensuring the smooth running of the Principal/CEO's office while also leading and supporting our wider PA and administrative team.
The Principal/CEO is an approachable and inspirational leader who values respect, humility and excellence, and cares deeply about both pupils and colleagues. This role offers the chance to work closely with him, supporting his vision and ensuring the highest standards of administration across the school.
You will act as a trusted first point of contact for the Principal/CEO. You will provide a professional, efficient, and discreet service, managing complex diaries, correspondence, and meetings with confidence. You will also oversee and support a team of four PAs.
You will have substantial, high-level PA/EA skills, strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to multi-task, work under pressure, and prioritise as necessary. You will be extremely professional and have strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders, colleagues, pupils and parents. You will be proficient in using the full Microsoft package and able to upskill others. Experience in an educational setting would be an advantage, but it is not essential.
Why GSAL?
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is one of the leading schools in the north and traces its history back to 1552.
GSAL was awarded North Independent School of the Year 2024 and Independent Secondary School of the Decade in 2021 and continues to be a friendly, fun and supportive environment with high investment in pupil and colleague wellbeing, while insisting upon and maintaining high expectations.
Benefits
We value our GSAL community and offer a wide range of benefits including:
* Significant discount on school fees
* 25 days annual leave per year plus eight statutory bank holidays (pro rata for part-time roles)
* School closure days in the Christmas holidays in addition to annual leave entitlement (usually an extra 3 days annual leave)
* Option to purchase up to 10 additional days of annual leave
* Subsidised childcare provided for colleagues' children during school INSET days (from the age of 3 up to age 11)
* Personal pension plan with Aviva up to 5% employee contribution and 10% employer (with the facility to pay higher or lower employee contributions)
* Training and CPD available including five inset days per academic year
* Colleague lunches: three courses for £2.40 available during school lunchtimes plus free tea, coffee and hot chocolate
* Access to free private GP appointments via Health Hero
* Access to our Employee Assistance Programme well-being app, Vivup, offering telephone counselling, financial and legal advice plus 6-8 face-to-face counselling sessions
* Beautiful lunch time walking routes around our 120-acre site
* Onsite gym and swimming pool available for staff use within set times as well as staff classes such as Pilates, meditation, kettlebells, spinning and bootcamps
* Salary sacrifice schemes for cycle to work
* Free car parking available on site
* Use of the school's extensive library facility
* Generous leave of absence scheme to support our employees when they need it
* Colleague discounts through multiple providers, including Vivup, blue light card, discounts for teachers and Extras
* Opportunity to be involved in co-curricular activities such as the staff pantomime, well-being committee or volunteer for community events
How to apply
At GSAL, we are committed to promoting equity and diversity, safeguarding the welfare of children and young people, and providing a safe, supportive environment for learning and development. If you share these values, we would love for you to apply.
Please complete the online GSAL application form found on our website. For any enquiries about the role please contact
Further details about the role and its responsibilities can be found in the candidate information pack, available in the 'documents' section of our advert on the school website. Please be prepared to provide copies of any qualifications mentioned in your application.
The closing date for applications is: 9am Monday 29 September
Interview date: Longlist (Teams) 08/10/25, Shortlist (Face to face) 13/10/25
Attached documents
Job Description
4.23MB
School prospectus
3.38MB
Recruiter contact:
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About The Grammar School at Leeds
The Grammar School at Leeds
Alwoodley Gates, Harrogate Road, Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS17 8GS
United Kingdom
The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL) is one of the leading schools in the north and traces its history back to 1552. In the last five years GSAL has twice been named North Independent Secondary School of the Year, and North Independent Secondary School of the Decade in the Sunday Times Parent Power League Table. The school aims to inspire all members of our community and to instil values of responsibility, respect and resilience in all of our pupils.
'Be inspired' is the ethos behind our teaching and learning at The Grammar School at Leeds (GSAL). We nurture all our pupils to make the most of their talents, realise their potential and develop into confident young people ready to rise to any challenge. These values have been at the heart of our school life for over four centuries.
Our history began with the foundation of Leeds Grammar School for boys in 1552. GSAL was created in 2008 following the merger of the boys' school with Leeds Girls' High School, founded in 1876.
GSAL provides a high quality independent education for 2,100 pupils between the ages of three and 18. The purpose built campus at Alwoodley Gates in north Leeds has excellent facilities, including the newly refurbished Lawson Library which is the oldest library in Leeds, housing over books and, from September 2024, GSAL will be home to a state of the art performing arts centre.
GSAL is academically selective, with consistently excellent A-level and GCSE results. After merger, the school introduced the diamond model of teaching, through which pupils learn together up to age 11, then in single sex classes between Year 7 and Year 11, and come together again in sixth form lessons. Form time and extracurricular activities are mixed throughout. Class sizes are usually between 16 and 22.
Academic achievement is at the heart of a rounded education at GSAL, which offers our students personal development opportunities and broad experience beyond the classroom. We pride ourselves on a rich co-curricular programme encompassing sport, music, drama, scouts, CCF, Duke of Edinburgh, debating and much more. We offer an outdoor learning programme and a wide variety of trips at home and abroad. Our lively house system encourages students to get involved and have fun.
This success can only be achieved with committed, professional and well-qualified colleagues who are focused upon excellence in the classroom and contributions to the wider life of the school. We reward our staff with a good degree of autonomy in their teaching, outstanding learning resources and an attractive benefits package. A large school offers opportunities for CPD, career progression and leadership roles in academic, pastoral and extracurricular areas.
GSAL provides a friendly, fun and supportive working environment, while retaining high expectations of our staff and students. With our diverse student body, drawn from the city of Leeds and surrounding areas, we promote a strong sense of mutual respect, integrity and social responsibility. Colleagues and students throughout the school are active in charitable work locally and internationally.
Leeds is a thriving city which has benefited from a period of sustained economic expansion. Vibrant and friendly, with a wide range of cultural, social, sporting and leisure activities the city has something for everyone. Leeds offers you the best of both worlds - all the advantages of a modern city and Yorkshire's beautiful countryside on the doorstep.
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