Receptionist

Swanshurst is a large, outstanding school for girls aged 11-19 years. We offer excellent support and CPD for staff at all stages of their career. Ofsted (May 2024) described our school to be “an exceptional place for pupils to learn”. They described the curriculum as “exemplary” and one which "explodes into life in the classroom". In relation to staff wellbeing, they noted that “The school is conscious of staff workload and well-being and is committed to achieving excellence in a sustainable way.” We are exceptionally proud to have been judged ‘Outstanding’ in two consecutive inspections. Ofsted (2024) judged Swanshurst to be Outstanding for a second time. Our Ofsted report can be found here.

The school is part of the newly formed West Midlands Academy Trust (WMAT) which opened in January 2025. As one of the three founding members, the school has been integral to forming the Trust’s mission:

Relentless focus upon delivering an excellent Quality of Education, resulting in strong progress and attainment for all groups of pupils.

Emphasis upon personal development and well-being for staff and pupils.

We are looking to appoint a suitably qualified, hard-working and enthusiastic person to support the work of the administration team by being a professional, effective and efficient receptionist.

Key Responsibilities:

• you will work under the direct supervision of the HR Manager to provide excellent support in the school reception, dealing with visitors, pupils and staff and contribute to the completion of general day to day administration tasks.
• you should have excellent IT skills, be well organised and a team player, with the ability to work well under pressure in a fast-paced school environment.

Excellent communication skills, both oral and written, are essential for this role. Applicants must be able to deal with staff, students, parents and external agencies in a supportive and professional manner. The successful candidate will already have experience of Microsoft Office and be able to multi-task whilst remaining calm and professional. Previous experience of working within in an academic environment and use of SIMs are also desirable.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a school that is committed to excellence and innovation.
• Work in a supportive and inclusive environment that values diversity and promotes equality.
• Benefit from opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Join our school as we embark on an exciting journey with our newly formed Multi Academy Trust - West Midlands Academy Trust.

WMAT is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020 which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’ so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.

Safeguarding is our top priority. We encourage all applicants to review our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy which outlines our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of students.

The successful applicant will be subject to all necessary pre-employment checks including enhanced DBS, Prohibition Check, qualifications (where applicable), medical fitness, identify and right to work.

This post is covered by Part 7 of the Immigration Act (2016). Therefore, the ability to speak fluent and spoken English is an essential requirement for this role.

To comply with Keeping Children Safe in Education, we will seek and scrutinise references prior to interviews. Referees will be contacted to provide further clarification if needed. All information provided by referees will be compared for consistency against the information disclosed in your application form, and you will be asked about any discrepancies at interview.

Short listed candidates - an online search will also be carried out as part of due diligence on all short-listed candidates.