PA to the Junior School Headmaster

The role of Junior School Headmaster’s PA is a vital role within the school.

The Junior School Headmaster’s PA works to support him in all aspects of his work, and they play an important role in the smooth working of the senior management team and the school community as a whole.

The successful candidate will be collaborative in approach and empathetic in understanding the perspectives of a wide range of people. They will be highly motivated, proactive, and bring initiative to the role. They will be efficient, highly organised, attentive to detail, committed to excellence, and have previous administrative/PA experience, preferably at a senior level.

This role description is designed to be indicative rather than restrictive and may evolve over time. Key responsibilities are expected to include:

Representing the Head’s office

• Representing the Junior School Headmaster with professionalism, warmth, integrity, discretion, positivity and efficiency at all times
• Bringing a proactive approach to the oversight of the Junior School Headmaster’s office, taking responsibility for ensuring that all matters connected with the work of the office proceed smoothly and efficiently
• Advising on urgent matters, fielding enquiries proactively, following up on actions arising out of the Junior School Headmaster’s work, and working closely with him in looking for opportunities to improve the working of the office
• Acting as a welcoming representative of the Junior School Headmaster’s office in person, ensuring that all visitors are cared for and made welcome, and taking the lead at in-person events as needed

Diary, calendar and event management:

• Planning and coordinating the Junior School Headmaster’s diary, effectively managing daytime and evening appointments, and reflecting upcoming workflows, ensuring that the Junior School Headmaster is appropriately accessible while also protecting his time to ensure effective prioritisation of workload and productive use of time
• Planning and managing workflows and deadlines to assist the prioritisation of important and urgent tasks and liaising with other staff as appropriate, and to ensure that preparations are made in good time, tasks are completed in timely manner, and that staff involved have sufficient time to prepare for meetings, events and deadlines
• Proactively managing ongoing processes and planned schedules of work, for instance those connected with staff meetings and notices, staff announcements, staff review, and meetings with staff, pupils and parents
• Having an excellent sense of events and issues taking place across the school and wider external context, and keeping the Junior School Headmaster updated
• Representing the Junior School Headmaster’s office at school calendar planning meetings, to ensure that the Junior School Headmaster is able to represent the school at relevant events and to navigate clashing commitments
• Overseeing travel and accommodation arrangements for the Junior School Headmaster, both locally and internationally
• Managing the Junior School Headmaster’s schedule of speaking commitments
• Organising events for the Junior School Headmaster’s office, including booking venues, inviting and looking after participants, arranging travel and catering requirements as needed

Other activities:

• Managing the unexpected with equilibrium, discretion and professionalism, and being flexible in offering support to the Junior School Headmaster and senior management team as required in emergency situations
• Maintaining close communication with the senior management team as necessary during the Junior School Headmaster’s absence, to ensure that matters are dealt with appropriately and efficiently
• Supporting preparations for ISI inspection as required
• Supporting matters relating to school procedures and policies, for instance behaviour, safeguarding and staff matters as required
• Completing research, analysing findings and providing summaries for the Junior School Headmaster as required
• Maintaining a good working knowledge of key legislation and regulatory frameworks (connected with safeguarding, employment law and data protection) to inform their work
• Seeking and acting upon professional support and advice as required, and being committed to undertaking relevant training and continuing professional development
• Assisting the Junior School Registrar with admissions activities and events as required
• Conducting playground supervision duties as required
• Any other reasonable duties, as required by the Junior School Headmaster

Person Specification

The successful candidate is likely to have:

• experience of PA work
• strong interpersonal skills, excellent judgment and diplomacy when dealing with staff, parents and pupils
• resilience, dedication and a willingness to go the extra mile as needed
• adaptability and flexibility, with the ability to prioritise effectively, manage a busy workload and work independently
• a ‘can do’ attitude and a willingness to take on tasks that arise
• calmness, proactivity and positivity under pressure
• excellent diary management and organisational skills
• confident, effective and assured communication skills, both in written and verbal form
• ability to build strong relationships at all levels
• a proactive approach and commitment to ongoing improvement and development 
• an understanding of confidentiality and the highest standards of discretion
• excellent IT skills (including Microsoft 365 applications including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Forms)
• great attention to detail and accuracy
• a desire to work with children and be immersed in the life of a busy Junior School
• an understanding of and support for the aims and ethos of the school

To apply for this role, please register your details online via our website (under useful information / career opportunities). Once you have registered your details with us, you can apply for vacancies by logging into the candidate area using your email address and chosen password. Please provide a covering letter addressed to Mr Ted Lougher, headmaster.

Closing date: Wednesday 13^th March 2024 at 9am.

Interviews: Thursday 21^st March 2024.

Interviews may be staged and we may choose to appoint at any time during the application process.

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service. King’s College School is fully committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity in its recruitment of teaching and support staff.