The Learning Alliance Box Lane, CONGLETON, Cheshire. CW12 4NS The Learning Alliance (TLA) is a multi-academy trust of eight schools serving families from Knutsford, Congleton, Crewe and parts of North Staffordshire. It includes Knutsford Academy, Cheshire Studio School, Egerton Primary School, Congleton High School, Sir William Stanier School, The Oaks Academy, Black Firs Primary School and Castle Primary School. Receptionist 37.5 hrs per week, 39 weeks per year Permanent Grade 3, SCP 2 (FTE £18,198) actual salary £15,844 The Learning Alliance is seeking to appoint a Receptionist at The Oaks Academy. The successful applicant will become part of a busy school office that provides a range of administrative services in an ever changing school environment. You will be a professional, well organised and friendly person who will present a positive image to staff, pupils and parents alike. You will need to have a good telephone manner and be able to deal with matters sensitively. Other necessary qualities include confidentiality, the ability to work on your own initiative under pressure and a willingness to go the extra mile to get the job done. You will possess excellent IT and interpersonal skills. Previous school office experience would be an advantage but not essential. If you would like an informal discussion about the post, please contact Ms Emma Hooley at [email protected] or 01270 661223. For a full job description and person specification, information about the role and an application form, please visit the school website www.theoaksacademy.co.uk. As an equal opportunities employer The Learning Alliance is committed to creating a diverse workforce and welcomes applications from members of minority groups. As part of the Academy Trust’s policy to safeguard children an enhanced DBS will be applied for. We will only contact candidates that have been short-listed for interview. If you have not been contacted within 10 working days of the closing date you can safely assume that you have not been invited to interview. ***To apply for this position, please complete the attached application form from the school’s website and not the Cheshire East form, together with a supporting letter of no more than two sides of A4*** Closing Date: 6th November 2020 The Learning Alliance, a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Office: Congleton High School, Box Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4NS Reg. No. 07538467 Registered in England & Wales VAT No: 119 2808 12. General Information for Applicants from the Headteacher Thank you for expressing an interest in a vacancy here. On behalf of everyone at The Oaks Academy, I extend you a very warm welcome. The Oaks Academy is a mixed gender 11 – 16 academy, with around 440 pupils, that opened in January 2016. Schools on this site have served the community of Crewe for many years. It is situated in the south western part of Crewe and shares a pleasant campus with Gainsborough County Primary School. The playground and recreational areas around the school offer a safe and secure environment to all students. We offer a full range of GCSE subjects which students begin studying in Year 10. We became part of The Learning Alliance on the 1st September 2020 and will continue our journey of school improvement in this partnership. We have made significant strides in our school transformation and seek to appoint staff that understand the culture and climate of the school, our community, and the wider educational environment. Staff have a unique opportunity to work alongside colleagues in four other secondary schools and to gain support when necessary. The school is also part of the Chimney House Teaching Alliance. As Head Teacher I really do feel blessed to have such a supportive, resilient and engaged staff team where our values “Inspire, believe, achieve” permeate every aspect of Academy life. We heavily invest in professional development to ensure that every member of staff can be the very best that they can be. We are committed to providing an aspirational, challenging and supportive environment where each student is expected to aim for the highest standard in all aspects of school life and beyond. We work in partnership with students, parents and carers to improve outcomes but we are equally passionate about the personal and social development of students outside of the classroom, and encourage students to take part in a range of extra-curricular programmes and opportunities to develop as life-long learners. I would encourage you to visit our website (www.theoaksacademy.co.uk) to get a fuller understanding of life here at The Oaks Academy and if you have any questions that you would like to ask please do not hesitate to contact me directly on [email protected]. I very much hope that you want to join our team and I look forward to receiving an application from you in due course. Mrs. Emma Hooley Headteacher The Learning Alliance, a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Office: Congleton High School, Box Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4NS Reg. No. 07538467 Registered in England & Wales VAT No: 119 2808 12. Job Description Receptionist Basic Job Purpose To undertake reception and administrative duties which ensure the efficient operation of the school and the security of the school and visitors. No Main Responsibilities To provide a reception and telephone answering service (both internal and external) to ensure 1 that all callers are dealt with promptly and the image of the school is enhanced Acting as initial point of contact for visitors to the school, and dealing with complaints and 2 enquiries from parents and members of the public To maintain the Single Central Record and ensure that all Safeguarding procedures, relating to 3 visitors in the school, are carried out correctly 4 Liaise with school staff regarding issues such as first aid, pupil disciplinary issues Contact parents regarding any absent pupils and maintain registers, alerting the pastoral team to 5 absences that day. Ensuring welfare of pupils, listening to problems and offering advice, supervising sick pupils in 6 the reception area Signing pupils in and out of the building, issuing detentions, passes and lost property where 7 appropriate. 8 Securing of and issuing prescribed medication to pupils Updating and accessing SEN records and pupil personal data such as telephone numbers and 9 addresses. 10 Checking and signing for deliveries to the school 11 Issuing and collecting in various school forms and, collecting money from students. 12 Sending out job application packs, letters to parents and maintaining relevant records 13 Taking responsibility for registers and signing in / out books during fire drills Undertake other administrative tasks e.g. sending faxes, booking of the mini bus, processing and 14 franking of mail to facilitate the smooth running of the school. Notwithstanding the detail in this job description, in accordance with the School's/Council’s Flexibility Policy the job holder will undertake such work as may be determined by 15 the Headteacher/Governing Body from time to time, up to or at a level consistent with the Main Responsibilities of the job. Occasional tasks how often performed? Preparing registers for the new school year annually The Learning Alliance, a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Office: Congleton High School, Box Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4NS Reg. No. 07538467 Registered in England & Wales VAT No: 119 2808 12. Person Specification Receptionist Essential Desirable Evidenced by Qualifications/Experience/Knowledge 5 GCSEs Grade C or equivalent Application/Certificate First Aid experience or Qualification Application/Certificate Proven experience in a similar role Application/Interview Having worked in a customer facing Application/Interview role Previous experience of an office Application/Interview environment An understanding of the school Interview environment An awareness of safeguarding within Interview a school Skills/Abilities Good communicator both within the Interview school and externally Problem solver/lateral thinker Interview Ability to work under pressure and to Application/Interview tight deadlines Good organisation and time Application/Interview management skills An ability to work on own or as a Application/Interview member of a team Well organised and efficient Application/Interview Computer literate – IT skills such as Application/Interview/Test Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook and the internet Willingness to develop professionally, Application/Interview maintain up to date knowledge relevant to the role and attend courses as required Ability and willingness to work outside Application/Interview normal office hours if required The Learning Alliance, a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Office: Congleton High School, Box Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4NS Reg. No. 07538467 Registered in England & Wales VAT No: 119 2808 12. Person Specification Receptionist Essential Desirable Evidenced by Qualifications/Experience/Knowledge A team player who is willing to go Application/Certificate beyond their own responsibilities to help others at busy times Self-motivated, enthusiastic and with Application/Certificate an excellent sense of humour Methodical and accurate Application/Interview Willing to learn Application/Interview Honest, reliable and work with Application/Interview integrity Committed to high quality Interview Our school community places the highest priority on keeping our children safe. Applicants for all posts will be subject to stringent vetting and induction processes. The holder of this post will be required to work with children under the age of 18 in a position of trust, and is therefore, exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS Check with Barred List Information. The Learning Alliance, a Company Limited by Guarantee. Registered Office: Congleton High School, Box Lane, Congleton, Cheshire, CW12 4NS Reg. No. 07538467 Registered in England & Wales VAT No: 119 2808 12. .