About St. James’ School

St. James’ School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school in Grimsby, providing education for pupils aged 11 to 18 years. We pride ourselves on being a small, friendly and nurturing school where every pupil is known, valued and supported to achieve their full potential. Our close-knit community, personalised approach to education and excellent pastoral care create an environment where both pupils and staff can flourish.

At St. James’, we believe that every interaction matters. Whether welcoming a new family, supporting a pupil or assisting a colleague, our staff share a commitment to providing a positive, inclusive and professional school experience.

About the Role and You

Contract type: Full-time, permanent, all year round

Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm

Salary: Up to £35,000 per annum, depending on experience

Start date: Immediate start available

As our School Secretary, you will be central to the day-to-day running of the school, ensuring administrative excellence while providing a warm, professional and efficient service to pupils, parents, staff and visitors.

Your main responsibilities will include:

• School Administration: Overseeing the smooth running of the school office, managing correspondence, maintaining accurate records and ensuring administrative processes are organised, efficient and effective.
• Support to the Head: Providing confidential and proactive administrative support to the Head, including diary management, arranging meetings, preparing correspondence, minute-taking and coordinating school events.
• Front of House and Customer Service: Being a welcoming and professional first point of contact for parents, pupils, visitors and external stakeholders, ensuring every interaction reflects the school's values and high standards.
• Admissions and School Tours: Supporting the admissions process, welcoming prospective families, conducting engaging school tours and showcasing the school's facilities, ethos and educational provision.
• Pupil and SEND Support: Building positive and respectful relationships with pupils, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), demonstrating patience, empathy and an understanding of individual needs.
• Parent and Staff Communication: Responding to enquiries professionally and efficiently, maintaining effective communication and building strong relationships across the school community.
• Office and Operational Support: Working collaboratively with the wider administration team, providing reception cover and assisting with admissions, finance administration and other school activities as required.
• Confidentiality and Safeguarding: Handling sensitive information with discretion and maintaining appropriate confidentiality, safeguarding and data protection standards.

What Are We Looking For?

We are looking for someone who:

• Has previous experience in a School Secretary, Personal Assistant, Office Manager or similar administrative role, ideally within an educational environment.
• Demonstrates exceptional organisational and administrative skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a busy school office.
• Has excellent customer service skills and a naturally welcoming, approachable and professional manner.
• Is confident communicating with parents, prospective families, pupils, staff and external visitors.
• Can confidently represent the school during tours, helping prospective parents understand what makes St. James’ a special place to learn.
• Has strong Microsoft 365 skills, particularly Word, Excel and Outlook, and is comfortable learning new administrative systems.
• Demonstrates patience, empathy and sensitivity when working with children and young people, including pupils with SEND.
• Has excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail.
• Is proactive, adaptable and resourceful, with the confidence to take ownership of tasks and solve problems independently.
• Understands the importance of confidentiality, professional boundaries and safeguarding within a school environment.
• Is a positive team player who takes pride in delivering a high standard of service and contributing to the wider school community.

Above all, we are looking for someone who genuinely enjoys working with people, can remain calm under pressure and brings warmth, professionalism and enthusiasm to everything they do.

Why Choose Us?

At St. James’ School, we recognise that our staff are at the heart of everything we achieve. We are committed to providing a welcoming and supportive workplace where individuals feel valued, encouraged and empowered to develop professionally.

In addition to joining a friendly and collaborative school community, we offer:

• Competitive remuneration package.
• Company pension scheme.
• Company sick pay.
• Life assurance worth three times your annual salary.
• Free lunch provided during working days.
• Refer-a-friend scheme with a financial reward.
• Wellbeing and wellness programme.
• Ongoing training, coaching and professional development opportunities.

If you are a highly organised, enthusiastic and people-focused individual who enjoys making a difference, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and become an integral part of the St. James’ School community, where your contribution will help create a welcoming, supportive and exceptional experience for our pupils and families.

To find out more about this role, please read our Job Description.

If this sounds like the job for you, we encourage you to apply!

How to Apply

To apply for this role, please fill out our Application Form and return this to recruitment@alphaschools.co.uk along with your CV.

We look forward to welcoming you to St. James' School!

St. James’ School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants for ALL jobs will undergo appropriate child-protection screening including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to enhanced level, with costs covered by the candidate. This role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the Amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020