PA to the Headteacher & Data Protection Officer
Cove School, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 9RN16 days remaining to apply
Start date details
March 2026
Closing date
22 February 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
5 February 2026
Job details
Job role
- Other support roles
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: Monday to Friday, 8am - 4pm (Term time, plus 1 week)
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £27,780 - £30,564. ACTUAL SALARY - £24,700 - £27,175
What skills and experience we're looking for
Cove School is seeking to appoint a Personal Assistant to the Headteacher and Data Protection Officer, being a lead person within a dedicated administration team. You will be joining a busy secondary school and will play a key role in overseeing the main administration systems, staff in the central office, and the school’s approach to data protection and information governance.
The successful candidate will have previous administrative experience and will be flexible and adaptive, able to deal with highly sensitive and confidential issues. You will provide line management to the main office staff, deliver high-level administrative support to the Headteacher, and act as the school’s Data Protection Officer, ensuring compliance with data protection legislation and best practice. You will be highly competent in the use of IT systems such as Microsoft Office, email, and other digital platforms.
You will have a strong professional administrative background, with some experience ideally of working in an education setting (though this is not essential). The successful candidate will be highly organised, able to communicate confidently and effectively with a variety of stakeholders, and have excellent attention to detail and accuracy. You will be confident in handling personal data appropriately and advising colleagues on data protection matters.
The successful candidate will:
- Support the Headteacher through high-quality administrative and organisational skills
- Act as the school’s Data Protection Officer, overseeing compliance with data protection legislation (including GDPR), policies, and procedures
- Provide advice and guidance to staff on data protection, confidentiality, and information handling
- Monitor and maintain records relating to data protection, including data breaches, subject access requests, and retention schedules
- Be highly competent in using Microsoft Office, email, and ready to learn new online and electronic systems
- Be highly organised and able to prioritise tasks effectively in a busy environment
- Have a keen attention to detail and accuracy
- Be highly literate with excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Enjoy being part of a hard-working team and be willing to support colleagues when needed
- Be able to maintain strict confidentiality when dealing with sensitive and personal information
What the school offers its staff
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Cove School and Hampshire County Council are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Check as well as other relevant pre-employment checks.
Applying for the job
This job requires you to download an application form, you will be able to upload the application once complete.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
About Cove School
- School type
- Local authority maintained school, ages 11 to 16
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1010 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Cove School website
- Email address
- s.downham@coveschool.uk
- Phone number
- 01252 542397
Cove School is a larger-than-average, co-educational secondary school for students aged 11–16, located in the north of Hampshire. As a local authority-maintained school, we are ideally situated within easy reach of London, the historic city of Winchester, and the stunning landscapes of the New Forest.
We are a forward-thinking, caring, and – above all – happy school. Our students, from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities, are ambitious and work hard to achieve high standards. We are equally ambitious for our staff and take great pride in the comprehensive support and high-quality professional development (CPD) we provide, especially for those new to the profession or joining our team for the first time. We believe that motivated, well-supported staff are key to every student’s success.
Our extra-curricular offer is extensive, with students participating in a wide variety of sports, music and drama productions. Beyond this, we run a vibrant programme of clubs and activities all of which contribute to a rich and inclusive school experience.
We are also proud to host a specialist unit for students with hearing impairments, with all classrooms equipped with specialist audio equipment to ensure an inclusive learning environment.
We invite you to explore our website – www.coveschool.uk – for a glimpse into life at Cove School and what it means to be part of our vibrant community. To truly experience the atmosphere, we warmly encourage you to visit us during a normal school day and see our staff and students in action. We hope you’ll be inspired to apply and become part of the exciting journey we are on.
Arranging a visit to Cove School
To arrange a visit and increase the chance of a successful application email s.downham@coveschool.uk.
School location
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