Receptionist / Admin Assistant
Ferndown First School, Ferndown, Dorset, BH22 9FB11 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
1 May 2026 at 9am
Date listed
20 April 2026
Job details
Job role
- Administration, HR, data and finance
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: 37hrs per week (8am-4pm Monday-Thursday, 8am-3.30pm Friday), Term time only (38 weeks per year)
Contract type
- Permanent
Full-time equivalent salary
- £25,185 per annum (actual salary for term time working £20,971)
What skills and experience we're looking for
Every school has a first hello.
It’s the friendly smile at the door, the calm voice on the phone, the reassurance given to a nervous child or parent. It’s the place where visitors feel welcomed, questions are answered, and the school day begins smoothly.
At Ferndown First School, our reception is the heart of the school community – and we are looking for a Receptionist / Admin Assistant to be part of that heartbeat.
Behind every busy classroom is a well‑organised office, and you’ll play a key role in making that happen.
What you’ll do
- Be the welcoming first point of contact for children, parents, staff and visitors, helping everyone feel safe, supported and valued.
- Manage the day‑to‑day running of the school reception, handling enquiries in person and by phone with warmth and professionalism.
- Provide key administrative support to the school office, including attendance, records, communication and general organisation.
- Help maintain a calm, well‑organised and secure school environment so learning can happen smoothly every day.
Who you are
- Warm, approachable and friendly, with a genuine enjoyment of working with children and families.
- Calm, organised and reliable: able to keep things running smoothly even when the phone rings, the doorbell buzzes and someone needs a plaster… all at the same time!
- A clear and confident communicator – happy chatting with pupils, parents, staff and visitors.
- Detail‑focused and trustworthy, with the professionalism to handle confidential information discreetly.
- Comfortable using ICT and office systems, with good literacy and numeracy skills and a willingness to learn new ones.
What the school offers its staff
About us:
Ferndown First School is a friendly, nurturing and community‑minded school serving children from Reception to Year 4. We pride ourselves on creating a safe, caring and inspiring environment where every child is known, supported and encouraged to thrive. With well‑resourced learning spaces, dedicated staff and a strong commitment to high‑quality education and care, we work closely with families to make school life happy, inclusive and full of opportunity. If you want a role where your positivity, teamwork and commitment truly matter, we’d be delighted to welcome you to our community.
Why join us?
- Comprehensive support, Induction and training package
- We’re a supportive team who’ll have your back during the good, the bad, and the “Did that really just happen?” moments.
- Professional development opportunities because we’re all about helping you grow, both as a person and in your ability to juggle six things at once!
- A rewarding role where no two days are the same and every day makes a difference!
- Free access to the Employee Assistance Programme and our Cycle to Work Scheme.
- The opportunity to develop your career in a School, and within the Southern Education Trust – a growing Trust where our mission is “making lives better”.
If you like welcoming everyone in, keeping the day on track, and being the calm, capable presence behind those “it’s all sorted now” moments, this could be the role for you.
Further information about the job
Closing date: 9am, 1stMay 2026
Interview date: 7th May 2026
Please note: Applications may be viewed on receipt and interviews arranged sooner than the above date.
Become part of our journey by completing our Support Staff Application Form and returning it to recruitment@southern.education if you would like to apply (please see our Receptionist & Admin Assistant Job Description and Safeguarding Children Policy for further information). If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Isabel at the recruitment address, who will be happy to assist you.
The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.
If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms of your ‘name, education and employment’, to demonstrate due diligence following ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’ guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.
Commitment to safeguarding
Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.
Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.
Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children
You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.
Applying for the job
Apply for the job by following the link below.
CVs will not be accepted for this application.
View advert on school website (opens in new tab)Additional documents
If you need these documents in an accessible format, please contact the school.
About Ferndown First School
- School type
- Academy, ages 4 to 9
- Education phase
- Primary school
- School size
- 360 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 4 to 9
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Ferndown First School website
- Email address
- recruitment@southern.education
Ferndown First School is part of the Southern Education Trust. We are a Yr R to Yr 4 First School with 360 pupils on roll.
School location
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