Receptionist Apprentice
Harris Academy Purley, South Croydon, Surrey, CR2 6DT14 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
25 June 2026 at 11:59pm
Date listed
11 June 2026
Job details
Job role
- Administration, HR, data and finance
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time: Actual salary £20,838.47 (38 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week)
Contract type
- Fixed term - 12-16 month apprenticeship
Full-time equivalent salary
- £24,785
Additional allowances
Pension Scheme (LGPS) + Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan + Additional Harris Benefits
What skills and experience we're looking for
We are looking for a Receptionist Apprentice to be the first point of contact for all visitors, staff and students at Harris Academy Purley. You will assist in the management of the reception area as well as providing administrative support to contribute to the smooth running of the academy.
Upon completion of your apprenticeship (12-16 months), you will receive:
- Business Administrator Apprenticeship Standard Level 3 Certificate
- Level 2 Functional Skills in Maths and English (if no prior exemption)
The actual salary for this role will be £20,838.47 (38 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week).
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- Qualifications to GCSE level or equivalent
- Competency in the use of Microsoft Office packages
- Proficiency in the use of computers and databases
- Previous experience in an administrative or front office/reception role
- Demonstrable customer service experience
- Good level of interpersonal and communication skills, with a good standard of written and spoken English
- Excellent organisational and time management skills
- Commitment to delivering excellent level of professional customer service
- Ability to remain calm and deal with challenging callers or visitors in an appropriate manner
- High level of attention to detail and accuracy of work
For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.
What the school offers its staff
Working at Harris Academy Purley, you will make a real difference to the lives of young people and their families in South London who value the learning and school environment we offer. Our school is oversubscribed; we have families, from a number of boroughs, who choose us for the high standard of education we provide, and staff come from across London as well as Sussex and Surrey to come and work with us.
You will be given ample opportunities to develop and progress your career, and all staff are encouraged to develop their interests and areas of expertise. Our professional development is tailored to ensure all staff are able to continue learning regardless of their role or stage of career.
We strive for excellence and have high ambitions for the future whilst ensuring we maintain a clear focus on staff wellbeing and work-life balance. Our motto: To Learn, To Think, To Act is as true for our staff as it is for our students, and we are committed to investing in your experience with us.
Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.
Benefits
In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance (usually £2,000 for Inner London and £1,500 for Outer London), a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Teachers Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan, Employee Assistance Programme, and many other benefits. Learn more about our benefits on our website.
Flexible working opportunities
We are committed to fostering a positive and supportive working environment for our staff, recognising that achieving a balance between professional and personal responsibilities is essential. We understand that each individual's circumstances are unique, which is why we offer flexible working options that can be adapted to meet the needs of both the academy and our employees.
Further information about the job
Your responsibilities will include:
- Presenting the professional and welcoming face of the Academy to all visitors, staff and students, including telephone callers
- Ensuring all visitors are signed in to the academy in accordance with safeguarding procedures
- Responding to queries from parents/carers and the general public with exemplary professionalism, ensuring that any messages or complaints are immediately dealt with, forwarded to the appropriate member of staff or escalated as required
- Ensuring the overall appearance of the reception area is tidy, professional and presentable at all times
- General administrative duties such as typing, photocopying, filing, collation and distribution of post
- Contributing to the maintenance of academy information databases and filing systems relating to pupils, ensuring confidentiality is observed at all times and records are accurate and up to date
- Assisting academy staff in all aspects of academy life, including contacting parents and pupils where necessary
- Providing general support as required, including preparation of documentation, and administrative duties relating to specific areas such as academy calendar maintenance, extra-curricular activities, school trips, school meal arrangements
Commitment to safeguarding
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
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 Harris Academy Purley
- School type
- Academies, Does not apply, ages 11 to 19
- Education phase
- Secondary school
- School size
- 1022 pupils enrolled
- Age range
- 11 to 19
- Ofsted report
- View Ofsted report
- School website
- Harris Academy Purley website
- Email address
- careers@harrisfederation.org.uk
- Phone number
- 0208 681 1141
Harris Academy Purley is an oversubscribed 11-19 co-educational academy with currently 1050 students on roll, situated on the Croydon/Surrey border. Open since September 2009, we are judged Outstanding by Ofsted, and moved into a state-of-the-art new building in September 2012.
We are a happy, hard-working and highly ambitious community in which students and staff treat on another with care and respect, combining traditional values of discipline and good manners with contemporary best practice in teaching and technology. The academy’s leadership team and staff share an expectation that each and every student who joins Harris Academy Purley achieves his or her “personal best”. With an emphasis on Enterprise, the academy strives each and every day to create a culture and ethos which promotes curiosity, initiative and leadership in all our young people.
School location
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