16 days remaining to apply

  • Start date details

    after May Half Term

  • Closing date

    15 April 2026 at 12:59am

  • Date listed

    27 March 2026

Job details

Job role

  • Administration, HR, data and finance

Visa sponsorship

Visas cannot be sponsored

Working pattern

Full time

Contract type

Permanent

Full-time equivalent salary

£22,932.00 Annually (Actual) Working 37 hours per week. Grade 3 SCP 5-6 FTE £25,583. Term Time only Plus 5 INSET days including 2 weeks one of which will be in the summer.

Receptionist with Administration and Reprographics responsibility job summary

River Academy opened in September 2024 with 180 students and seven students in its resource base. From September 2026, student numbers will increase again as the school welcomes its next cohort of Year 7 students. The school is currently oversubscribed, with waiting lists in all year groups, and expects continued high demand for September 2026.

You will join a strong and committed school team, contributing to the delivery of clear routines and the setting of expectations in line with the River Way.

River Academy has a strong focus on calm, purposeful learning environments. Classrooms are quiet, corridors are calm. Students are expected to demonstrate good manners, strong oracy skills, and high standards of personal and academic presentation. Reflecting this focus on consistency and high expectations, River Academy is ranked in the highest decile across all DfE attendance measures, and Sparx homework completion rates consistently exceed 98%.

River Academy is seeking to appoint a Receptionist with Admin and Reprographics responsibility to provide efficient, effective and confidential administrative support within the school office. This role is central to ensuring that visitors, parents, students and external contacts receive a professional and welcoming first point of contact, while supporting the smooth day-to-day operation of the school.

You will contribute to the effective running of reception and administrative systems, ensuring that communication, information management and record keeping are accurate, secure and responsive to the needs of the school community. The role also supports student welfare processes, helping to ensure timely communication and appropriate escalation where required.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide a professional and welcoming reception service, acting as the first point of contact for visitors, parents, students and external agencies
  • Manage enquiries in person, by telephone and via email, ensuring queries are resolved efficiently or referred appropriately
  • Maintain accurate administrative systems and student records in line with data protection requirements
  • Support attendance and administrative processes, ensuring accurate information contributes to safeguarding and student engagement
  • Assist with student welfare processes, including communication with parents and responding to routine enquiries
  • Ensure safeguarding and visitor procedures are consistently followed to maintain a safe environment
  • Provide reprographics and general administrative support including photocopying, filing, distribution of information and document preparation
  • Manage the main school email inbox, ensuring timely and professional responses
  • Receive and distribute incoming mail and support general office organisation
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues to support the wider administrative function of the school

The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage professionally with a wide range of stakeholders. You will be organised, adaptable and able to manage competing priorities in a busy environment with frequent interruptions.

You will have:

  • Experience of administrative work, including use of Microsoft Office applications
  • Good attention to detail and the ability to maintain accurate records
  • The ability to prioritise workload and meet deadlines
  • A professional, calm and responsive approach to enquiries and communication
  • A commitment to confidentiality and handling sensitive information appropriately
  • The ability to work both independently and as part of a team
  • A proactive and flexible approach, with a willingness to learn and develop

About Maiden Erlegh Trust

Maiden Erlegh Trust is a growing community of schools across Berkshire and Oxfordshire, working together to deliver the best possible education for every child and young person. With around 800staff and 5,000 students across nine schools, including primary, secondary, special, and alternative provision, we are proud of the diversity that shapes our expertise.

We Aim High, Be Inclusive, and Work Together. These values drive our focus on high-quality education for all, through collaboration, inclusion, and continuous improvement.

Through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, colleagues access high-quality professional learning at every stage of their career, supported by mentoring, leadership opportunities, and our annual MET Staff Conference—a day that unites our whole team in sharing best practice and learning.

Joining our Trust means being part of a community that invests in people and values expertise; it is about playing a direct role in shaping the lives and outcomes of young people.

You can learn more about working with us and hear from colleagues across our Trust by clicking here to visit our website.

About the School

River Academy is a purpose-built secondary school serving the growing need for school places in the Reading area. Located on Richfield Avenue, the site includes specialist teaching facilities across the curriculum, including a hall, activity studio, learning resource centre, drama studio and sports studio. Classrooms are fully equipped with interactive screens and visualisers.

The school has high expectations for all students, with a clear focus on academic excellence and participation. When fully open, River Academy will serve students of all abilities and backgrounds, alongside an additional resource base for students with moderate learning difficulties.

The school also offers a wide range of extra-curricular opportunities through its after-school Electives programme, available to all students.

To learn more about River Academy, please visit the school website: www.river-academy.co.uk

Benefits

Further information about working at Maiden Erlegh Trust can be found on our website here. Staff wellbeing and professional development are central to how we work, and colleagues across our Trust benefit from a range of opportunities and schemes designed to recognise their contribution and support their growth.

Pension Scheme: Generous employer contributions, with auto-enrolment into either the Teachers Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme, both Career Average Earning Schemes.

Annual Leave: We offer a generous holiday entitlement, which increases with length of service.

ME Day: Colleagues may request one additional day’s leave each year to attend a special personal event, such as a child’s sports day or graduation, or a family celebration.

Professional Development: We offer a comprehensive programme of professional learning through the Maiden Erlegh Institute, including opportunities to both attend and deliver CPD. Colleagues also take part in our annual Conference, a full day of workshops, networking and learning for all staff.
Colleagues can also access a range of professional development opportunities using Apprenticeship Levy funding, and benefit from professional development networks.

Hybrid Working: For eligible roles, we support a flexible approach to working arrangements, balancing remote and office-based work where appropriate.

Perkbox: Colleagues have access to Perkbox, which offers a wide range of discounts and wellness resources and receive 25 Perk points each month which can be exchanged for goods and services.

Wellbeing and Health: Free flu vaccinations are offered to all staff, and free eye tests are provided to those who are eligible.

Employee Assistance Programme: Incorporating discount vouchers, access to 24/7 support and more.

Mental Health First Aid support.

Recognition and Community: We regularly celebrate staff achievements, milestones and contributions across our schools, reinforcing a strong sense of belonging within the #TeamMET community.

Employee Referral Scheme.

Working for our Trust means contributing to something larger by supporting the education and life chances of children and young people every day.

Additional Information

If you believe this is an environment where you can thrive, develop and make a meaningful contribution to the future of our Trust and its schools, please contact recruitment@maidenerleghtrust.org for an informal discussion.

Applicants are encouraged to apply early as we reserve the right to close the advert and interview at any time.

Maiden Erlegh Trust is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.
Visas cannot be sponsored.
If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

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

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

View advert on external website (opens in new tab)

About River Academy

School type
Free School, ages 11 to 18
Education phase
Secondary school
School size
186 pupils enrolled
Age range
11 to 18
Ofsted report
View Ofsted report
School website
River Academy website

School location

Similar jobs nearby

Receptionist / Pupil Services Administrator

Didcot Girls' School

Manor Crescent, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 7AJ

Attendance and Family Liaison Officer

Greyfriars Catholic School

Cricket Road, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX4 3DR

Exams Officer

The Westgate School

Cippenham Lane, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 5AH

Finance Administrator: Purchase Ledger

St Bartholomew's School

Andover Road, Newbury, Berkshire, RG14 6JP

Get a job alert when similar jobs are listed

Find more school jobs in Reading and Berkshire