Receptionist and Clerical Assistant Application Pack March 2018 Page 1
Content Letter from the Headteacher 3 Job Description 5 Person Specification 7 The appointment process 8 Page 2
March 2018 Dear Applicant, Post: Receptionist and Clerical Assistant Permanent Position 30 hours per week, term time only (39 weeks per year) 10:00am 4:00pm Monday to Friday Grade 3-11,071.00 (Actual salary) Thank you for expressing an interest in the Receptionist and Clerical Assistant post advertised. I hope you find the following information about our school helpful in deciding whether or not to apply. Our support staff at Pontypridd High School are an extremely valued team of people whose contribution to our overall success is invaluable. We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join this team. The successful candidate will manage our reception and act as the first point of contact for our school as well as providing general clerical and administrative support. Experience would be an advantage although it is not necessarily required as full training can be provided. It goes without saying that we are looking to recruit the best person to this post. We value additional opportunities for further professional development and the successful candidate can be assured of the support of staff and the school leadership team. Please do not hesitate to contact me at the school if there is any further information that you feel you need. If appointed you can be sure that you will be warmly welcomed into a friendly and supportive team of talented and committed staff with hundreds of eager students keen to learn from the exciting experiences you can offer them. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully Huw Cripps Headteacher Page 3
A message from the Headteacher This application pack is intended to provide you with details of the post offered and more general information, which will give you a flavour of Pontypridd High. We are an 11-18 secondary school located two miles to the north of Pontypridd in the village of Cilfynydd. Details provided will inform you of our history and the close links we have with the town of Pontypridd itself. Our present school role is 957 with 150 students in the sixth form. Approximate year cohorts are 150 pupils. We want our students to be happy and successful and we are committed to ensuring that each of our students leaves us with; - the values and morals to lead respectful and responsible lives - the right skills to be successful in the world of work; and - the best possible examination results and qualifications Student outcomes have improved year on year and for 2017 the results compare very favourably with the schools in our Local Authority and those across Wales. Further information is on pages 11 and 12 and also in our school prospectus. Outcomes at GCSE and A Level reflect a high level of achievement which is deserved reward for the hard work and commitment of very talented staff, the team structures by which they work and the positive attitude our young people apply to their studies. Demands on students and staff are high and we pride ourselves on the quality of care and support we provide for each individual. Experienced, specialist staff are in place to ensure that the pastoral aspect of our work is balanced to the academic expectation. At the core of our work is the provision of high quality teaching and learning, both in and out of the classroom. The structure and calendar by which we work uses every opportunity to share practice and promote engagement in learning. Our students enjoy access to excellent facilities and each subject area is well resourced. Individual teaching areas have seen significant investment in recent years. Staff and pupils have good access to remote technology which is available in all areas of our school. We expect staff to make a positive contribution to the lives of our students and in turn everyone is given every opportunity to share ideas, influence decision making and develop their career in line with their personal aspirations. Our staffing and school structure is continually evolving to ensure we have the best staff in the right roles that can make the biggest impact. Through this there are many opportunities for staff development and many have been promoted to more senior positions within our school. Please contact me at school if you want to discuss any information related to this application further and I will be more than happy to talk it through with you or arrange a meeting. Huw Cripps Headteacher Page 4
Receptionist and Clerical Assistant Job description Post Title Receptionist and Clerical Assistant Responsible to Data and Communications Offiicer Grade and salary Grade 3 Hours and Contract 30 hours per week, 10;00am 4:00pm, Monday to Friday Principal Responsibility Areas: Under the direction of senior staff, provide routine general clerical, administrative and receptionist support to the school. To undertake such duties and responsibilities commensurate with the grade, as may be reasonably required by the Headteacher or as a mutually agreed professional development opportunity. Main purposes of the job Undertake reception duties, including greet visitors to Reception and notify members of staff of arrival as appropriate. Provide courteous advice, information and help to staff, pupils, parents/carers and the general public. To receive and process incoming calls, passing on messages to the appropriate staff. To assist with routine administrative duties such as the booking of school transport, the school minibus, registers etc. To sort and distribute incoming mail, frank outgoing post and take last post of the day to the Post Office. Maintain an accurate monthly report on post expenditure and ensure there is sufficient balance maintained on the School s franking machine. Extended hours may be required during examination periods to ensure safe distribution of papers within examination guidelines and protocols. Undertake routine administration eg. Update external noticeboards and staff photograph displays, distribute visitor badges. Assist with administrative duties such as distribution of letters and reports, including the use of our text messaging service, Schoolcomms. Provide routine clerical support e.g. photocopying, filing, faxing, emailing, complete routine forms Maintain manual and computerised record systems accordingly, including pupil s personal information. Assist with first aid duties e.g. looking after sick pupils, liaising with parents/staff etc. General Duties Comply with and assist with the development of policies and procedures relating to child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person. Page 5
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equal opportunities for all. Contribute to the overall ethos, work and aims of the school. Establish constructive relationships and communicate with other agencies/professionals. Participate in training and other learning activities and performance development. Recognise own strengths and areas of expertise and use these to advise others. To take responsibility in conjunction with your line manager for your own professional development and to participate in staff training when provided. Maintain a professional portfolio of evidence to support the Performance Management process-evaluating and improving own practice. Resources Operate office equipment e.g. Photocopier, computer, telephone Continuing Professional Development To take responsibility in conjunction with their line manager for their own professional development and to participate in staff training when provided Maintain a professional portfolio of evidence to support the Performance Management process-evaluating and improving own practice The contents of this document will be subject to an annual review in consultation with the post holder. Job descriptions may be amended to reflect and record such changes. Page 6
Person Specification Receptionist and Clerical Assistant Experience Qualifications/Training Knowledge/Skills General clerical/administrative work Understanding of day-to-day office environment Both of the above are desirable but not essential Good standard of education Good numeracy/literacy skills Good telephone manner Good inter-personal skills Good written and oral communication skills Ability to relate well to children and adults Work constructively as part of a team, understanding school roles and responsibilities and your own position within these and your own position within these The person specification is an essential part of our recruitment process. Please ensure that you read this carefully and address the points raised so that your application addresses these areas wherever possible. We welcome applications from all sections of the community irrespective of race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age. Page 7
The appointment process - what to do next If you do not like what you have read do nothing! It is always important not to end up in a situation in which you feel you would not be comfortable. We see the whole of the appointment process as a two-way business. Please only apply if you feel reasonably confident that Pontypridd High School is a school and area in which you would be happy to work. If, having read the details, there are important issues about which you remain unsure or unclear then please contact us by phone or email. We would always want applicants to base their decisions and application on the fullest possible knowledge. If you feel Pontypridd High may be the place for you, please complete the enclosed application form and return to: Miss N Pickens Pontypridd High School, Albion Community Campus, Cilfynydd Pontypridd, CF37 4SF Or if you prefer you can email your completed application to Miss Nicki Pickens at: pickensn@pontyhigh.co.uk by 12pm on Thursday 22 nd March 2018. Letter of Application Guidance/Further Information Please pay particular attention to this section. It is the most important part of your application, as it is where you tell us what makes you suitable for this job. Your application will be judged against the Person Specification. You should give evidence of what skills, experience and knowledge you have in each of these areas. Always be specific. Do not use general phrases such as I have the necessary skills... or I am confident I can do the job well.... The shortlisting panel needs to know how you meet the requirements based on the evidence you provide. You should include relevant details of any current or previous jobs. However, experience gained outside paid employment may be just as important. For example, you may have done voluntary work in the community or have skills acquired through other interests. Please remember to confine your supporting information to two sides of A4. The selection panel will not consider any additional information. Interviews will take place week commencing 2 nd April 2018. Page 8