School Administrator Jobs

[Needanewadventure2021]

Hi

I have 18 years of admin experience across different sectors at a senior level, just never in a school setting.
I am extremely unhappy in my current job and want a complete change. I feel working in a school will fit well around my child and feel I have plenty of admin experience to be able to undertake the position in a school well but was wondering how I would go about this without gaining any experience in a school setting? Also I only have A levels and no NVQ's however I am happy to undertake additional training.

Are there any school administrators out there? Any advice? Is there any possibility to progress in the future?

TIA x

Hoping someone will come along?

It's usually badly paid compared to other admin jobs as they don't have trouble filling the roles due to school hols being better than average.

I'm paid similar to those roles now but over 52 weeks not term time

I work in a school. I think the key advice I'd give is about expressing why you want to work in a school. The amount of people who talk about how it suits their lifestyle/childcare rather than what they want to achieve in the job, is remarkable and really doesn't help them. We look for people who are skilled in their job role, caring and kind, aware of safeguarding and boundaries and willing to do whatever is needed day to day - in a school it can be something different every day.

I do too. Make sure you're clued up on safeguarding - everyone's responsibility.
I agree with the above too. You need a better 'why' than good childcare hours and I hate my own job. It's a very different kind of environment sometimes - do you think you'll thrive when it can be very disrupted/noisy/varied.

You have to deal with an awful lot of different people, and usually sole responsibility for the the running of the school office, often asked to step in and do extra, work some days over the holidays, training etc

It’s not an easy job!

Agree with all the above. You’ll bear the brunt of angry parents and when applying will probably have to answer a scenario question about what order of priority you would put different things, such as phone call, cross parent at the window, pile of admin etc etc.

It's a great job if you like a varied working day. Lots of common sense and organisational skills and not averse to a bowl of sick - you'll be fine

What would you like to know? I've been in school admin since 2006 (minus the career break for the kids) and have worked my way up and now hold a senior position in the school I'm currently in.

Generally the pay isn't particularly high. The job may advertise with the FTE (Full Time Equivalent) salary. Most admin roles are pro-rata meaning that you are only paid for 39 or 40 weeks of the year, plus any holiday allowance. This is reduced further if you do not work "full" hours which are usually 37 per week (36 in London), be aware of what the actual salary is, so that you don't get a nasty surprise.

Expect to work extremely hard during term time, you don't go into school admin for a quiet life. It's a fantastic environment, which I love, but everyone is exhausted by the end of every term and all school staff thoroughly deserve their holidays.

When recruiting for new staff, experience in similar environments is helpful. This could also include any volunteering with agencies or companies that work with children such as youth groups, brownies, summer camps etc.

Often only senior admin roles require specific qualifications, most ask for a minimum of 5 GCSEs and evidence of post 16 study. Any relevant qualification would be a bonus but not expected.

Brush up on safeguarding as you will be asked about this if you get to interview.

Schools often get lots of applications for admin jobs and anything with spelling mistakes, poor grammar or that has been handwritten is not looked upon favourably (this is due to most admin roles requiring a decent level of computer literacy and one would question why the form hadn't been filled in online and emailed in).

Make sure that you answer the person spec fully in any applications, giving examples of your skills from your previous experience. When shortlisting applicants, the person specification is used to grade applications, so if someone has only written in their statement that they want the job because they like kids and want a term time only job... they won't get shortlisted against others who have given examples and evidence of skills and experiences required. A recent job I was on the interview panel for had 20+ applications and we shortlisted 4.

In every school I've worked in, CVs are not accepted in place of the official application form. This is to ensure transparency in the recruitment process.

If you are looking for an admin role in a school, most schools advertise using eteach or TES jobs as well as on their own websites.

Please let me know if there's anything else you'd like to know.

Former school senior administrator here, was there 7 years. it is a nice job however can be stressful, term time only and taking days off is hard,

Working in a school is nice however there are some unsettling and upsetting times which will be experienced as well as nice times

I also think it depends on the staff and location of the school

You need to look at the school website do research into safeguarding and the local MIS systems that they may use for example for their registers, parent pay etc

I’m in another role now which is much calmer and quieter

I found it quite hectic at times

Thanks everyone. My childcare reason earlier was very poor of me to say as that would be a bonus.

I currently work with the public in a technical sales role. I deal with all sorts of people from all walks of life. I deal with the nicest of people as well as the absolute worst and I remain professional at all times. I am so used to dealing with the horrible ones it wouldn't come as a shock to me dealing with an angry parent.
I absolutely love helping people. Before my current job I was a business development coordinator for a number of years which required a high level of organisational skills and the work was very variable. The job was considered as a central cog to the running of the various teams and I loved the role I had being the person that made things flow efficiently, making sure everything was completed in time, managers were all equipped with all the relevant materials and market knowledge for them to undertake their meetings etc. I did the job really well and only left due to redundancy and then becoming a Mom. Even in my current role the nature of what I do I hold a good 90 percent of sales knowledge to do with customers which assist reps and managers all the time.

I am friendly and love to help. I am approachable. I have also volunteered in a neonatal unit at my local hospital so am familiar with safeguarding. I love to be part of the efficient flow of a business. These are just a few reasons. Of course working term time would be nice as I have a child of primary school age but I've worked his whole life on a 52 week basis so term time really is just a bonus.

The adverts I am finding are specifying a salary in brackets and then an actual salary beside it. Am I right in thinking the actual salary is the full amount you will be paid divided over 12 months? The posts are all 37 hours 39 weeks plus 8 days

Thanks again for all your replies and once again apologies for giving my reason as childcare

You are right, the actual salary is your gross salary. It'll be divided by 12 and you'll be paid the same each month even if you don't work that month (August).

Term time is 39 weeks , students are in school for 38 weeks. So a 39+8 means term time, a week of INSET( training) days and 8 additional days during the holidays. These are sometimes directed and sometimes are flexible depending on the role/ school's needs.

For example, some of our staff are required to attend on results days. These are mon negotiable

My children were at primary school when I went to work at a school and I was from an industry background also, not in education. It helps to have a knowledge of what KS1, KS2 is etc and also how a school works, read the Ofsted reports and also the parents section on the website with the policies. It worked well until they became older. Term time is great if you have kids I’m not going to lie and it helps with childcare. The downsides as I said is the salary as it is pro rated but you can train up to be a Business Manager I believe they now do apprenticeships in this. The eight days are when they do inset training and sometimes this can be early evenings if they have events etc.

I found some staff to be slightly difficult to work with, some looked down on you or tried to, it didn’t wash with me and I just did my job to the best of my ability.

I work in a prep school as a Secretary. I really like it. There’s myself, the Head’s PA and the registrar in one office. We work our socks off during the term. My hours are longer though as it’s a longer day for the pupils.
As before, as it’s pro rata, the pay is spread over the 12 months.
The holidays are longer and I get two weeks half term in October. Though I have to be there for inset days and an extra day before in preparation for the term return rush.

I'm a school admin person. I remember being asked at interview why I wanted the job and I remember saying something like "I'm looking for a role that I would enjoy and where I feel I could make a good contribution to the team, while at the same time meeting my responsibilities as a parent". Obviously I got the job, and have been there 9 years now.

So it's ok to mention that you're a parent, but that can't be what you give as your main reason for applying (even if it is!).

I think you sound as if you'd make a perfect admin in a school. I've done it for five years and would recommend it. I can from a very different background but am practical, sensible and get in with people.

Go with your eyes open though - it's hectic, demanding and in my job, no day is the same. It depends on the school leadership though and where I am it is amazing, thankfully. Where are you based?

That's exactly it. I want to be be able to use my skills and contribute to the team and running of the school and dedicate myself to the job but have a good balance of being a Mom.

I absolutely love being a Mom, that's why I got into volunteering at the neonatal unit to be able to give family's comfort and care and help during distressing times.

I feel it will be a good use of my skills and give me a nice balance of working hard and getting to be a Mom.

Those who moved on was it still in a school setting or away completely?

I know the last couple of times our school advertised, they also wanted someone with basic accounting and book keeping experience. Might be worth picking up a qual in that or some level 2 safeguarding quals while you're looking?

I've been looking into courses, so any suggestions will be appreciated

Mindfulness - you have the experience in the neonatal unit!
Safeguarding
Check what systems they use - probably SIMS - excel etc - quick books or similar - diary or calendar app
Confidentiality GDPR is big at the moment
First aid

You have to be flexible organized prioritize work load

Go to the lowest possible Receptionist in a large company salary and lop 20% off for term time only.

Lop off another 20% for every six hours you don't work.

Add in another 35% of work compared to a standard day. And an expectation that you will work overtime for free. And your 48 minute break is something that people will be sniffy about you taking. Same with toilet breaks.

Add extra costs due to being unable to take any annual leave outside the school term. And extreme difficulty in taking time off for medical appointments.

Imagine never being able to type a whole sentence in one go because you have been interrupted. Having a coherent thought in one go is equally difficult.

You get shouted at by some parents who think you're a moron.

You get shouted at by some staff who think you are a moron. Unfortunately, they tend to be senior staff, so nothing gets done about it.

You get shouted by children who are anywhere between traumatised and plain horrid. But you have to be nice to the objectionable little git and there's a distinct possibility that a) if you tell somebody you've just been called a fat bitch that they'll laugh and say 'oh, you should hear what he calls people he doesn't like' b) if he gets detention for it, Mummy will complain about you being mean to her innocent little baby boy, that you've made all up and anyway, you swore at him and take the complaint all the way to the Governors.

However, you might like the majority of the kids. Most of the staff will be lovely. And you only have to find childcare out of nowhere for the beginning/end of each term and whenever your child has illnesses or INSET days that don't match.

Seriously, if you dislike your job, you could get a far 'easier' job than school admin.

@NeverDropYourMooncup has summed up the role perfectly and my experience also. It’s not an easy job and in my opinion not well paid enough

Thanks for giving me the bad side, as I must admit I've only heard good things about it. I know its busy and the office staff at my son's school always welcome the holidays but it doesn't really put me off. Though I will definitely spread my options wider.

I dont want to move for less money. I cant. I dislike how I'm being treated at work so much I'd be happy to move for a similar wage to what I've been earning for a better work life balance. I realise that's not very ambitious of me but I've felt since having my child your career options are limited unless you are already established in a role. Mine was a case of leaving a job where severe discrimination took place due to pregnancy and then I had to start over and parent completely on my own. As I have a mortgage no real help was available to me in order to train/study as I had to keep a roof over my child's head. The last 7 years haven't been easy and the resistance I feel from my workplace due to single parenting you wouldn't believe. Couples with kids have caused the company more grief and absences but it's assumed that as I am on my own I take the piss. I can honestly say I never have. My child has only even off school in the last 4 years for chickenpox in reception and covid last October.

I think this is why earning mega isn't high on my list of priorities at the moment as I've made a life for us on a low wage so I know it's possible. I realise now for me it's more about job satisfaction and finding a nice balance between work and being a Mom

Have you thought about the civil service?? Huge range of admin and other jobs, and part time and/or term time is available in many of them.

No I haven't. But will definitely take a look. Thank you