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Original poster

School Admin interview

47 replies

Rita2016 · 22/08/2022 21:39

Hi ladies

just have a few questions maybe someone can help,? I was offered a interview quite quickly within applying for a school admin job, does anyone understand how the pay side of it? I just don’t want to waste my time going for an interview if I’m going to paid less than what I’m earning now?.. I have read previous threads about it being pro rata for the 38/39 weeks..

OP posts:
Original poster
Rita2016 · 22/08/2022 22:43

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 22/08/2022 22:41

Surely not having to pay for two lots of childcare in the school holidays in the future would be worth it. There is some career progression available in large academy trusts too.

Yeah I know what you mean, maybe a better position will come up I just feel my current experience etc I would be downgrading myself as I have had senior positions before.. and I’ve tired to work out the pay roughly and it’s not much more than what I am earning now

OP posts:
toomuchlaundry · 22/08/2022 22:43

What size school/team would you be working in?

Original poster
Rita2016 · 22/08/2022 22:45

toomuchlaundry · 22/08/2022 22:43

What size school/team would you be working in?

It was for a primary school

OP posts:
Original poster
Rita2016 · 22/08/2022 22:45

Rita2016 · 22/08/2022 22:45

It was for a primary school

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No mention of how many team members but it would be myself the senior admin person

OP posts:
Heartrate · 22/08/2022 22:46

Rita2016 · 22/08/2022 22:37

You know what it is not in a big headed way but I just feel I would be too good at the job based on my previous roles and jobs I’ve had.. I’m not at all big headed in the slightest you know when you want something where you will learn more from? Or it will get your brain ticking I just feel this position I wouldn’t get that.. but I suppose it all depends on what sort of job I want etc

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And yet it is a slight increase in pay, despite all the time off?

You're right though, don't go for it if you're going to think it's beneath you

Original poster
Rita2016 · 22/08/2022 22:48

Heartrate · 22/08/2022 22:46

And yet it is a slight increase in pay, despite all the time off?

You're right though, don't go for it if you're going to think it's beneath you

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I don’t know whether it’s because I’ve been so used to working in London for the last 10 years to be more near home obviously pay will go down.. Currently I have my daughter in clubs during half term etc some I use my holidays others she is home with me while I work.. but wfh could just stop at some point

OP posts:
katieg03 · 22/08/2022 22:53

If you are specifically looking for a position in a school that's at your level, senior admin may be the ceiling unless you go to SLT/SMT level and there aren't heaps of those jobs. You'd need a degree and 5 years management experience in our council for that. What attracted you to apply? The holidays? All the in in our school have children/grandchildren and we accommodate for every one of them as best we can. The ladies in the office have each others backs for things like nursery drop off/school pick up etc. There may be some flexibility in the position but you have discounted it based on in being below your level. We gets hundreds of applications for admin when we recruit and 99% of those have families with commitments which we juggle week to week. If it's below your level, just write it off.

Original poster
Rita2016 · 22/08/2022 22:59

katieg03 · 22/08/2022 22:53

If you are specifically looking for a position in a school that's at your level, senior admin may be the ceiling unless you go to SLT/SMT level and there aren't heaps of those jobs. You'd need a degree and 5 years management experience in our council for that. What attracted you to apply? The holidays? All the in in our school have children/grandchildren and we accommodate for every one of them as best we can. The ladies in the office have each others backs for things like nursery drop off/school pick up etc. There may be some flexibility in the position but you have discounted it based on in being below your level. We gets hundreds of applications for admin when we recruit and 99% of those have families with commitments which we juggle week to week. If it's below your level, just write it off.

I totally get your point, I originally applied because of childcare thinking it would help etc.. but I really thought about it today and gave myself time to think if it would be worth it??.. but once I had an idea of the salary I wouldn’t be that well off if I was to go for this position.. I wasn’t expected 100’s but something half decent to make me want to think oh yes it could work..

OP posts:
Katyaadlerscoat · 22/08/2022 22:59

I don't understand what you're asking. You obviously don't want this job.

PickledWilly · 22/08/2022 23:05

I don't know any school admin jobs that are SLT level.

MuttsNutts · 22/08/2022 23:07

I wouldn’t bother applying - at the school where I work the admin staff have to have a really good level of written English, including grammar and punctuation.

And it is obviously beneath you anyway.

Heartrate · 22/08/2022 23:08

PickledWilly · 22/08/2022 23:05

I don't know any school admin jobs that are SLT level.

Business Manager/ Director of Finance amd Operations in most secondaries will be SLT and increasingly in primaries too. In academies it can be very well paid.

Heartrate · 22/08/2022 23:08

But OP is clearly not suited to any of these roles.

PickledWilly · 22/08/2022 23:11

SBM and DOF are not admin jobs. The op is looking for well paid admin jobs in schools that are senior. They don't exist!

Tralene · 23/08/2022 07:30

MuttsNutts · 22/08/2022 23:07

I wouldn’t bother applying - at the school where I work the admin staff have to have a really good level of written English, including grammar and punctuation.

And it is obviously beneath you anyway.

Ouch!

Tralene · 23/08/2022 07:36

I'm a bit confused about how this job would pay slightly more than you earn now, despite being part-time, term-time-only and beneath you?

OP most of our admin staff see the job as something of a vocation. You have to, given the pay. Most have partners who earn significantly more. They like the environment, doing something to help the community, enjoy the all-hands-on-deck nature of the jobs, and are treated as important members of the team.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 23/08/2022 15:13

You lose approx 20% of the headline pay for each day equivalent you don't work for being TTO (so if you did 30/36, there's 20% gone), then what you do earn is paid over 12 months so you don't have odd payments and months where you are unpaid for 2 weeks.

So you'd be paying childcare 5 days a week for 3 days' salary with no flexibility, constrained when you are off to the most expensive times, no leave for appointments or plays, etc, and there's no guarantee your contract will include August unless it specifically says so.

I really wouldn't recommend it unless you're a person who is bored at home.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/09/2022 11:05

What did you decide, OP?

I’d be careful about assuming school admin is beneath you. I moved to a primary school admin role and have had a shock at the amount and type of work for the pay that I get. I often work through lunch and I stay late every day just to try to get through the workload, and still it doesn’t get done. And it’s just not stuff that can be left to next day like in some other jobs. I came from a job where I could manage my own workload and had periods where I was more or less uninterrupted so I had thinking time and peace and quiet to do complex task. Here, no matter how difficult a task is, I’m interrupted constantly by having to answer the phone and deal with constant visitors. That’s the most frustrating thing. You can’t plan your time properly because of it. It’s extremely stressful. If you like a tidy desk you’ve got no chance- it would be nice to spend 10 mins at the end of each day just clearing it but the reality is you are working every second in a rushed panic till the caretaker throws you out!

eg I’m supposed to finish work at 4 on a Friday. Something essential needed doing for Monday morning so I stayed to do it, estimating it would take 15 mins. In that 15 mins, a couple of members of staff came in and needed something doing, there were 2 Phone calls which needed further action,I couldn’t get on the printer as there was a constant queue. I ended up leaving at 5.30, and that isn’t an unusual occurrence. My children are teenagers now so it’s not a problem me being late, but if I had to get to childcare it would be. Just so many constant interruptions that stop you getting your work done….

Original poster
Rita2016 · 04/09/2022 07:22

CurlyhairedAssassin · 03/09/2022 11:05

What did you decide, OP?

I’d be careful about assuming school admin is beneath you. I moved to a primary school admin role and have had a shock at the amount and type of work for the pay that I get. I often work through lunch and I stay late every day just to try to get through the workload, and still it doesn’t get done. And it’s just not stuff that can be left to next day like in some other jobs. I came from a job where I could manage my own workload and had periods where I was more or less uninterrupted so I had thinking time and peace and quiet to do complex task. Here, no matter how difficult a task is, I’m interrupted constantly by having to answer the phone and deal with constant visitors. That’s the most frustrating thing. You can’t plan your time properly because of it. It’s extremely stressful. If you like a tidy desk you’ve got no chance- it would be nice to spend 10 mins at the end of each day just clearing it but the reality is you are working every second in a rushed panic till the caretaker throws you out!

eg I’m supposed to finish work at 4 on a Friday. Something essential needed doing for Monday morning so I stayed to do it, estimating it would take 15 mins. In that 15 mins, a couple of members of staff came in and needed something doing, there were 2 Phone calls which needed further action,I couldn’t get on the printer as there was a constant queue. I ended up leaving at 5.30, and that isn’t an unusual occurrence. My children are teenagers now so it’s not a problem me being late, but if I had to get to childcare it would be. Just so many constant interruptions that stop you getting your work done….

In the end I didn’t go for it, something else major has happened in my life which needs more of my attention.. and I’m just a breaking point in my life where I can’t carry on as I am x

OP posts:
PupInAPram · 04/09/2022 08:12

PickledWilly · 22/08/2022 23:11

SBM and DOF are not admin jobs. The op is looking for well paid admin jobs in schools that are senior. They don't exist!

Data Manager in a large high school, all-year-round, is a support staff role and not too badly paid. Especially if you factor in no commute costs.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 04/09/2022 15:56

Rita2016 · 04/09/2022 07:22

In the end I didn’t go for it, something else major has happened in my life which needs more of my attention.. and I’m just a breaking point in my life where I can’t carry on as I am x

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Sorry to hear that, OP. I really hope everything will be ok.

Original poster
Rita2016 · 04/09/2022 17:17

CurlyhairedAssassin · 04/09/2022 15:56

Sorry to hear that, OP. I really hope everything will be ok.

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Yes thank you all okay, sometimes some ppl just need a reality check and really think twice about there actions and how it effects everyone x

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