School Office admin interview!

[AXCS]

Hi
I’ve just been invited to an admin assistant interview in a primary school next week! I’m excited but also could do with some tips please!

Ive got previous school experience (non admin) and i have admin and office experience, but ive never worked in a school admin office.

Any tips to prepare? Any questions that are very likely to be asked? (I expect safeguarding etc)

the only info I have is that this will be an interview with the head and school business manager on the panel, and it will be a short interview and a 15 min handwritten in-tray task. Any ideas on this???

thanks so much!

Ive never interviewed for an admin post for have worked in education and schools in various safeguarding/SLT/Mental health roles and have a good friend who is the office manager. She had questions about:

school ethos and policies
safeguarding
prioritisation of specific admin tasks and what she’d do
handling parent queries and complaints - which will be plentiful
GDPR/Data compliance
How she would maximise efficiency
Managing staff requests
Her admin skills and experience, what she would bring to the table to enhance the front door experience for students and parents
Order of contact in emergencies and protocol

admin are the first point of contact and often the backbone of everything logistical in school, very important role in my opinion. Our data and office managers kept school life ticking

It will be:
Safeguarding
In tray questions and tasks, e.g. juggling competing priorities in a busy office- injured child, parent complaining, a class without a room, typing letters/emails about trips or events, that sort of thing.
Confidentiality, tact, discretion.
Good luck!

Basically they need people who are problem solvers who will jump onto each task and be hands on. There is no funding anymore, so you need to sell yourself as capable and a doer 🙂

Thanks all - very helpful! I think I can prepare for the interview but I’ve never done an in-tray so hopefully goes ok!