Temporary Receptionist

About OSH

Old Swinford Hospital is one of the country’s leading state boarding schools. The majority of the School’s students are boarders who come from a wide range of backgrounds in the UK and also from the EU and overseas. A third of our pupils are day pupils, who usually go home after lessons, unless they are involved in sport or music, CCF or DofE. The School is now on an exciting journey to become fully co-educational by September 2025. Girls joined us in September 2021 in Year 7, whilst the Sixth Form has been mixed since 2004.

OSH is calm place to work. It is inclusive, tolerant and welcoming. The atmosphere is supportive and orderly, and it is also very relaxed because for many of our pupils their school is also their home. 

We have recently had two very favourable Ofsted visits, one for boarding and one for curriculum. You can see these via our website www.oshsch.com  We enjoy a very good academic reputation and regularly feature in the lists of the most academically successful maintained schools. We’re not about league tables, however. We pride ourselves on developing in our pupils a balance of academic achievement, character and resilience and we’ve been doing this now for nearly 360 years.

A major building programme has recently been completed which includes a large extension to an already impressive sports centre, an all-weather floodlit sports pitch, a new teaching block with a specialist arts room, a performing arts centre and a new senior boarding house.

Person Specification

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills and competencies:

• Excellent organisation and administrative skills;
• Excellent presentational and inter-personal skills; clarity of expression orally and in writing;
• Excellent keyboard and information technology skills;
• The ability to work to tight deadlines;
• The ability to work as part of a larger school team;
• The ability and motivation to constantly improve own practice through self-evaluation and learning;
• The capacity to take initiatives and to see issues through to a satisfactory conclusion;
• The ability to be flexible, dedicated and trustworthy;
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Displays commitment to the protection and safeguarding of children and young people.

Job Specification

The Receptionist is responsible to the Bursar and shall:

1. Ensure the reception area is a tidy and welcoming environment and that school literature is on display;
2. Answer the telephone, divert calls and take messages, retrieve messages from the mailbox and disseminate as necessary;
3. Enter am/pm registration data daily onto SIMS system and follow up absences as required by the School's Attendance Policy;
4. Pre-enter onto registration any trips/visits/medicals/sporting fixtures;
5. Organise and distribute parcels;
6. When required set up group call;
7. Check the School’s generic email address and forward messages as appropriate;
8. Greet any visitors/guests visiting the school and ensure that the appropriate security identification procedures are observed;
9. Provide a quality service for bulk copying;
10. Arrange pupils travel arrangements in conjunction with the Matrons;
11. Ensure any correspondence regarding any pupil is stored on Sims;
12. Provide general secretarial and administrative support;
13. Help support exams, if required;
14. Forward any enquiries / issues to the Bursar;
15. Liaise with the other Receptionist to ensure an efficient and effective hand over each week.
16. To undertake training courses as appropriate to ensure that your knowledge and skills for your role are maintained and developed.
17. Any other tasks that may from time-to-time be reasonably required by the Headmaster or Bursar.

Hours & Remuneration of Work

The temporary appointment is for 15 hours per week, term time temporary vacancy starting as soon as possible.

The pattern of work will be Thursday and Friday 8am – 4pm with a 30 minute lunch break.

Flexible to do extra hours, if required.

The rate of pay is £13.05 per hour plus statutory holiday pay.

In line with current regulation you will, if you are eligible, be offered a workplace pension through NEST.

Equal Opportunity

Old Swinford Services Ltd welcomes applications for employment from all sectors of the community.

Suitability to work with Children

Old Swinford Services Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants are required to undertake an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check.

We reserve the right to close the vacancy before the advertised date if a large number of applications have been received.