The Opportunity

Manchester is a world-class, dynamic city celebrated for its pioneering industrial heritage, cultural influence, and its booming modern sectors in digital technology, media, and commerce. We are seeking a warm, highly organized, and professional School Receptionist to join an established voluntary controlled school. As the literal face and voice of our institution, you will manage our front-of-house operations with absolute precision, acting as the critical link between our families, visitors, and the school’s leadership and teaching faculties.

The School

Operating as a voluntary controlled (VC) secondary school, our historic site and grounds are held by a charitable foundation, but our curriculum delivery, admissions infrastructure, and employment policies are managed entirely by the Local Authority. This enables us to maintain a stable, traditional, and values-driven school culture while operating as a fully inclusive neighbourhood institution. We implement explicit, consistent school-wide behaviour systems that ensure our environment remains calm, safe, and orderly, allowing our reception team to manage visitor traffic and inquiries in a highly focused, professional atmosphere.

The Administrative Team & Front Office Culture

• You will join a highly collaborative, supportive Main Office team where efficiency, clear communication, and exceptional organization are celebrated.

• The department operates within a contemporary, well-resourced reception hub equipped with modern visitor management infrastructure and integrated school communication databases.

• Our administrative framework explicitly prioritizes a streamlined, calm workflow, ensuring that front-desk responsibilities are managed effectively during peak morning and afternoon periods.

• Staff benefit from standardized operating procedures, ensuring that telephone routing, visitor safeguarding checks, and student inquiries are handled smoothly and sustainably.

Core Responsibilities

1. Front-of-House Excellence: Greeting all parents, contractors, and external agency visitors with warmth and professionalism, ensuring our statutory safeguarding sign-in protocols are meticulously followed.

2. Switchboard Management: Directing incoming telephone inquiries and general email traffic efficiently, accurately routing messages to the relevant pastoral, academic, or leadership teams.

3. Student Support & Inquiries: Acting as a central point of contact for students during the school day, managing late arrivals, coordinating student passes, and assisting with general daily queries.

4. Administrative Assistance: Supporting the School Business Manager and wider office team with essential clerical duties, including data input onto the school's internal database (MIS), formatting parent notifications, and sorting incoming mail.

5. Emergency Coordination Support: Maintaining an accurate, real-time log of visitors and fire evacuation registers, ready to assist the operational team instantly in the event of an emergency drill.

The Successful Candidate We are looking for a proactive, resilient, and highly articulate individual who loves working with people and thrives in a fast-paced environment. Your profile should include:

• Proven Front-of-House Experience: Strong experience in a busy reception, customer service, or administrative role—ideally within an educational setting, though corporate or clinical backgrounds with transferable skills are highly valued.

• Exceptional Communication Skills: A calm, professional, and empathetic manner, with the ability to defuse complex situations and communicate clearly with children and adults alike.

• Technical Literacy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and a clear capacity to quickly adapt to specialized school database and visitor tracking systems.

• Meticulous Reliability: Excellent multi-tasking skills, a smart professional presentation, and an uncompromising approach to maintaining strict confidentiality and data protection laws.

Why Join Our Support Staff?

• The distinct satisfaction of working within an inclusive voluntary controlled school where your daily presence sets a welcoming, positive tone for local families and visitors.

• Comprehensive internal induction and continuous training covering school safeguarding practices, data handling regulations, and specialized educational software.

• The exceptional lifestyle benefits of living and working in Manchester—a culturally legendary city offering highly accessible public transport networks, affordable residential areas, world-class arts, and vibrant green spaces right on your doorstep.

• A supportive senior leadership and business team that respects support staff workload, provides a structured schedule, and values your vital role in the school's operational success.

How to Apply

Please submit your current CV to begin the application process.