CANDIDATE INFORMATION PACK PA to Head of Junior School
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A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD Thank you for your interest in LEH and in joining our team. At LEH, we combine ambition with joy to create something extraordinary. We want our pupils – and our staff – to reach for the highest goals in a happy and supportive environment. With almost a thousand pupils from Year 3 to Year 13, our girls are some of the most academically able in the UK. We have a moral imperative to help them realise their potential and to provide an education that gives them the confidence to feel brave and undaunted about their future achievements and impact. Our strategy, Facing the Future Undaunted, captures what we stand for: brave learning, imaginative thinking, and joyful discovery. We are one of the UK’s leading independent girls’ schools, and we are proud that our pupils consistently achieve some of the best results in the country – but what matters most is that they leave us feeling fulfilled, confident, compassionate, and ready to take on the world. We are looking for colleagues who share our excitement, our high expectations, our ambition and our sense of fun. If that resonates with you, we would love to hear from you. Best wishes Rowena Cole Head
ABOUT LEH ABOUT LEH
LEH is one of the UK’s leading independent schools, providing highly capable girls with a distinctive education that prepares them to take their place at the table, in the room and in the world, in their chosen sphere. As a selective independent school for girls aged 7 to 18, we believe that academic ambition and personal happiness are not mutually exclusive. In our classrooms, corridors, and across our 24 acres of playing fields, you’ll find a culture of relaxed excellence; a place where pupils are encouraged to think deeply, question boldly, and engage in spirited, respectful debate. Here, challenge is not something to be feared but embraced – because it comes with the right support. Our teaching goes beyond the curriculum, nurturing curiosity, independence, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime. We don’t just teach girls what to think, but how to think – equipping them with the critical thinking skills and intellectual confidence to thrive at school and far beyond. LEH was founded more than 300 years ago. Today, we are proud to be a school like no other with a rich history and a forward-focused vision.
ABOUT LEH ABOUT THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
With pupils from Year 3 to Year 6 (Form 1 to Upper 2), LEH Junior School is a place of energy, imagination and kindness, where girls are encouraged to ask questions, take risks, and discover their passions. Our Junior pupils are confident, curious and bursting with creativity. Our rounded ambition for every pupil means they experience outstanding academic progress, while developing the compassion, resilience and joy that will carry them into Senior School and far beyond. We are proud to be a happy, inclusive community where every girl is valued for who she is. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, on stage or beyond, LEH Junior pupils are supported to grow as learners and individuals in an environment full of possibility. Children join us in Year 3 from a mix of pre-preps and state schools across a wide geography thanks to our vast coach network. As an all-through school, there is no 11 Plus preparation to interrupt the adventure. Instead, our pupils move seamlessly through to the Senior School, a short skip and hop across the bridge in the beautiful 24-acre campus we all share.
OUR VISION
LEH provides girls with a distinctive education that prepares them to take their place at the table, in the room and in the world, in their chosen sphere.
OUR MISSION
LEH fosters a culture that supports every pupil to achieve excellence and success, both shared and individual, to be fulfilled, and to have significant impact in every way she chooses.
OUR VALUES •
We choose to succeed.
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We rise to challenges.
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We lift those around us.
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We inspire trust.
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We encourage personal agency.
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We embrace joy and laughter.
OUR STRATEGY
In an external environment as changeable and unpredictable as ours, knowing the strength, capability and character of our pupils, their ambitions for the future and the impact we know they will have in the years to come, is what fuels us with much-needed hope and optimism. This is what sits at the core of LEH’s strategy: Facing the Future Undaunted. It’s a declaration of our aims and ambition for LEH and for every pupil, and it sets out our collective goals as a school community over the next few years. Shaped with the involvement of our pupils, parents, staff, alumnae and governors, our strategy embodies all that we stand for as a school for highly capable girls. Our four core strategic objectives are what guide the work of everyone at LEH:
1. A Bold Voice for Girls’ Education
We will push forward the boundaries of educational knowledge, informed by research that focuses on delivering the best possible education for girls.
2. Academic Excellence in Every Area
We will deliver consistent academic excellence and provide an outstanding educational experience for bright girls, offering stretch and challenge in a context of kindness and care.
3. A Culture of Success for All
We will enable a culture of success for all, where everyone is expected to deliver their best for themselves and for each other.
4. A One-School Approach
We will harness the strength of being one school, delivering an outstanding joined-up education.
WHY WORK AT LEH?
Working at LEH means being part of something extraordinary.
• Exceptional Pupils: Our girls are highly
• Professional Growth: We invest in our
• Academic Excellence: LEH consistently
• E xceptional Facilities: From state-of-the-
capable, curious, spirited, and full of potential. They are a joy to teach and inspire us daily with their enthusiasm, kindness, and determination.
ranks among the top schools in the UK, with pupils achieving outstanding results and progressing to leading universities around the world.
• Innovation and Ambition: We don’t stand still. Our teaching and learning is forwardlooking, creative, and research informed. You’ll have the freedom to innovate – and the support to make it a success.
• A Community that Celebrates Joy
and Laughter: LEH is alive with energy.
Whether it’s on the sports field, in the theatre, the music studio, or in the lab, our pupils throw themselves into school life with passion and fun and we’re proud that they perform at the highest levels.
people. From leadership opportunities to excellent professional development, we want you to thrive here just as much as our pupils do.
art science labs to a professional theatre and outstanding sports complex, you’ll have the tools and spaces to bring learning to life, all set in 24 acres of green fields. We also have parking and bike racks on site for all staff.
• Reward and Recognition: Competitive
salary and benefits, complimentary tickets to outstanding drama and music productions, free lunch, and access to our superb facilities are just the start.
LEH is a place where careers are enriched, where talent is celebrated, and where joy is part of every day.
ABOUT LEH SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
All staff working at LEH will have some contact with children and will therefore be in regulated activity. Staff with teaching duties will be responsible for the pupils that they teach and may also have additional specific pastoral or other responsibilities for other pupils they do not teach. In addition, all staff will regularly interact with pupils who may seek assistance or otherwise interact with them whilst moving around LEH. In all cases, the post holder’s responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the pupils is to adhere to and ensure compliance with LEH’s safeguarding policies and procedures at all times. The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and LEH is therefore permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are “spent” unless they are “protected” under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children. LEH is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
OUR COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES At LEH, we believe in the power of education to transform lives and the importance of diversity to enrich these transformations. We are committed to creating and maintaining a welcoming and inclusive environment for all that celebrates the unique identities, abilities, and aspirations of each member of our school community.
PA to Head of Junior School
Responsible To
Head of Junior School
Main Purpose of Job
To provide confidential PA and administrative support to the Head of Junior School, while taking responsibility for key Junior School (JS) coordination, parent communication, marketing, leadership administration and whole-school events. Additionally, the PA to Head of Junior School will also line manage the Junior School Administrators.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Executive Support • • • •
Manage the Head of Junior School’s diary, meetings and correspondence. Handle confidential communication and documentation. Oversee JS Management Team (JSMT) diaries Prepare papers, agendas and briefing information for the JS Head as required.
Leadership & SMT Support • • • •
Coordinate leadership meetings, agendas and papers. Record and follow up actions from leadership meetings. Liaise with senior staff across JS and Senior School. Support SMT with assessment days, open events and other priority projects.
Communication & Office Coordination • • • • • •
Act as a key point of contact for parent queries. Monitor the JS office email inbox and ensure queries are allocated and followed up. Coordinate communication across the office team so that information is shared consistently. Coordinate JS social media and marketing content. Monitor absence requests and arrange letters/communications to parents. Support safeguarding and compliance administration as directed by the Headteacher.
Whole-School & Junior School Events • •
Coordinate Parents’ Evenings in Autumn and Spring terms. Coordinate logistics and communication for significant JS events.
Additional Coordination • • • •
Maintain oversight of key JS dates and deadlines. Coordinate annual administrative calendars and ensure key dates are communicated. Provide administrative cover and support across the office during particularly busy periods. Take ownership of agreed one-off projects on behalf of the JS Head/JSMT.
Managerial • • •
Ensure that the JS Office/Reception is properly staffed and work is delegated and performed efficiently. Ensure that all parent facing engagement by JS Office/Reception staff is professional and creates a positive image of the School. Line manage the JS administrators to include appraisals and other performance management activities.
Safeguarding • •
To adhere to School policy on safeguarding and ensure that the welfare of pupils is always prioritised. To undertake regular safeguarding training as required.
Person Specification
Essential
Educated to degree level, or equivalent experience.
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AF / I / R AF / I / R
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Knowledge or experience of SharePoint, CPOMS, SOCS, SIMS.
Assessment via application form/ interview/reference
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Experience in a similar role within the education sector. Previous track record of working as a PA/EA.
Desirable
✓
AF / I
Enthusiastic and able to take responsibility with a ‘can do’ approach.
✓
AF / I / R
Exceptional interpersonal skills, outstanding communication skills, discretion, and the ability to exercise good judgement. Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships within the organisation and with external stakeholders. Line management experience.
✓
AF / I / R
✓
AF / I / R
✓
AF / I
Excellent organisational skills with proven ability to prioritise, work to deadlines and manage competing demands. Highly literate with excellent written and oral communication skills.
✓
AF / I / R
✓
AF / I
Excellent team working skills and ability to work independently. Approachable and confident in dealing with a wide variety of people. Effective organisational and time management skills with willingness to work additional hours if required.
✓
AF / I / R
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AF / I
Excellent IT skills – MS Word, Excel & PowerPoint
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An ability to deal sensitively to staff, students, parents and other stakeholders, with an appreciation of the necessity to be discreet, respectful and able to uphold confidentiality at all times
✓
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An understanding and commitment to adhering to school policies on safeguarding
✓
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First aid trained/willingness to undertake training
✓
AF / I
Main terms of appointment
Hours of Appointment
This is a permanent, full-time post, working 37 weeks per year (34 termtime weeks, plus an additional 3 weeks to be worked during the school holiday period). The working hours will be 37.5 per week, from 8:00 am – 4.30 pm, Monday – Friday,
Notice Period
During the 4-month probationary period, the period of notice will be two weeks on either party. After successful completion of the probationary period, the notice will be 2 months or the statutory minimum, whichever is greater.
Salary
The pro rata salary for this post will be £34,312 (0.81 FTE), based on a full-time equivalent salary of £42,361 per annum.
Holiday Entitlement
You will be entitled to 33 days paid holiday (25 days leave, plus the 8 days’ bank/public holidays per annum). Your salary is calculated to cover your weeks of work and your holiday entitlement. As this is a term-time only post, you are not entitled to take any additional annual leave during term time.
Pension
Non-teaching staff may join The Lady Eleanor Holles School’s Stakeholder Pension Scheme. This is a defined contribution pension scheme; provided the employee contributes 6% of gross salary, the employer will contribute a further 10%.
ABOUT LEH OUR STAFF BENEFITS
Healthcare cash plan A healthcare cash plan is provided to help with the cost of everyday health expenses such as dental, optical, and physiotherapy treatments. Cycle to work scheme Take advantage of the Cycle to Work Scheme, enabling savings on bicycles and accessories while encouraging a healthier commute. Teachers’ Pension Scheme / LEH Group Pension Scheme Access to the generous Teachers’ Pension Scheme, ensuring long-term financial security in retirement. Non-teaching staff are eligible to join the LEH Group Pension Scheme, a defined contribution scheme (with life assurance) designed to support long-term financial wellbeing. Relocation assistance package Financial support is available to assist with the costs of relocating, making your move to the area as smooth as possible. School fee reduction Significant reductions in school fees are available for staff members with children enrolled at the school. LEH also has an arrangement for fee reduction for staff with children attending Hampton School.
Employee Assistance Policy A confidential Employee Assistance Programme offers free support, advice, and counselling for both personal and work-related matters. Free lunches, tea and coffee Complimentary lunches are provided daily, along with unlimited tea and coffee throughout the day. 24-acre campus with superb facilities Enjoy working in a beautiful 24-acre campus featuring modern teaching spaces, sports grounds, and tranquil outdoor areas. Free parking on site Free and secure on-site parking is available for all staff. On-site library access Staff have full access to the wellstocked on-site library for personal and professional development. Use of swimming pool Enjoy use of the school’s swimming pool at designated times, supporting health and wellbeing. Annual flu jab An annual flu vaccination is offered to staff on-site to help maintain health during flu season.
LEHSchoolOfficial @lehjuniors @LEHSchoolOfficial
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LADY ELEANOR HOLLES HANWORTH ROAD, HAMPTON, TW12 3HF personnel@lehs.org.uk T: 020 8979 1601 www.lehs.org.uk