Administrative Assistant – part time (CCF)
- Job title: Administrative Assistant - part time (CCF)
- Job Type: Part-Time (1 day per week/8 hours per day)
- Salary: £6,500 per annum
- Department: Combined Cadet Force
- Reporting to: Contingent Commander
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: ASAP
- Closing Date: 1 December 2023 at 5:00 pm
We are looking to employ a dynamic, highly-organised and enthusiastic person to help administer and plan the CCF programme at Highgate School; the successful candidate would support the contingent commander in planning inspiring camps and trips, oversee the administrative smooth-running of the cadets and maintain accurate records for the contingent on the central army system (Westminster), including skills qualifications, compliance and safe-guarding reports.
The job would involve close co-ordination with the CCF London Division and helping to administer a staff-based adult volunteer team. Highgate is committed to the wellbeing and development of everyone who works and studies here, and we strive for continual learning and improvement; the right candidate would be supported to undertake the relevant training to fulfil the requirements of the role, including School Staff Instructor training.
The Department
CCF is one of Highgate’s longest running co-curricular provisions; the CCF Army Contingent meets weekly to participate in a huge range of exciting and adventurous military themed activities. This long tradition at Highgate began as the ‘Volunteer Cadet Corps’ in 1892, being renamed in 1906 to the ‘Officers’ Training Corps’ and evolving again in 1948 to become the Combined Cadet Force we know today. Cadets follow a syllabus called the Army Proficiency Certificate (APC) which gets more challenging after passing each star level. APC is designed to be more practical, rather than classroom based, with a range of skills training within the areas of Fieldcraft, Drill, First Aid and Community activities. Members of CCF in Sixth Form can enrol on BTEC Public Services Level 2 National Diploma, equivalent to 4 GCSEs. The team is made up of teaching staff with long involvement in the CCF – some previously in the Contingent Commander (CCO) roles – and the newly-appointed SSI will work closely with the new permanent CCO. The cohort of pupils is currently around 50, with ambitions to grow; activities take place on Tuesday evenings and camps during some weekends and holidays.
Working with us
Highgate School is situated in one of the most attractive and sought after areas of North London, only a short journey from Central London and adjacent to Hampstead Heath. The hilltop site in Highgate Village is the historic site of the Senior School. A few hundred yards along Hampstead Lane in Bishopswood Road lie the Junior and Pre-Preparatory Schools and the extensive playing fields, adjacent to the open spaces of Kenwood and Hampstead Heath. The Northern Line underground station is a short walk away and it is four miles to Central London.
Working at Highgate offers the opportunity to be part of a vibrant and welcoming community, committed to academic excellence and the highest standards of pastoral care for its pupils. The Governors consider the development of excellence in the education offered to the pupils to be the underlying purpose of activities undertaken by all staff.
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, overseas police check if necessary and the Disclosure and Barring Service.
THE ROLE
The main purpose of this role will be to provide an effective administrative service and to support the School Secretary in a range of duties.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
The office environment and resources
• Working with the CCF Contingent Commander to produce and update a yearly programme for cadets, NCOs and Officers/Staff and ensure that all pupils are actively engaged according to School and MoD Policy
• Ensure that the Army database (WESTMINSTER) is kept up to date with current records
• Maintain all necessary paperwork and preparation for MOD inspections
• Act as Security Officer for the CCF (under the supervision of the Officer Commanding), in relation to the security of arms, ammunition, security systems, personnel, data handling compliance, documentation and inspections.
• To support in co‐ordinating Continuing Professional Development of staff involved in CCF.
• To support in ensuring that the contingent complies with the appropriate MOD and school safeguarding policies.
• Be responsible for Health and Safety in relation to all aspects of Highgate’s CCF including risk assessments and preparation for inspections
• To provide administrative support in the planning and running of all training, camps, field days and expeditions including booking and management of transport or vehicles where required
• Undertake all of the required administration, data collection and analysis for the Contingent including ensuring that the Contingent databases are regularly updated in line with Brigade policy
These duties and responsibilities are intended as a guide. They are not exhaustive: the Administrative Assistant will be expected to undertake any reasonable task or responsibility as required by the School Secretary or their representative.
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Skills/Experience
Essential
- Able to navigate requisite IT (training provided)
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with pupils, parents, staff and the wider School community.
- Excellent written skills and good attention to accuracy and detail.
- A professional, solutions-focused and proactive ‘can-do’ approach.
- Demonstrate excellent attention to detail, be well organised and able to operate independently under a broad direction.
Desirable
- Military and/or CCF/ACF experience
- Knowledge of ‘Westminster’ computer system
- Experience of working in the education sector
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 21% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 11% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.
Lunch | A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Staff wellbeing
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Charitable work and sustainability
As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure
- Closing Date: 1st December 2023
- Timing of interviews: w/c 4th December
Contact: Recruitment Team are happy to answer any questions about this post.
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Apply hereInclusion
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Please read before you apply
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities. DBS Privacy Policies.
Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview. DBS Code of Practice.
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.