School Administrator/Receptionist

OVERVIEW

St Mary’s Prep are looking for a part time School Administrator/Receptionist to provide a welcoming and professional first point of contact for visitors, parents, and staff, while ensuring the smooth running of the school’s reception and administrative functions. This role supports the Operations Manager and Senior Leadership Team with accurate, efficient, and timely administration.

Hours, Salary & Benefits:

Hours: 20 hours per week, term time only, fixed term contract role.

Hours can be worked 4 hours x 5 days or 5 hours x 4 days per week.

Contract from January 26 until July 26.

Salary: £9,304.02 pa (rising to £9,685.02 pa from Easter 2026)

Benefits:

• Means tested staff discount
• 5% employer pension
• Complementary lunch during term time cooked on site by our inhouse chefs
• 20.5 days pro-rata paid holiday + bank holiday
• Access to the group’s counselling scheme
• Personal accident at work cover
• Shopping discount card
• Access to fully funded apprenticeships
• Discretionary Christmas stand down
• Opportunities for career development within the Wishford group of schools

Job Description:

• Manage the reception area, greeting visitors and contractors professionally and ensuring security and safeguarding procedures are followed.
• Answer telephone calls promptly and handle general queries in a professional manner.
• Support prospective parent enquiries in the absence of the Admissions Manager.
• Maintain pupil attendance records, monitor registers, and produce attendance reports as required.
• Handle general school administration, including post, printing, and distribution of communications and pupil reports.
• Collect and record pupil data, including dietary and medical information, and ensure timely input into the MIS system.
• Provide administrative support for after-school and holiday club provision, including invoicing and registers.
• Assist with arrangements for educational visits, including bookings and preparation of paperwork.
• Provide administrative support to the Senior Leadership Team, including the Head, Operations Manager, Deputy Head, Finance Manager, DSL, and Head of Early Years.
• Liaise with the site team to maintain a tidy and well-stocked reception and communal areas.
• Act as the school’s First Aid Coordinator.
• Operate flexibly within the Admin Team, supporting other duties as required.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Excellent people skills with a friendly and professional manner.
• Strong customer care awareness and telephone etiquette.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Confident with IT and basic office software (Word, Excel, Outlook).
• Ability to plan, organise, and prioritise tasks effectively.
• Reliable, flexible, and able to work under pressure.
• Initiative and commitment to time-critical duties.
• Educated to GCSE level (Maths and English A*-C or equivalent).

Desirable:

• Experience in a reception or office administration role.
• Experience delivering excellent customer service.
• First Aid qualification.
• Customer Service training.
• Qualification in computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook).

Candidate Pack

Application Form

Location

St Mary’s Prep, 13 St Andrews Rd, Henley-on-Thames RG9 1HS

Important Info and How to Apply:

To apply, please Application Form to download an Application Form and email it toHR@wishford.co.uk. To apply using an online form please click here.

Please note all applications received after 19th December 25, will be responded to week commencing 5th January 26.

If you have any questions regarding this role, or need an adjustment when applying, please email Molly Rees at HR@Wishford.co.uk

Applications will be considered on receipt and we reserve the right to fill the role prior to the closing date. Early applications by prospective candidates are therefore strongly recommended.

The application is on a rolling basis, and interviews will take place at a time that is suitable for both you as the candidate and the School. We reserve the right to close the process at any time should a suitable candidate be found.

St Mary’s Prep is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service and an online search on application.

Wishford Education is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Appointments will be made solely on merit and will be made without regard to age, disability, gender, nationality, race, colour, ethnicity, or religion.

St Mary’s Prep:

We have been at the centre of education in Henley for almost 100 years, helping generations of children to learn in a stimulating and inspiring environment. Situated in the heart of the town in a beautiful Victorian townhouse, our vibrant co-ed prep school provides an outstanding education for children aged 3 – 11 years.

We go together:

We are stronger together, as one global schools’ system and operate with our collective goals in mind. We show up for one another, collaborate widely and share generously.

We believe we can:

We are driven and passionate about what we do. Determined learners, we progress fast by facing challenges and empower others to do the same. We take ownership of our responsibilities and always believe there is a way.

We stay ahead:

We embrace change to stay ahead, whilst maintaining high-standards and best practice. We anticipate the future, not afraid to do things differently, so both our students and our business thrive today and tomorrow.

We share a growth mindset:

We always consider the needs and perspectives of others. We are open to new ideas and ways of working, connecting to wider perspectives wherever possible.

Proud of our reputation for delivering academic excellence – the attainment of St. Mary’s pupils is above national age-related expectations in all subjects, and our more able pupils are challenged and stretched with a range of classroom work and additional activities.

Our pupils are well prepared to make the transition on to the next stage in their education, with children consistently receiving offers from their first choice of the most prestigious schools in the area, including scholarships and awards.

For more information please visit: www.stmarysprep.co.uk