THE SCHOOL
Fettes College is a leading HMC co educational boarding and day school close to the heart of Edinburgh. It has a strong tradition of academic, sporting and cultural excellence underpinned by outstanding pastoral care. Fettes opened its doors in 1870 and became fully co educational in 1980: it is now an independent school of some 770 students. There are ~590 students in the Senior School (13 18 years) and ~190 students in the Preparatory School (7 13 years). The academic staff in the College consists of the Head and ~90 members of the Common Room. Our Prep School shares the same site and consists of a further ~30 teaching staff.
The school stands on a magnificent site of 100 acres, but still within walking distance of Edinburgh’s city centre. The historic main building holds the Chapel, Library, the English, Classics and History Departments as well as the Medical Centre and two boarding houses. A large purpose built teaching block (the Spens Building) houses Art, Modern Languages, Mathematics, Economics, Geography, and Music. The Theatre, Science Laboratories and Dining Hall are adjacent. The Preparatory School and seven further boarding houses (including Craigleith, a purpose built U6th House) are also on the campus. Our sports facilities (including extensive playing fields, two all weather pitches and a private Health Club) are excellent.
As well as our teaching staff we employ over 220 Operational Staff across many departments, including Estates, Security, Housekeeping, Finance, Admissions and Marketing with a pervading sense of community amongst staff, students and parents alike.
THE AIMS OF THE COLLEGE
Fettes College will ensure that our students:
• Feel valued and respected as individuals
• Receive the highest possible quality of education, engaging them in rigorous and relevant opportunities in a dynamic curriculum that creates lifelong learners
• Feel safe, have a sense of personal worth, are thoughtful and considerate of the needs of others, while possessing a willingness to take on responsibility
• Are encouraged to stretch and challenge themselves
• Develop a sense of self confidence, integrity, emotional resilience, loyalty, good manners, leadership skills and teamwork
• Value a sense of community
• Are surrounded by inspirational caring staff
• Feel represented and are provided with equal opportunities regardless of gender, identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity or religion.
THE ROLE
An opportunity has arisen for a professional Receptionist on a part time/term time basis (Saturday mornings). This is a customer facing role therefore the postholder should be confident and presentable with an excellent telephone manner.
Reporting directly to the School Secretary, you will perform various administrative duties in addition to answering calls and welcoming visitors to Fettes College.
Key aspects of Role
• Ensuring Callover (Reception) is fit to receive visitors and offers a welcoming environment
• Answering calls timeously and courteously and transferring them appropriately and ensuring messages left overnight are answered or forwarded to the relevant person as soon as possible
• Welcoming and dealing with visitors and callers politely and with discretion
• Ensuring incoming mail is collated and sorted for distribution and outgoing mail is similarly collated and franked ready for collection.
• Arranging taxis for staff and visitors as necessary
• Assisting with administrative tasks as required, always bearing in mind the importance of presenting a tidy and welcoming environment
Other duties as required to ensure the smooth and professional running of Reception.
PERSON SPECIFICATION Experience
• Ability to work independently and work well with colleagues
• Excellent inter personal skills
• IT literate across a broad range of common Microsoft applications specifically Outlook, Word, and Excel
Personal Qualities
• Approachable, friendly, and open manner for interaction with students, parents and staff
• Confidentiality, discretion, diplomacy and integrity
• Confident and friendly telephone manner
• Attentive and helpful
• Smart and professional in presentation
The salary will be competitive and will, to an extent, depend on the experience of the successful candidate.
If eligible, you will be opted into the Fettes Trust Non Teaching Staff Pension Scheme after 3 months service. This scheme is a money purchase one and full details of it and your options will be made available to you prior to your opt in date. The Fettes Trust will contribute to the scheme and your contribution will be subject to the minimum overall combined employer and employee contribution limits set by the Pensions Regulator. In addition, Fettes have in place an opportunity to receive a contribution of 10%, dependent on personal contributions.
Parking is free of charge within the campus grounds.
Hours of works are Saturdays 8.30 am to 12.30 pm.
Life insurance (2 x base salary) plus an excellent Employee Assistance Programme.
New staff at Fettes join a friendly and supportive team with a vibrant mixture of age and experience. We value every member of staff’s contribution to the life of the school.
APPLICATION PROCESS
To apply please submit your CV and a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role via email to: recruitment@fettes.com
If you would like further information prior to applying for this role, please contact Mrs Yvonne Taylor, School Secretary on 0131 311 6732.
An offer of employment will be subject to two satisfactory references being obtained from your referees and a clean report being obtained on you from the Disclosure Scotland PVG Scheme in view of the contact you will have with children during your normal duties.
Closing date for applications is Friday, 28th October 2022. Preferred start date is Saturday, 5th November 2022.
We are keen to welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds into our staff body. If you would like a friendly conversation with an employee who identifies as an ethnic minority, please feel free to contact Sara Medel Jiménez (s.medeljimenez@fettes.com) who will be happy to share her experience of Fettes College.
