AN INDEPENDENT CO-EDUCATIONAL DAY AND BOARDING SCHOOL FOR PUPILS AGED 7 TO 18 IN THE HEART OF SURREY
School Administrator Information for prospective staff
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About Freemen's Our mission is to inspire our people to learn, to lead and to make a difference. We believe that if we can motivate pupils and staff to always give their best, the School will continue to grow and thrive. Community engagement and our impact on the world beyond our walls are at the forefront of everything we do at Freemen’s. The School was founded in Brixton in 1854 to provide an education for the orphaned children of Freemen of the City of London before moving to the present site, Ashtead Park, in 1926. We have a magnificent site with modern buildings alongside the original Main House set in a stunning 57 acres of parkland. This idyllic setting further supports the wellbeing of our students and staff, as being here, in the park, makes coming to work a pleasure. It looks striking in every season and we are lucky to have a vast array of wildlife living in our woods. Today, Freemen’s is an independent day and boarding school for students aged 7-18, with a strong ethos of community and service in accordance with the values on which the School
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was founded. We are proudly co-educational and have been since 1854, which was radical at the time, and we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with our forward-thinking, progressive approach. You can expect stellar exam results and academic excellence, but that’s not all. The focus within the School is on every individual finding a path which is appropriate for them, be that in the classroom, on a sports pitch or in one of the many co-curricular activities we encourage our young people to throw themselves into. Our mission is built upon four pillars of the Freemen’s education: pastoral support, House activities, academic achievement, and our varied cocurricular programme (including sport) to ensure every student realises their potential to be able to learn, lead and make a difference. Freemen’s is a place where students are keen to learn and eager to engage in the wider aspects of life at our School. Teachers at Freemen's embody our principles for excellent classroom practice, offering innovative and forward-thinking approaches, enabling us to be a beacon of learning and teaching. We take risks in the pursuit of excellence by being brave and radical, willing to challenge the status quo. Through our 1-1 iPad programme, we
About Freemen's aim to create discerning users of technology, so that staff and students can thrive in the modern dynamic world. We do all of this, in an environment where staff feel supported, by investing in life-long learning through research-led enquiry and building learning communities. The emphasis in the Junior School is on Kindness, Honesty and Fun and the Senior School picks up that message with a pastoral programme that emphasizes the importance of a strong, supportive community in which every member, staff and student, feels respected, supported and valued. As a result, we are able to support our young people to successfully navigate the tests of life they face every day. The School is one of four independent schools managed by the City of London Corporation (The City). The City provides financial support in the form of bursaries and scholarships. Other links with the City of London and the Livery Companies are strong, which presents opportunities for staff to attend events at Guildhall and elsewhere in the City, as well as the possibility of gaining the honour of the Freedom of the City of London. Transport links are good; the School is a mile from Ashtead station with regular services to Epsom and London and south to Leatherhead and Guildford. The M25 junction 9 is a sevenminute drive from the School.
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Information about the role Purpose of post To undertake particular responsibility for the provision of administrative and secretarial support in accordance with school priorities as determined by the Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the Headmaster, with particular responsibility for the administration of school trips and calendar. Main duties and responsibilities • To be responsible for the administration of all school trips and visits including collection of monies, and collation of precise emergency contacts and vital medical information of pupils as a report for trip leaders. •
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To continually review administrative systems and processes, particularly in respect of trips and visits and to make recommendations for improvements, developing, communicating, and implementing changes as required.
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To be the DofE verifier, responsible for verifying all awards once they have been signed off by the Senior DofE Coordinator. Responsible for entering all of those signed up to DofE onto the e-DofE site and helping with the general administration of the scheme.
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To support school events, including Open Day, Open Evenings and/or Exams (which may take place on a Saturday (with notice).
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To provide cover on reception areas when needed, for a minimum of two hours per week.
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To maintain a detailed knowledge of school procedures, operations, practices, organisations and contacts to enable the postholder to undertake the particular duties of the Receptionist/Administrator/Senior School Administrator and as required.
To administer the school calendar, verifying all entries alongside the Deputy Head. In conjunction with the Deputy Head, manage the organisation of the school’s annual City Visit, arranging transportation, group bookings with venues, catering needs, and the provision of information for staff, parents and pupils, dealing with queries as required. To assist the Deputy Head and Office Manager in the running of the school's Prize Day where appropriate.
Job description - School Administrator
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The postholder may be required to undertake a range of administrative tasks commensurate with the salary grade.
Other points • Actively seek to implement and comply with the school’s Safeguarding policies and procedures and to demonstrate a commitment to the safety and welfare of children. •
Implement the City of London’s Occupational Health and Safety Policy in relation to the duties of the post, and at all times give due regard to the health and safety of all members of the School and reporting breaches as they arise.
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Report all accidents using appropriate reporting mechanisms and report any concerns regarding health and safety and safe working practices.
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Implement the City of London’s Equal Opportunity Policy and promote equality of opportunity in relation to the duties of the post.
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Undergo additional training as deemed necessary.
Revision of Job Description • According to the development and requirement of the school, job descriptions may need to be reviewed and updated periodically after consultation with the job holder.
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Person Specification Please find below the qualifications, experience and techincial skills required to undertake this post. Each criterion will be assessed at application (A), interview (I) or test (T) as indicated below. Professional qualifications, relevant education and training • Good general level of education as indicated by GCSE/O Levels (or equivalent) including English and Maths. (A) • Sound secretarial skills to include the ability to draft and produce correspondence and minutes, manage diaries, organise filing systems and liaise with senior officers and parents on a variety of matters in connection with the business of the school. (A, I) • Ability to contribute to the review and development of administrative systems and procedures in a school setting. (A, I) • Ability to quickly acquire a good knowledge of school procedures, operations, practices, contacts in order to be able to work flexibly in accordance with school priorities. (A, I) • Excellent written communication skills in order to compose correspondence, minutes of meetings and write content for various school communication channels including newsletters and the website. (A, I, T) • Excellent oral communication skills in order to liaise with senior and academic staff, parents and local organisations on a variety of school issues and the efficient business of the school. (A, I) • Ability to provide high quality customer services in person and on the telephone. (A, I) • Proven ability to work under own initiative and manage own workload with little supervision. (A, I) • Demonstrable ability to meet targets over a sustained period of time without compromising on the quality or accuracy of the work produced. (A, I) 6
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Demonstrated understanding of equality of opportunity and how to apply this in relation to the duties of the post. (A, I)
Experience required, including budget holding experience (if appropriate) • Previous experience in a secretarial, administrative role undertaking duties such as the drafting of correspondence and communications, diary management, organisation and maintenance of confidential filing systems, and liaison with external contacts in support of organisational objectives (A). • Experience in the provision of customer services such as dealing efficiently and effectively with the public/clients in person and on the telephone (A). • Experience of using and maintaining databases (A). • Experience of working with children and a demonstrable commitment to the safety and welfare of children (A) Technical skills Intermediate knowledge of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, the ability to use databases and 45 - 55 wpm Typing Speed. (A, I, T) Note to applicants The qualifications, experience and technical skills will be used in the decision making process for recruitment. Please give examples of how you have exhibited these behaviours in your previous role(s). It is essential you address the criterion marked as (A) on your application form in the section for supporting information. Be as specific as possible, we cannot guess or make assumptions, but will assess your application solely on the information provided. Try to provide evidence, by examples, where possible, of skills, knowledge and experience contained in this person specification.
"This friendly, grounded and well-run school takes the pressure off getting academically bright young things into senior schools and seems to a knack of making challenging work seem fun." The Good Schools Guide WWW.FREEMENS.ORG
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Professional expectations of staff Safeguarding Staff will be kind, fair and respectful to students and each other, challenge others when they are unkind, unfair or disrespectful and have the highest regard for the students’ safety and their safeguarding duties, whether on or off the school premises. Appearance Smart professional dress, or appropriate co-curricular clothing, at all times. Availability Prompt attendance during the School’s operating hours and a commitment to completing School business is expected. Awareness and use of Freemen’s policies Staff will be able to access and use policies as necessary, and read and act upon them appropriately. Behaviour Staff will establish Freemen’s as a place of learning and will determine clear boundaries of behaviour, based on mutual respect and trust. Staff will have high expectations of students and will manage their behaviour effectively.
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Collective responsibility Staff share collective responsibility for Freemen’s standards, reputation and property, should treat them with respect and care, and insist others do likewise. Communication Staff will expect high standards of communication from students and will, in turn, demonstrate accurate, timely and appropriate communication when dealing with students, parents and colleagues. Ethics and behaviour Staff will uphold public trust in the profession and the reputation of Freemen’s by maintaining high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside School. They will be respectful and tolerant of the rights of others, including colleagues, and not undermine fundamental British values, including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. They will ensure that their personal beliefs are not expressed in ways which exploit pupils’ vulnerability or might lead them to break the law.
Learn, lead and make a difference Leaders Staff will be leaders in the School, exercising good judgement and modelling the behaviour and habits that are expected of the students. Learners Staff will show and share a passion for their subject or discipline(s). They will seek to develop as professionals and as specialists, will be open to feedback and will seek opportunities to collaborate with colleagues and engage with relevant research. Planning Teaching staff will have a sense of where the lesson fits within the scheme of work and plan well-structured lessons using an appropriate range of pedagogies. Use of feedback Staff will seek to use feedback for themselves and if appropriate, their students and will complete assessments and reports in a timely fashion in the appropriate manner and style.
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How to apply Applicants should send a letter of application and a completed application form to the Headmaster via CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk, by 12pm on Monday 20 November 2023. Shortlisted candidates will be called for interviews that will take place on Thursday 23 November, though candidates are asked to note that Freemen’s retains the right to interview and appoint at any time during the process. Freemen’s acknowledges receipt of all applications, if you have not received confirmation of the safe receipt of your application within two working days please call the School or email CLFS-Recruitment@cityoflondon.gov.uk to check on its status. The successful candidate must be able to satisfy the City of London’s health requirements and a confidential medical assessment by the City of London’s Medical Officer is required. The City of London Freemen’s School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all employees to share this commitment. The successful applicant must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service (Enhanced Disclosure).
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"Friendly was the single most uttered word used to describe the school by students, while parents report that their offspring are happy. ‘Kind’ and ‘non-judgemental,’ we also heard, with support on tap." The Good Schools Guide WWW.FREEMENS.ORG
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Your benefits
Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) Contributory defined benefit
City of London benefits:
• CityBenefits - discounts and cashback. • Wellbeing resources. • Sponsorship to become a Freeman of the City of London.
Sports and Leisure: Family friendly Significantly enhanced maternity, adoption and shared parental leave entitlement
Free lunch and refreshments The option to join Supper Club at a subsidised rate
Annual Leave 25/29 days (subject to grade) plus bank holidays increasing with service.
Cycle to work scheme Up to £3,000 salary sacrifice
• Discounted gym membership. • Free use of the fitness suite. • Staff social and sporting opportunities including pilates, yoga and five-a-side football. • Free staff swimming and weekend family swimming for staff.
Learning and Development:
• In-house and externally run CPL • Enquiring Schools project • Support for professional development appropriate to the role including Apprenticeships/Masters.
Season Ticket Loan Wellbeing: Free parking on site
Access to on-site facilities
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• Up to 2 days’ paid leave for volunteering. • Cash back on private health care treatment. • Access to on-site Medical Centre. • Staff Wellbeing Committee. • Confidential Employee Assistance for staff and their families. • Emergencies-only approach to out of hours email. 13
Campus Map
Click here to view 360 Tour of campus 01. Visitor parking 02. Reception 03. Philp House 04. Science and Technology 05. Medical Centre 06. Art and Design 07. Stable Block 08. Ferndale Theatre 09. Dining Hall 10. Haywood Centre 11. Junior School (Kemp House) 12. Boarding (Walbrook House)
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13. Music School and Recital Hall 14. Main House 15. Sports Hall 16. Swimming Pool 17. Cricket Pavilion 18. Tennis and Netball Courts 19. Astro Pitch 20. Cricket Nets 21. Cricket Pitch 22. Italian Garden 23. Rugby and Football Pitches 24. Green Room
25. Fire Assembly Point 26. Bus Stop 27. Upper Car Park 28. Lower Car Park 29. Service Gate (KT21 1JB)
"A down-to-earth, friendly school that’s comfortable in its own skin rather than relentlessly trying to show off its most polished side – and is all the better for it. Just the ticket for parents after a high-quality, stress-free route for their academically bright sons and daughters from age 7 right through to 18. Almost unique around here." The Good Schools Guide WWW.FREEMENS.ORG
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