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School Administrative Assistant

Do you want to become a School Administrative Assistant? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

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School administrative assistants are responsible for the office work in a school. The work varies between jobs, but assistants may:

• type and word process letters, reports and other documents
• work on reception, answer the telephone and relay messages
• file records and order stationery, supplies and equipment
• handle cash and bank money
• deal with the post - sorting incoming mail, stamping or franking outgoing post and keeping the post book
• photocopy and staple documents
• complete statistical returns and reports
• issue bus passes and travel tokens, and record dinner money
• enter information on to computers.

Full-time administrative assistants usually work 37 hours a week, from Monday to Friday. Many of them work during school term times only, for around 40 weeks a year. Part-time work and job sharing are possible. Administrative assistants spend some time sitting at a desk or workstation in the school office.

Salaries range from at least £10,500 a year for a new assistant, up to £16,000 or more for an experienced assistant.

A school administrative assistant should:

• have good communication skills, both spoken and written
• be able to get on well with pupils, staff and parents
• be able to work with figures and be confident in using IT
• be discreet and able to deal with confidential information
• enjoy working in a school environment.

There are around 4.7 million school administrative assistants employed throughout the UK in nursery, primary and secondary schools. They are employed either by local education authorities or by the schools themselves.

Entry requirements are usually at least three or four GCSEs/S grades (A-C/1-3) including English and maths, or equivalent qualifications. Employers normally require computer skills, particularly word processing. Previous experience of office work is advantageous. There is no upper age limit for entry and most entrants are adults with several years' experience in administration.

Apprenticeships may be available for young people. Administrative assistants may also attend short training courses. They may work towards NVQs/SVQs in Business and Administration at Levels 1 to 3.

Administrative assistants may become senior school administrative assistants or secretaries. Some become teaching assistants or learning support assistants. Others move into office work outside of the school sector.

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