School secretary

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

• a college course
• working towards this role
• applying directly

Entry requirements:

College

You could complete a college course to get some of the skills needed for this job. Courses include:

• Level 2 Award in Support Work in Schools
• Level 3 Diploma in Business Administration
• T level in Management and Administration

Entry requirements:

• 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, for a level 3 course
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level

Apprenticeship

You can get into this job through a business administrator advanced apprenticeship or a school business professional higher apprenticeship.

Entry requirements:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

Work

You could start as an admin assistant in a larger school or multi-academy trust and work your way up to a post with more responsibility.

DirectApplication

You could apply directly to become a school secretary. Employers would expect you to have a good standard of general education and experience of office work.

You should be able to use common office software including spreadsheets. Knowledge of accounts packages would also be helpful, although employers may provide training in some of these.

Required Skills:

Digital skills : to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

Skills:

• administration skills
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• the ability to work well with others
• the ability to work on your own
• sensitivity and understanding
• to be flexible and open to change
• excellent verbal communication skills
• customer service skills
• knowledge of English language
• the ability to read English
• active listening skills
• excellent written communication skills
• knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
• the ability to organise your time and workload
• thinking and reasoning skills
• a desire to help people
• business management skills
• concentration skills
• a good memory
• the ability to work well with your hands

What you'll do:

School secretaries provide administrative support in schools.

In your day-to-day duties you could:

• act as the main contact for parents, governors and pupils
• answer queries face to face, by email and by telephone
• greet visitors and provide refreshments
• use IT systems to run financial reports and other data analysis
• keep paper and electronic records up to date
• use reprographic equipment
• order resources, pay invoices and bank cash
• administer school meal payment system
• attend appointments and meetings outside of normal working hours

Location : You could work in an office, in a reception area or at a school.

Salary:

Starter : £15,000
Experienced : £21,000

These figures are a guide

Working hours:

36 - 38 hours variable

Working Pattern is term-time attending events or appointments

Career Path:

With experience, you could progress to school business manager, or personal assistant (PA) to the headteacher.