An administrative assistant/administrator is responsible for providing administrative support for an office or department.
Day-to-day tasks could include:
- welcoming visitors to the school and dealing with their enquiries
- answering the telephone or a small switchboard
- administration relating to pupil attendance
- word processing
- managing post
- drafting letters, memos, reports, newsletters
- monitoring stationery supplies.
What skills do I need?
- excellent communication skills
- be highly organised
- have good time management skills
- enjoy working in a school environment
- be computer literate
- ability to prioritise work
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You should check with individual local authorities about the experience you will need for each job, as entry requirements may vary. Although there are usually no formal academic requirements, many schools will look for a good standard of education and experience working in an educational environment.
The Council for Administration (CfA) are responsible for developing qualifications for staff working in adminstrative roles. For more information visit the CfA website.
The level 2 Award, support work in schools, is suitable for all support staff in schools and it will help you to demonstrate an understanding of how schools work; child and young person development; safeguarding the welfare of children and young people; the importance of communication with adults and children and equality, and diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people. For more information visit our qualifications page.
Further information
There are many qualifications that are relevant to the role of administrative assistant. Visit the career development framework (CDF) to learn more.
Exams office staff are part of the support staff community whose role is to support teaching colleagues and learners. Those managing and administering exams have different titles, reflecting the type of role and responsibilities. The most common titles are exam manager, exam officer and exam administrator.
Exams office staff have to deal with the internal needs and concerns of staff and learners such as making entries, issuing exam timetables, setting up exam rooms and arranging invigilation cover while also dealing with external awarding bodies and other agencies.
Day-to-day tasks could include:
- liaising with heads of department, invigilators, teachers and learners
- making entries, drawing up examination timetables and dealing with queries
- ensuring special assessment arrangements are appropriately managed and implemented
- preparing, organising and supervising examinations in accordance with the regulations laid down by examination boards
- attending result days, dealing with certification issues and distributing documentation to staff and learners, and
- validating statistical data, and checking examination fees and charges.
What skills do I need?
- excellent communication skills
- be highly organised
- good IT and office skills
- ability to work under pressure
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
Examinations officers have often had experience of working in schools. Although much of the training is on the job, there are qualifications and training courses available specifically for those in this role. These can be identified by visiting the CPD database.
The Examination Officers' Association (EOA) has developed a number of courses applicable to exam officers. These can be identified by visiting the CPD database.
The level 2 Award, support work in schools, is suitable for all support staff in schools and it will help you to demonstrate an understanding of how schools work; child and young person development; safeguarding the welfare of children and young people; the importance of communication with adults and children and equality, and diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people. For more information, visit our qualifications page.
Further information
For more information on how you can gain the skills and qualifications to become an examinations officer, visit our CPD database.
Secretaries provide a range of high level administrative support to the school. A school secretary would normally have working contact with headteachers and teachers, parents, governors and visitors to the school.
Secretaries are often responsible for sending key educational data about the school to the Department for Education (DfE).
Although they may differ from school to school day-to-day tasks could include:
- producing memos, letters, invoices and other documents on a computer
- answering the telephone, meeting visitors and dealing with the post
- looking after the office diary
- arranging meetings, seminars or conferences, and maintaining filing systems and office supplies.
- Entering and managing data
- Supporting the head teacher in a range of high level administrative tasks
What skills do I need?
- be highly organised
- excellent communication skills, and have good time management skills
What qualifications and experience will employers look for?
You do not always need specific qualifications to become a secretary, but you may have an advantage with GCSEs in English and maths, or a work-based qualification in administration, computer skills or word processing.
The Council for Administration (CfA) are responsible for developing qualifications for staff working in adminstrative roles. For more information visit the CfA website. Qualifications specific to secretaries can be identified by visiting the Register of Regulated Qualifications.
The level 2 Award, support work in schools is suitable for all support staff in schools and it will help you to demonstrate an understanding of how schools work, child and young person development, safeguarding the welfare of children and young people, the importance of communication with adults and children and equality, diversity and inclusion in work with children and young people. For more information visit our qualifications page.
Further information
There are many qualifications that are relevant to the role of school secretary. Visit the career development framework (CDF) to learn more.
School business managers (SBMs) are financial and administrative managers in schools; they are also often referred to as bursars or school administrators. School business managers work to ensure that the school’s resources and facilities are used efficiently. More information can be found by visiting the National College website and also within the SBM pages of the TDA website.