Administrator - Special Requirements Team
- locations
- Guildford
- time type
- Full time
- posted on
- Posted Yesterday
- time left to apply
- End Date: October 22, 2025 (12 days left to apply)
- job requisition id
- R7074
At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.
Administrator - Special Requirements Team
Fixed Term Contract until May 2026
Guildford: £24,500 - £26,500
Hybrid Working
Do you thrive on making a real difference—especially for those who need it most? If you're looking for a role where your precision, empathy, and problem-solving skills directly impact students' futures, this is it.
As a Special Requirements Administrator at AQA, you’ll be at the heart of our mission to ensure assessments are accessible, inclusive, and equitable. You’ll support schools, students and exam centres by processing access arrangements and helping learners who are temporarily disadvantaged.
You will be responsible for:
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Processing applications and responding to queries from exam centres with informed decisions.
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Supporting schools with access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, timetable variations and special considerations for individual students for example readers, scribes and braille question paper queries.
This role offers more than just admin—it’s meaningful, high-impact work. You’ll have exposure to impactful work that supports learners of all abilities in a collaborative culture that values accuracy, empathy, and continuous improvement and flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance.
There are lots of company benefits, including a fantastic pension (up to 11.5% employer contributions), a 35 hour working week, 25 days annual leave with additional office closure in December and bank holidays on top, the opportunity to join lots of network groups (LGTBQ+, neurodiversity, disAbility, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic minority and more) an extensive online learning platform, days for volunteering, free parking and good transport links and more. AQA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and supported to thrive
You’ll thrive in this role if you:
Have strong interpersonal skills:
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Empathetic and attentive to detail, especially in sensitive situations
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A confident communicator who can engage with a wide range of people
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A genuinely kind and approachable team player
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Good telephone manner, with the ability to handle difficult or upsetting calls professionally
Are professional and decision-ready:
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Confident in making decisions
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Well-organised and able to manage competing priorities
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Works well under pressure and consistently meets deadlines
Have problem-solving and adaptability:
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Methodical in approaching problems to find effective solutions
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Flexible and customer-focused, even during busy periods
Have technical and digital competence:
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Proficient in IT, including Microsoft Office
At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone—regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background—is valued, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes, and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.
Ready to make a difference and be part of a team that genuinely cares about doing the right thing?
Apply now with your CV and a short cover letter telling us why this role speaks to you.
Applications will close at 23:59 on Tuesday 21 October but we will be reviewing applications as they are received, so apply sooner rather than later.
Interviews will be in the Guildford office so that you can see where you will be working.
#CRE23
Recruitment Agencies
We have a preferred supplier list (PSL) in place.
Unsolicited CVs will be treated as a gift. We will not be subject to or liable under your terms and conditions for agency fees.
Full Job Description
Summary
To administer all processes in the department including processing exam access arrangements and reasonable adjustments for students with learning/physical difficulties, processing special consideration applications and advising schools when students are temporarily disadvantaged in their exams.
To ensure that all tasks are completed accurately and within the challenging timelines.
To provide the highest level of customer support at all times and contribute as part of a team to continuous improvement in order to keep processes effective for the current environment.Landscape:
Special Requirements sits within Regulation & Compliance and works with Exams Officers and SENCos in centres as well as with colleagues in multiple teams across the business
Activities:
·Process access arrangement and special consideration applications within agreed timeframes.·Respond to a range of simple and complex queries from centres via email and phone calls.·Make informed decisions based on the framework of published legislation and guidelines.·Maintain a professional relationship with all customers by actively listening to their needs and responding appropriately.·Demonstrate an awareness of the possible impact on the business of current disability and·equality legislation.·Work with colleagues in other departments to ensure the best outcome for the individual learner.To be successful in this role, you will need to know:
·Customer focussed – have the ability to project a positive and helpful attitude·Be an effective communicator who can engage with a variety people·Have good attention to detail·Problem solver – have the ability to work methodically through a problem to reach a solution·Have the ability to be flexible to ensure delivery of consistently high quality customer service during periods of varying customer demand·Have empathy when communicating with centres regarding particularly sensitive situations·Know when to use questions to understand and clarify issues/queries·Be a proficient user of MS Office
About Us
AQA is an independent charity that sets and marks over half of all GCSEs and A-levels in the UK every year. Our purpose is to advance education by helping students and teachers to realise their potential. As part of AQA, you’ll very quickly appreciate the determination and unwavering passion to deliver this goal in everything we do. To help drive these ambitions, AQA invests in the development of its people by offering a range of professional development and learning opportunities leading to over 50% of our permanent roles being filled internally.
Reasonable Adjustments
If you have any requirements for reasonable adjustments in relation to the application, interview or the prospective job, please contact Faye Harrison (she/her) at fharrison@aqa.org.uk or on
07813 724161. We are asking for this information to make the process as equitable as possible for each candidate. Please note that Faye will not be able to assist you with enquiries regarding Temporary vacancies or non-recruitment enquiries. If you have query regarding Temporary vacancies, please contact:
Smart Working
We’re operating a smart working model. This allows for our colleagues to work from two days a week in one of our offices across England.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
AQA is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace where everyone - regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation, or background - is valued, respected, and supported to thrive.
Conflict of Interest
Please note that due to the confidential nature of our work, we are unable to employ people for our temporary roles who are currently a candidate for Key Stage 4 and 5 public examinations.
Safeguarding
AQA is committed to the safeguarding of children and adults at risk. We’re dedicated to reducing the risk of employing or contracting any person intent on abusing their position of trust, along with identifying and responding to any incident of alleged abuse from its employees or associates fairly and swiftly.
For more information on safeguarding at AQA please visit the AQA website here.
Contact
Temporary roles: temprecruit@aqa.org.uk
Permanent and Fixed Term roles: opportunities@aqa.org.uk