“The Unicorn School has been truly lifechanging for my child and me.”Application packOffice Assistant (maternity cover)Office Assistant (maternity cover)About the SchoolAt The Unicorn School, we transform the lives of children with learningdifferences and those of their families. With a personalised curriculum, highly qualified staff, cutting-edge technologyand kindness, we create the conditions for children to thrive and families toflourish. We are a small, independent school for children aged 6 to 17 years. Wespecialise in helping children who are struggling to achieve their potential inmainstream education. These children might have a diagnosis of dyslexia,dyscalculia or dyspraxia, often with co-occurring Autism or ADHD. This canpresent as difficulties with language, speech, literacy or numeracy that are likelyto have a significant impact on their self-esteem, happiness and futureopportunities. www.unicornoxford.co.ukwww.unicornoxford.co.ukExpansionIn 2024, we received 375 enquiries for 24 places from parents who aredesperate to find a school that can support their child or from six localauthorities who have hundreds of children on their waiting lists. Therefore, thereis a clear need to expand.In September 2025 we opened our new school building, The Ock Building. Thissecond site is opposite our existing school, enabling us to double in size. The sitealso means that we can offer a post-16, life skills provision for the first time. This expansion presents exciting opportunities for our staff as well as ourstudents and their families as we grow our student body and breadth of ourcurriculum, especially at KS4.Office Assistant (maternity cover)Benefits of working with us www.unicornoxford.co.ukSupportive staff, and an involved community who are committed to schoolimprovement, who will work with you to achieve your goalsStudents who are enthusiastic and highly motivated with a love of learningExcellent premises and well-equipped classrooms providing a modern andtechnologically advanced learning environment for students. The opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of our studentsA competitive salary (including a staff laptop) and pension contributionsProfessional support to continually progress and develop your careerAccess to Simply HealthOffice Assistant (maternity cover)Job descriptionwww.unicornoxford.co.ukThe Unicorn School is seeking to appoint an enthusiastic, friendly OfficeAssistant to support the office team. The successful applicant will be engagedwith a variety of responsibilities which include general reception andadministrative duties, assisting with organising pupil transportation and schoolevents, supporting the Head Teacher and Bursar/HR Department as required andacting as a first aider.The ideal candidate will have had some relevant experience and have stronginter-personal skills. The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:an excellent telephone manner and experience working in receptionthe ability to work in a busy office environment and willingness to adapt tochangegood administrative and IT skills and a willingness to embrace newtechnologiesexperience of working with a Management Information Systems (MIS) Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Excel, Word & TeamsThe ability to work both independently and as part of a teamFirst Aid certification (or willing to attend a course)An awareness and understanding of the safeguarding and welfare of childrenand a clear commitment to delivering best practice in safeguardingPlease note, we have a therapy dog in the school.Key Responsibilities:Receiving and directing incoming calls via telephone switchboard, answeringroutine enquiries, forwarding on queries & taking messagesMonitoring the office email account, answering general queries andredirecting where necessaryMeeting, greeting, and signing in visitors.Making tea and coffee for visitors, preparing for meeting lunches as requiredReceiving and signing for deliveries, opening & directing incoming post –processing outgoing postOffice Assistant (maternity cover)www.unicornoxford.co.ukOrdering of goods & services for admin & academic staff and key events,purchasing weekly staff refreshments (eg Tesco delivery)Scanning, printing & copying documentsKeeping the office stationery cupboard stocked and tidy, ensuring sufficientpaper & replacement toner cartridges in stock.Assisting the HR department with staff induction and training recordsEnsuring reception is kept tidy.Supporting with set up of current parent open/coffee morningsArranging repairs for office equipment (photocopiers etc)Assisting in the management of the school MIS ensuring the school MIS iskept updated with parent/child information and relevant documentsuploaded/support parents with user access passwords/queriesLiaising between parents & staff regarding child absences & ensuring the MISam/pm register completed accurately by staff in a timely manner to be ableto create the fire list & provide attendance reporting to Head, SMT, parentsand local authoritiesEnsuring the Microsoft shared calendar is kept updated with key eventsUpdating staff/parents regarding breakfast/after school club attendanceSupport staff regarding school trips & events e.g. coach booking,communications, using Microsoft Forms to gather parent information for atripSupporting the Unicorn minibus driver with any queries relating to children tobe transported & handling parent queries/communications relating to TheUnicorn minibus serviceLiaising with and supporting generally the am/pm Joint Bus Service escortsand pm taxi escorts to update on pupil absences/queries daily – maintainingan up-to-date pupil list.Acting as first aider to pupils, staff and visitors where required, liaising withstaff & parents when a child is unwell Fire warden duties (training provided)Ad hoc tasks as directed by the Office Manager or HeadteacherAssist with school events as requiredThe postholder may be required to do other duties appropriate to the level ofthe role, as directed by the Headteacher or line managerOffice AssistantQualifications, Experience and SkillsCategoryEssential (E)Desirable (D)Ability and willingness to handle basic first aid queries (trainingavailable if required)EProfessional and ExperienceExperience of school administration functionsD  Knowledge and Skills  Excellent literacy and numeracy skillsEIT skills – Use of Microsoft Outlook, Teams, Excel and Word EIT skills - Familiarity with school MIS /School CommsDExcellent verbal and written communication skillsEExcellent administration skillsEAble to work to manage a varied workload and work to deadlines EAbility to work under pressure and manage time effectivelydemonstrating the ability to prioritise important or time criticaltasksEWilling to be responsible for your own professional developmentand to disseminate best practice to colleaguesEHighly motivated, clear-thinking and principledEAbility and willingness to handle basic first aid queries (trainingavailable if required)EAn excellent communicator being able to build successfulrelationships with all groups of students, staff, parents andprofessionals from outside of the schoolEOffice Assistant (maternity cover)The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of childrenand young people and expects all employees and volunteers to share thiscommitment. At all times the Office Assistant will: Help to safeguard the children’s wellbeing and maintain public trust in theteaching profession. Help to provide a safe environment in which the children can learn. Help to identify children who may need extra support or who are suffering, orare likely to suffer, significant harm.Promptly raise any concerns to the School’s Designated Safeguarding Leadand work with other services as needed. Attend the relevant child safeguarding training and other mandatoryinductionCommitment to Safeguarding and WelfareOffice Assistant (maternity cover)Making an applicationApplication FormCVs are not accepted as part of the application process. If you wish to beconsidered for this post, please complete the application form, providing fulldetails of your education and employment history, including any unpaid orvoluntary work. Where there are gaps in your employment, please state thereasons why (eg. gap year, career break, unemployment etc).You will note that we require details of two referees, one of which must be yourcurrent or most recent employer.Suitability for this PositionThis section of the form is very important. It gives you an opportunity to explainwhy you are applying and why you are the best person for this job. Use theinformation provided in this application pack as your guide, and give specificexamples, where possible, to demonstrate how you match the requirements forthis post.Please remember to sign the declaration on the final page of the applicationform.Please return your completed application form to:recruitment@unicornoxford.co.uk marked for the attention of AlisonWoodworth-Sturla.Alternatively, if you are submitting a hard copy application, please post to:FAO Diane KenyonThe Unicorn School20 Marcham RoadAbingdonOX14 1AAwww.unicornoxford.co.ukOffice Assistant (maternity cover)Interview and selection processThose candidates who meet all the requirements for the post will be shortlistedand details of the interview programme will be confirmed in writing.As part of the selection process, in addition to your skills and knowledge againstthe requirements of this role, specific questions will be asked to assess yoursuitability to work with children.Under the Equality Act 2010, we are legally required to consider makingreasonable adjustments to ensure that disabled people are not disadvantaged inthe recruitment and selection process. We are therefore committed to meeting,wherever possible, any needs you may specify on the application form. Pleasecontact the school if you need to discuss this in any detail.We will consider any reasonable adjustments under the terms of the Equality Actto enable an applicant with a disability (as defined under the act) to meet therequirements of the post.Induction and continuous professional developmentThe Headteacher and School Governing Body are committed to ensuring yourwell-being and continuous professional development in this role. Onappointment, the Head Teacher will discuss an appropriate induction programmewith you which will help familiarise you with the culture of the school, localpractices and policies.You will be offered the opportunity to further develop your professionalknowledge by participating in local training events and, where appropriate,working towards further qualifications such as NVQs. Support staff employees new to The Unicorn School will be subject to aprobationary period of 6 months.www.unicornoxford.co.ukOffice Assistant (maternity cover)ReferencesIf you are shortlisted, we will normally take up references before the interviewdate; however there is an option to decline this on the application form. If you donot give permission to contact your referees prior to interview, we will onlycontact them should an offer be made and accepted. One of your referees must beyour current or most recent employer. Two satisfactory references must bereceived before we confirm any offer of an appointment. The information werequest will relate to salary, length of service, sickness and absence record,skills and abilities, suitability for the job, disciplinary record and suitability towork with children. Copies of references, or references addressed “to whom it may concern”, will notbe accepted. On receipt of references, your referees may be contacted to verifyany discrepancies, anomalies, or relevant issues as part of the recruitmentverification process.Pre-employment checkswww.unicornoxford.co.ukDisclosure & Barring ChecksEmployment at this school is subject to an enhanced check with the Disclosure &Barring Service. Registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority willalso be a requirement prior to confirming an offer of employment.Under the Rehabilitation ofOffenders Act 1974 (ExemptionAmendment) Order 1986, thereare a number of jobs where wemust take account of convictions,even though they are ‘spent’. Allposts at this school are regardedas such.However, spent and/or unspentconvictions may not necessarilymake you unsuitable for anappointment.Office Assistant (maternity cover)Right to Work in the United KingdomUnder the Asylum and Immigration Act 1996, it is a criminal offence to employanyone who is not entitled to live or work in the United Kingdom. Applicants canexpect us to ask for proof of this at interview stage, where you will be asked toprovide some original documentation to confirm that you are eligible to workwithin the UK. Photographic proof of identity will also be required.Medical AssessmentA satisfactory medical form will be required before we confirm any offer of anappointment. If there are concerns, a medical assessment will be required.www.unicornoxford.co.ukValidation of QualificationsAll short-listed candidates will be asked to bring original certificates of relevantqualifications to interview. These will be photocopied and kept on file and may beconfirmed as genuine with the relevant awarding bodies.Office Assistant (maternity cover)