TRURO HIGH SCHOOL
Where  Girls  Thrive

INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATES

School Secretary / Receptionist

September 2025
Full Time – Term Time plus 3 weeks

Truro High School, Falmouth Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2HU | trurohigh.co.uk | recruitment@trurohigh.co.uk | 01872
272830

WELCOME

Dear Candidate

Thank you for your interest in the role of  School Secretary / Receptionist at Truro High School for
Girls.

Established in 1880, Truro High has a long and proud tradition of offering a first-class education to
girls in a setting where all are known and valued as individuals.

A winner of Small Independent School of the Year, and Finalist in Independent Girls’ School of the
Year, Truro High is a place where girls, aged 3-18, are given the support they need to thrive.

The school was founded by the future Archbishop Edward White Benson, then Bishop of Truro, to offer
education for girls within a Church of England setting. The father of girls, Bishop Benson wanted to
provide a school that would offer his daughters the same kind of opportunities and education that were
available in the area to boys. To this day, the school continues to be regarded as a leading girls’ school
and, in 2024, earned World Class School status for High Performance Learning.

Set just 15 minutes from the beach in Cornwall, the school is a firm-believer in taking full advantage of
the stunning local environment with sailing, surfing and climbing clubs among those making the most
of the Cornish coastline.

Truro High has a distinctive ethos, informed by its Anglican foundation, with the aim to create a safe
but stimulating environment which creates aspiration, values individuality and develops self-esteem.
Our staff seek to nurture and equip young women to face the challenges of a future where a global
perspective is needed, digital fluency is essential, and where adaptability, creativity, resilience and
critical self-reflection are key.

Judged “Excellent in all areas” by ISI, the school offers a warm and welcoming community and we
would encourage you to visit our website www.trurohigh.co.uk to find out more.

Best wishes

MRS SARAH MATTHEWS, HEADMISTRESS

Truro High School, Falmouth Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2HU | trurohigh.co.uk | recruitment@trurohigh.co.uk | 01872
272830

JOB DESCRIPTION:

REPORTS TO: The Bursar

ROLE OVERVIEW:

•  To provide a warm welcome to all visitors to the school
•  To assist staff by providing administrative and secretarial support as

required

•  To manage the school switchboard
•  To respond to all queries from staff, parents and visitors as necessary
•  To be responsible for school registers on a day to day basis
•  To co-ordinate the School minibus service
•  To issue entry fobs and cards to students and staff

 DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

•  To  receive  all  visitors  into  the  school  as  necessary,  issue  visitor  passes  and  escort  around  the

campus as required in accordance with the school’s safeguarding policy.

•  To type general correspondence, school documents or promotional literature as necessary.
•  To undertake photocopying and production of booklets and school documents as required.
•  To manage the switchboard, directing calls to appropriate members of staff and responding to

queries or voicemail messages in a timely and appropriate manner.

•  To manage school registers on  iSams; to check and record attendance and absences following
registration, and to chase the whereabouts of missing girls to ensure all girls are accounted for.

•  To manage minibus bookings.
•  To sort and distribute incoming post and to frank all outgoing post.
•  To  update  pupils’  records  on  iSams  with  any  relevant  correspondence,  e.g.  scanned  absence

letters; scanned Blanket Permission forms.

•  To provide first aid cover in the absence of the School Nurse.
•  To assist pupils when required (e.g. locker access, lost property, sickbay).
•  To accept and account for cash (e.g. play tickets, concerts, petty cash).

PERSON SPECIFICATION:

Excellent telephone manner

•  Methodical and organised
•
•  Good IT skills, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook
Professional and welcoming nature
•
•  Ability to remain calm under pressure
•

Previous experience of working in a school is desirable but not essential
Previous receptionist experience desirable

•

Truro High is committee to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and young people and
expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment and to behave accordingly.

Applicants must be willing to undergo a child protection screening including checks with past
employers and a Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Truro High School, Falmouth Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2HU | trurohigh.co.uk | recruitment@trurohigh.co.uk | 01872
272830

ABOUT TRURO HIGH

Truro High School was founded in 1880 by the Bishop of Truro, Edward
Benson. It was originally opened in Lemon Street with fifteen girls on the
roll, ranging from ten to seventeen years old, including Bishop Benson’s two
daughters Nellie and Maggie. When numbers in the school increased to forty
it moved into larger premises on Strangways Terrace, and finally moved to its
present site in 1896.

At Truro High all girls are seen and supported to achieve their full potential and
it is because of this that they thrive, not just in external examinations but in
music, drama, engineering and the creative arts.

At Truro High School we are proud of our reputation as a leader in
girls only education and our mission, vision and values are the beating heart
of all that we do.

OUR MISSION

Providing an inspirational learning environment where all girls
are nurtured to thrive.

OUR VISION

Where girls are known and valued as individuals in an inspiring and holistic
educational environment, forged on the firm foundations of compassion and
empathy. Girls are supported and challenged to embrace opportunity and
strive for personal excellence in all that they do. We embolden girls to become
independent thinkers and problem solvers, whose intellectual curiosity and
academic determination drives them forward to bright futures as globally
minded citizens.

OUR VALUES

CURIOSITY: Through dynamic teaching and positive mentoring girls
develop a life-long love of learning, fueled by intellectual curiosity and driven
by academic determination. Where girls find their voice as critical thinkers and
develop academic passion that knows no limits.

CREATIVITY: Where creativity in all forms is celebrated and girls learn to
cherish originality and innovation. Imaginations are nurtured and a sense of
awe and wonder is never far away. Girls are unafraid of taking creative risks in
their learning and have the confidence to tackle real world problems with fresh
thinking.

COURAGE: Where a can-do attitude is fostered and girls embrace
challenges in and outside of the classroom with determination. Where mistakes
are nothing more than learning experiences on the journey to success and
resilience is grown with every step along the way. Where girls are ambitious for
the future; they find and raise their voices to advocate for justice for all.

COMPASSION: Where girls are interested and empathetic, showing
genuine respect and care for others and the environment. They are keen to
do all they can to make this a better world, both locally and globally. Girls are
encouraged to be open-minded and develop integrity; having the strength of
character to do what is right, rather than just what is easy. Serving with agape at
the heart of what they do is relished and celebrated.

COMMUNITY: Where the tremendous power of teamwork and
collaboration are valued, with girls encouraged to be outward-facing and
recognise the positive benefits of local, national and global interconnection.
The quality of relationships in our warm community is second to none and the
encouragement and celebration of success is enjoyed by all.  Where they are
taught that their words and deeds should aim to ensure a secure future for all.

AMBITION: Where young people know that their teachers are their
champions and they are empowered to become the best possible versions of
themselves. Brimming with hope for the future, the girls leave ready to face
whatever it may hold with a humble sense of confidence.

TERMS OF APPOINTMENT

If you are successful an offer will be made verbally and then followed up with
an offer letter and, once pre-employment checks are complete, a contract of
employment.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

The post is full-time, term time plus 3 weeks working during the school
holidays.

Hours of employment are 8.00am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday with 30
minutes lunch break

SALARY

£21,500 per annum

PENSION SCHEME

Truro High complies with its legal obligations to provide access to a pension
scheme.  All staff have access to a defined contribution pension scheme via
Aviva. Standard pension contributions are 5% employer and 5% employee.

NON-CONTRACTUAL BENEFITS
•

Free Parking

•

•

•

Discounted School Fees

Access to on-site gym and pool at certain times

Cycle to Work Salary Sacrifice Scheme

OTHER EMPLOYMENT CHECKS

An offer of employment will be conditional upon satisfactory receipt of the
following:
•

Proof of the right to work in the UK

•

•

•

•

•

•

•

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check (DBS) and Barred List check

Two satisfactory references

Evidence of qualifications held

Fit to work declaration

Acceptable self-disclosure form, convictions & court orders

TRA and S128 check (if applicable)

Overseas criminal record check (if applicable)

Truro High School, Falmouth Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2HU | trurohigh.co.uk | recruitment@trurohigh.co.uk | 01872
272830

APPLICATION PROCESS

Please complete and submit a formal application using the Truro High School
application form.  Through your application form or accompanying covering
letter you should demonstrate your skills, experience and qualifications relevant
to the role.

Your application should be emailed to recruitment@trurohigh.co.uk or posted
to The Bursar, Truro High School, Falmouth Road, Truro, TR1 2HU.

We are unable to accept CV’s.

All applicants will be contacted after shortlisting either to be invited to
interview or to be notified that you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Those called for interview will be asked to provide evidence of the right to work
in the UK and relevant qualification certificates.

The post is exempt from Section 4 (2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act
1974 by virtue of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemptions) Order
1975, amended 2013.  All shortlisted candidates must declare any relevant
warnings, reprimands, cautions and / or convictions by completing a self-
disclosure form ahead of interview.  Any information given will be treated in the
strictest confidence.

Should the interview panel wish to use additional selection process such as
presentations or administrative tasks you will be notified of these in advance of
the interview date.

Candidates who have a disability or require reasonable adjustments to be made
to allow them to attend for interview should notify the recruitment team as
soon as possible.

References will be sought prior to interview.

Truro High School, Falmouth Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2HU | trurohigh.co.uk | recruitment@trurohigh.co.uk | 01872
272830