DAVENIES

Engage Inspire Challenge

Head’s PA Full-Time - Term Time only

Contents

The School 3
Aims of the School 4
The Appointmen t 5
Job Description 6
Person Specification 8
Facilities & Staff 9
Child Protection 10

The School

Davenies is a thriving IAPS day school for boys aged 4-13. Our ethos and philosophy enable the boys to make the most of their preparatory years, supported by high quality pastoral care, a broad and stimulating curriculum and numerous extra-curricular opportunities. Davenies has its own distinct character and from their earliest year’s children are encouraged to relish the learning experience.

We are committed to an education both in and out of the classroom, thereby enabling the academic, artistic, musical, creative and physical potential of each child to flourish. This School is a warm, caring and happy one, where self-esteem is nurtured and grown; we believe that by fostering a wide range of interests and passions we provide the boys with every opportunity to develop in confidence. Our high-quality teachers have an excellent track record of preparing children for life at the country’s leading senior schools and beyond.

Enterprises such as the unique Davenies Award Scheme and the permeation of technology in our teaching and learning ensure we offer a truly independent educational experience.

Aims of the School

Davenies’ vision is to engage, inspire and challenge.

The Appointment

Davenies’ mission is to ensure that every boy experiences a breadth of educational opportunities, encouraging and cultivating a lifelong eagerness for learning, whether academic, creative, artistic or sporting. We encourage the boys to discover their own passions and talent, to develop determination and resilience, to reach their potential, and to become mindful and thoughtful individuals, with a strong sense of service, responsibility and community.

Davenies’ aims are:

▪ To offer academic excellence alongside an extensive educational experience

▪ To delivery contemporary and highly skilled teaching approaches whilst embracing traditional values

▪ To provide a vibrant, caring and inclusive environment to which all boys contribute and within which they thrive

Fundamental to this is our understanding of boys and how we approach their learning, whilst never losing sight of each boy as an individual.

Davenies’ ethos underpins our vision to engage, inspire and challenge:

▪ By engaging, we develop curious, reflective and enthusiastic thinkers

▪ With inspiration, we nurture motivated and ambitious learners

▪ Through challenge, we cultivate courageous and determined characters

Davenies’ spirit provides the stepping stones that develop courteous, confident, thoughtful and independent young men, and supports our school’s motto, singulus pro fraternitate laborans – each striving for the good of all.

Head’s PA

To provide a confidential and personal service to the Headmaster, carrying out a range of secretarial and administrative tasks and efficiently managing the Headmaster’s day-to-day business.

Reporting Line

The PA will report to the Headmaster but will also work closely with all members of the SLT.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please submit a Davenies’ Support Staff Application Form with a cover letter for the attention of the Headmaster, by 10.00 am on Friday 29 May 2026. Applications should be sent via email to Mrs Joanne Cook, HR Manager, at (hrmanager@davenies.co.uk), or by post.

Working pattern

This is a full time role working during term time only (approx 34 weeks of the year). Excellent benefits package on offer with a salary range of between £40,000 - £50,000 gross per annum (Pro-rata approx £30,000 - £40,000).

www.davenies.co.uk

Head’s PA Job Description

Key Responsibilities

General

▪ Attend daily meeting with Head to discuss work requirements and other issues

▪ To support the Head in meeting deadlines

▪ To meet and greet specific visitors to the Head, ensuring they are given a first-class welcome and impression of the school, which reflects its ethos

▪ To deal with incoming telephone calls and enquiries to the Head’s office and to screen accordingly

To deal with all the Head’s post, correspondence and manage the Head’s email inbox, responding to routine correspondence and requesting staff input as necessary; this is particularly important during school holidays

▪ To prepare routine correspondence for signing, i.e. to prepare draft or final replies to letters / emails on behalf of the Head

▪ To maintain the administrative and management information systems and records necessary for the efficient running of the Head’s office

▪ To liaise with Governors, members of SLT, and the Registrar, as appropriate

▪ To liaise with the Deputy Head regarding matters arising during the Head’s absence

▪ To observe and maintain the confidential nature of the post at all times

▪ To organise and track the Head’s visits to Senior Schools, and visits by other Heads to Davenies

Secretarial Duties

▪ Manage the timeline for the Head’s writing of pupil reports

▪ To prepare routine correspondence for signing, i.e. to prepare draft or final replies to letters / emails on behalf of the Head

▪ To prepare other correspondence / documents / reports, as required

Management of filing system for the Head’s documents

To undertake research in support of the Head’s work, to include the preparation of reports / statistics / briefing papers, that can be used by the Head to aid decision making

▪ To attend meetings and take minutes as required, distributing minutes accordingly

Prep School Meetings

Pastoral Meetings

Health & Safety Meetings (including Sustainability meetings)

▪ To act as ‘gatekeeper’ and facilitate access to the Head where appropriate, and without jeopardising the smooth running of the Head’s schedule

Pre Prep Meetings

Diary Management

▪ To ensure that relevant school calendar entries are coordinated with the Head’s diary

To coordinate and manage the Head’s diary in Outlook, seeking opportunities to plan the Head’s diary most effectively and according to an established set of priorities

▪ To draft the Head’s termly report to the Governors; liaising with contributors and pulling together content based upon the Head’s instructions

To arrange and organise meetings, e.g. Future School meetings for the Head with parents / form teachers ensuring all relevant information, e.g. results are available in advance

Overseeing / management of all practical arrangements for the Head’s meetings, e.g. room bookings, staff / parent availability, travel arrangements, catering, etc.

Proofread and upload the Head’s pupil reports to the School MIS

▪ Events co-ordination as required by the Head

▪ To liaise with members of staff in charge of any event that requires the Head’s attendance / involvement

www.davenies.co.uk

Maintain details of SLT and key member of staff’s whereabouts during the School holidays

Administration

Provide administrative / secretarial assistance to other members of the Senior Leadership Team, as required

Provide cover in the School Office for absent colleagues or during busy periods

Assist with general school administration, as required

Head’s PA Person Specification

Experience, Qualifications & Training

▪ The Successful Applicant will be an excellent and experience Administrator, ideally with experience as a Personal Assistant

▪ Knowledge and understanding of the education sector and/or experience of working within a school environment would be desirable

The successful candidate will be required to complete safeguarding training online (arranged by the school) before they commence the role, where they have not already received training in the past two years

Skills, Competences & Qualities

Excellent written and oral communication skills

Excellent interpersonal skills with a diverse range of stakeholders

Meticulous organisational skills and attention to detail

Professional attitude and approach to working at all times

Ability to be flexible, multi-task and adapt to changing priorities

Ability to stay calm under pressure and work to deadlines

Positive and friendly manner

▪ Maintain confidentiality in all aspects of work and to have the ability to deal with confidential issues discreetly and sensitively

▪ Computer literate and able to demonstrate skills in various IT systems and packages including, Microsoft: word, excel, outlook, Teams

Ability to work on own initiative, to plan and prioritise

Ability to work well as part of a wider team

▪ Ability to develop and adapt to new systems and processes to improve efficiency

Working Time

The post is full-time and permanent during term-time with an additional 10 days to be worked during the year

Facilities & Staff

5.6 weeks paid holiday (to be taken during school holidays)

40 hours per week (including 1 hour paid lunch break per day), with exact hours to be agreed with the successful applicant

www.davenies.co.uk

Facilities

Centred around a Grade II Listed Farmhouse, the school comprises a mix of traditional and modern buildings, with the RIBA award-winning Jubilee Building housing the Pre-Prep and Junior school. Much of the learning for boys from Reception to Year 4 takes place in their own classroom, and from Year 5 upwards takes place in subject-based rooms. The pupils also benefit from the use of the School’s other buildings and outside areas which house the Dining Room and Library, the Performing Arts Centre and Sports facilities including swimming pool, gymnasium, AstroTurf and sports fields.

Staff

Davenies has over 80 employees consisting of full and part time qualified teachers and teaching support staff, and supported by a team of office staff, a site team led by the Facilities Manager, and a dedicated School Nurse. Catering, cleaning and IT support are outsourced, with external contract staff working alongside the School to provide term-time services. In addition, the School hosts a range of visiting music, LAMDA and extra-curricular activity tutors.

Child Protection

Child Protection

Child Protection is always a top priority at Davenies. Davenies is committed to providing the best possible care and education to its pupils and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people whilst offering a supportive working environment to all its members of staff. The School recognises that, in order to achieve these aims, it is of fundamental importance to attract, recruit and retain staff of the highest calibre who share this commitment. Child protection screening applies to all staff appointments within the school, including Enhanced DBS Certificate, Barred Lists check, and checks against the Teacher and Management Prohibition Lists. For further information, please read the School’s Child Protection Policy and Recruitment Policy and Procedure which are available on the School’s website.

Davenies School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants are required to undergo child protection screening including checks – with current and previous employers and the Disclosure & Barring Service.

www.davenies.co.uk

‘Not only going from strength to strength but quietly moving from cosy local prep to major contender, especially if you want to keep all senior school options open. One for the list.’

The Good Schools Guide 2019

Engage Inspire Challenge

DAVENIES

Station Road, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, HP9 1AA

E: office@davenies.co.uk | T: 01494 685400 | www.davenies.co.uk