Job Application Pack
TEACHING ASSISTANT
HR Manager
Closing Date for Applications: 21 January 2026
OUR SCHOOL
Thank you for your interest in Newland House School. Our welcoming Pre-Prep and Prep School sits
on a 5-acre site in a quiet residential area on the edge of Twickenham and Teddington in South
West London. Established in 1897, Newland House is one of the oldest and largest Independent
Prep Schools for children aged 3-13 in the area.
We are passionate about inspiring a life-long love of learning and bringing out the brilliance in every
child. Our curriculum is innovative, broad and ambitious, giving every child the opportunity to
explore their academic, sporting, and creative passions. We are committed to supporting each
pupil's unique learning journey, and our dedicated teachers and staff continuously seek fresh ideas
to enhance learning experiences both in the classroom and beyond.
Ensuring the happiness and wellbeing of our pupils is core to all we do. We want every single child
in our school to feel safe, valued and cared for and visitors, parents and children consistently
comment on the positive, happy, and vibrant atmosphere at our School.
SUMMARY OF THE ROLE
We are seeking for an experienced HR professional to lead and manage all aspects of HR for the
school.
The role of the HR Manager is to manage and lead in the delivery of an effective, professional end to
end HR Service to all staff, supporting staff with people related matters. The successful applicant will
provide professional and pragmatic employment law and HR advice and support to the senior
leadership team in delivering the school strategy. Reporting to the Bursar, the HR Manager will be
supported to manage the school’s HR function and will work closely with our Finance team to prepare
the monthly payroll. This includes being proactive with staff training requirements, especially those
relating to statutory matters and safeguarding; maintaining the school’s training records; carrying out
pre-employment checks in line with KCSIE and ISSR requirements, and maintaining a compliant SCR.
The ideal candidate will have excellent knowledge of employment law and HR best practice with
demonstrable experience as a HR generalist across the whole employee lifecycle including but not
limited to recruitment, contracts of employment, policy, employee relations, performance
management, payroll and reward and recognition.
FURTHER DETAILS
Application period closes: 9.00 am on Wednesday 21 January 2026
Interviews: shortly after the advert closes
Employment Commences: mutually agreed
Salary: The post merits a salary commensurate with the importance of the role and the successful
applicant’s relevant experience.
Hours: 27.5 hrs per week (Normal office hours are 8.30 am to 4.30 pm including 30-minute unpaid lunch
break. Additional hours may be required to attend meetings/school events)
Contract: Permanent, Part time, Term time (33 weeks) plus 3 weeks and attendance at mandatory inset
days.
Please note: This is a visible onsite position, however with some flexibility for the ideal candidate to
occasionally work from home. The additional 3 weeks is for setting up new files, contracts and
recruitment in advance of a new term’s start.
We welcome any discussions regarding this role or any other queries you may have.
We reserve the right to interview, appoint, and close the advert early depending on the volume of
applications we receive.
JOB DESCRIPTION
Main duties and responsibilities
General Human Resources Administration:
• Undertake the administration for all staff changes and leavers. This includes all full time, part time
and peripatetic staff.
• Ensure staff records are maintained using the schools MIS system.
• Monitor and inform relevant Managers of significant review dates or anniversaries.
• Create and co-ordinate accurate Job Descriptions with the Head, Bursar and other members of the
Senior Leadership Team (SLT).
• Create and maintain confidential personnel files.
• Record staff absence, holidays, and overtime claims. Arrange cover staff where necessary.
• Schedule staff appraisal, prompting Line Managers where appropriate.
• Maintain the Staff Handbook in collaboration with the Head and other relevant staff.
• Work with the Bursar on pay and reward matters; produce annual salary letters.
Recruitment Administration:
• Manage the recruitment process for external and internal recruitment including advertising.
• Coordinate and track applications and respond to applicants.
• Confirm interview schedules, lesson observations, tours and exercises both internally and to
candidates.
• Undertake the administration of new starters including processing clearances, application forms,
and appointment checklists.
• Ensure all pre - employment checks are completed in line with KCSIE and ISSR requirements.
• Request authorisation and verify DBS Applications online.
• Draw up employee contracts and offers of employment.
• Continually review employment legislation to ensure all policies and procedures are compliant
with regulations and law.
•
In conjunction with the Bursar and Head be a subject matter expert on HR and training related
matters and maintain a compliant SCR.
• Apply for confidential references as appropriate and personally verify referees as required.
• Co-ordinate administration for new starters including Induction folders, login, pre-employment
policy communication.
• Organise Induction Programmes, coordinate induction with relevant existing staff and undertake
exit Interviews when required.
• Provide external remuneration information as requested.
JOB DESCRIPTION cont.
Main duties and responsibilities
Employee Relations:
• Provide guidance and support to the Leadership Team and Managers reading employee
relations matters, including:
Sickness absence:
• Support the SLT to undertake return to work interviews and absence review meetings.
• Liaise with occupational health providers as necessary.
• Support the Leadership Team/Managers with both long-term and short-term intermittent
absence.
Discipline, capability, grievance, redundancy:
• Provide guidance to the Leadership Team.
• Prepare paperwork and cases.
• Meet with staff, as appropriate in initial stages.
• Liaise with union and other representatives.
Staff Continued Professional Development (CPD)
•
Induct new staff and contractors/agency workers into school, drawing up induction programmes
for new staff (liaising with colleagues regarding their availability) and coordinating regular
evaluation of the induction process.
• Oversee the probationary periods for staff, prepare correspondence and probation reports and
minute meetings, when required.
• Oversee the staff appraisal schedule including providing guidance to Line Managers.
• Oversee training and other professional development for staff including liaising with external
providers.
• Understand and interpret the School’s Staff Handbook, school policies and relevant national
agreements.
• Arrange and deliver staff training around HR issues where appropriate.
Other Duties
• Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people with whom you come
into contact.
• Adhere to the school’s Code of Conduct Policy, adopting and working towards the objectives
outlined within the School’s Improvement Plan.
THE CANDIDATE
Qualifications
• A good standard of education.
• Hold a CIPD qualification at level 5 or above.
• Commitment to continued professional development (CPD).
Experience
• Worked in an HR role providing advice and guidance on terms and conditions of service.
• Dealing with disciplinary and grievance issues.
• Have previous experience working in a school.
• Liaise effectively with and report to governors and outside agencies.
Skills
• Have an excellent standard of written English and a meticulous eye for detail.
• Be highly organised with strong administrative and communication skills.
• Ability to deal sensitively with different stakeholders (children, colleagues, parents and the wider
public).
•
Integrity, judgement, tact, discretion, diplomacy and loyalty (to the school, the Head and SLT).
• High level people skills both on a one-to-one level and in more complex scenarios.
• The ability to foresee, avoid and when necessary, resolve disputes.
• Proven ability to work alone and as part of a team.
• High level organisational and time-keeping skills.
• Resilience, patience and determination.
Knowledge
• Demonstrate a sound knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Be IT confident and have strong Microsoft skills including Outlook, Excel, SharePoint.
• Have experience of working with HR systems.
• Knowledge of Safer Recruitment and ISI guidelines and regulations.
THE CANDIDATE cont.
Personal competencies and qualities
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Motivation to work with children.
Ability to form and maintain appropriate relationships and boundaries with children.
Emotional resilience when working with different situations
Positive attitude to use of authority and maintaining discipline.
Commitment to the school and its ethos, aims and values.
Ability to motivate self and others.
Good organisational skills.
Flexibility and ability to work well within a team.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to take initiative and adapt to changing situations.
A good sense of humour to create a joyful and engaging learning environment.
Reflective on own practice.
High personal integrity and professionalism.
Liaise effective with governors and outside agencies.
Candidates should ensure that they address all of the above criteria in their application form,
referring, where appropriate, to actual experience. In addition, the interview will explore issues
relating to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
WHY WORK AT NEWLAND HOUSE
SCHOOL
Generous pay and allowances – based on
Cycle to work scheme – purchase bicycles
skills and experience.
and equipment at a tax advantageous rate
and pay for the equipment over 12 months.
Pension – teaching and non-teaching staff
enjoy a generous employer contribution
Career personal development – training and
pension scheme.
career development opportunities are
Longer holidays – than the maintained
sector for teachers (19 weeks) and a
minimum of 25 days for full-time non-
teaching staff plus bank holidays and
additional time at Christmas.
Staff fee remission – all staff are eligible for
fee remission after successful completion of
available for all teaching and non-teaching
staff. There are many opportunities to take
on additional responsibilities. Financial and
other support with obtaining relevant
professional qualifications.
Continuous appraisal process – to ensure
staff get regular feedback.
probation. The continuance and value of the
iPads – all teaching staff are given iPads for
school fee remission is at the discretion of
their teaching and assessment and non-
the Governors.
teaching staff when required as part of their
Enhanced sick and maternity/paternity pay
role.
Flexible and generous time off work policy –
exciting programme of socialising events
special leave, time off for dependents and
including quiz nights, karaoke, theatre trips,
appointments.
golfing weekends and many more.
Staff social committee – organise an
Lunches and refreshments – lunches and
Staff reps forum – an opportunity to get
refreshments are provided by the school to
your voice heard.
all members of staff, free of charge during
term time.
Flexible working options – job share and
part-time.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Employees will be required to support and encourage the school’s ethos and its objectives, policies
and procedures as agreed by the governing body.
Employees shall uphold the school’s policy in respect of child protection and safeguarding matters.
Employees will be expected to comply with any reasonable request from their line manager or SLT
to undertake work of a similar level that is not specified in this job description.
All members of staff are required to participate in the school’s appraisal scheme.
The job description is current at the date shown, but in consultation with you, may be changed by
the Head to reflect or anticipate changes in the job commensurate with the grade and job title.
It is not a comprehensive statement of procedures and tasks but sets out the main expectations of
school in relation to post-holder’s professional responsibilities and duties.
Safeguarding
Newland House School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and
young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust
and consistent recruitment process in accordance with the guidelines of the government document,
Keeping Children Safe in Education. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening
appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service
(DBS). The post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore
permitted to ask job applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are
"spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to
work with children. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and
where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Newland House School values diversity, equity and inclusion for its pupils and staff. We want our
community to feel valued and respected, so we are working hard to build an inclusive culture which
celebrates diversity in different forms to reflect the community we serve. We believe that having a
diverse workforce offers different perspectives which helps us to work towards our shared vision and
strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply to join
our School.
HOW TO APPLY
Candidates should pay attention to the summary of the role/person specification and explain within
their application how they meet the criteria, whilst also describing what they will bring to the post
from their own knowledge and experience.
Completed applications with a covering letter should be sent to HR Manager, Ashlesha Sarang-Patel
via email on ASarang-Patel@newlandhouse.net by the closing date. No CVs will be accepted.
Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted on a rolling basis, and we reserve the right to interview,
appoint and close the advert early depending on the volume of applications we receive. We therefore
encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment. We will only be
contacting those candidates who have been selected to progress to the next stage of the process.
Please note that referees will be contacted prior to the interview.
If you would like an informal confidential discussion regarding this role prior to application then please
contact Bursar, Roland Grant via email on RGrant@newlandhouse.net
