PA to Head of Senior School Maternity cover

From September 2026

Welcome

I am delighted that you have expressed an interest in joining Royal Russell.

A leading co-educational independent school in South London, Royal Russell is different by design. We are a family school and we value those things which make each of us distinctively brilliant. Our school motto is ‘Non Sibi Sed Omnibus’ which translates as ‘not for oneself, but for all’, and from this, we make a commitment to help every member of our learning community strive for their vision of success.

Our beautiful, green campus offers exciting learning opportunities and first-class facilities for both pupils and staff to develop and flourish. Staff are dedicated to providing a total education and this is reflected in the outstanding academic outcomes of our pupils.

Openness and inclusiveness are integral to the Royal Russell experience and we encourage applications from all communities, so that our staff body reflects our ambitious, open, distinctive and courageous Royal Russell pupil body.

If you are interested in joining a forward looking and successful school, I look forward to receiving your application.

Chris Hutchinson Headmaster

Royal Russell School | Candidate Information Pack

Our School

Royal Russell is a HMC/IAPS co-educational school with over 1,200 pupils between the ages of 3 and 18, situated on a beautiful green campus of 110-acres in South London, with a Junior School, Senior School and 200 pupil boarding community.

We are proud of our day and boarding facilities that rank amongst the best in the UK. Our pupils, parents and staff experience a warm and friendly environment with strong pastoral care for every pupil alongside a comprehensive co-curricular and enrichment programme. Royal Russell is proud to have achieved the highest grade of ‘excellent’ in every aspect during our most recent ISI Inspection.

Community Values

Royal Russell is a warm and thriving community of pupils, parents, staff, governors, Old Russellians, friends and supporters. We are bound together by our family ethos, a strong sense of pride in our school and a willingness to get involved.

By working together, supporting each other and having fun together, we have created a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. Living by our motto ‘Non Sibi Sed Omnibus’, we encourage the qualities and values of responsibility and giving - which make Royal Russell special.

We are committed to our responsibilities to our wider community - local, national and international. We encourage our pupils to contribute, participate and lead so that they can learn the skills and attributes needed to make a positive contribution to society, now and in the future.

PA to Head of Senior School

This is an excellent opportunity for an outstanding, enthusiastic and experienced PA, with excellent organisation skills and the dedication and enthusiasm to be part of a high achieving school to join our fabulous staff team and wonderful children in an inspiring school environment.

The purpose of the role is to provide high-quality PA support for our Head of Senior School and the wider Senior School Leadership Team (SSLT).

Working days/hours:

37.5 hours per week, term time (36 weeks) plus one additional week

Maternity cover from September 2026
Fixed term to June/July 2027

Salary:

Competitive, depending on experience

Applications:

Forms can be found on our website To be received at hr@royalrussell.co.uk by 09:00 on Wednesday, 22nd July 2026

Tuesday, 28th July 2026

Purpose of job

To provide a full confidential, personal assistant, secretarial and support service to the Head of the Senior School, and wider Senior School Leadership Team (SSLT) that ensures the efficient operation of the office, effective communication with all elements of the school community and external agencies and promotes a positive image of the School to current and potential pupils and parents. On behalf of the Head of the Senior School, liaises with staff, pupils, or external bodies to progress outstanding issues in a timely manner.

Main duties and responsibilities

Initiates, organises, and manages all aspects of the Head of Senior School’s business to ensure the effective running of the School with a particular emphasis on supporting class cover, curriculum, cocurricular activities, and timetabling.

Assists the Head of the Senior School with the organisation and preparation of School events such as Open Day, Entrance Exam Day, Royal Russell Day, and INSET Days, together with other members of the Senior School support staff team, by liaising with relevant staff in the Operations Team, booking catering, IT and estates support and preparing and distributing communications to staff, parents and students as required.

Deals with enquiries from parents, pupils, staff, on a wide range of issues, and acts as the first line of response to other internal and external enquiries directing them to other staff as appropriate.

Uses own initiative to respond to emails, written correspondence, and telephone calls, taking action on standard administrative and secretarial matters on behalf of the Head of the Senior School.

Maintains a bring-forward system for correspondence and review of pending files on a regular basis.

On behalf of the Head of the Senior School,arranges appointments, organises meetings and events, manages his electronic diary and maintains his filing systems including the confidential safeguarding files.

• Meets and greets visitors to the School.

• Ensures that the Head of the Senior School has all relevant documentation when attending external meetings and organises travel arrangements as required including booking travel tickets, taxis etc.

Uploads correspondence to iSAMS on behalf of the Head of the Senior School and uses iSAMS to obtain information required to prepare for any meetings with staff or pupils.

Main duties and responsibilities cont’d

Liaises with the Director of Operations/Finance and the Director of Marketing and Communications as appropriate to facilitate a smooth and efficient working relationship throughout the School.

Photocopies and prepares material, and manages electronic media on the School’s MIS and SharePoint systems for the Head of the Senior School as required,

• In conjunction with the Assistant Head - Digital Learning and Innovation, organises daily lesson cover allocation, communicating with teachers and supply teachers as required ensuring that they are aware of the cover needed.

• Supports the advance planning of cover for teacher absence.

• Provides administrative support to facilitate the preparation and distribution of staff duty rotas and for internal exams.

• Takes and distributes minutes of common room meeting, Monday morning briefing and HoDs meetings.

General responsibilities

Ensures the safety and well-being of children and young people at the School by adhering to and always complying with the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

• Attends Royal Russell Day and Open Day as required.

• Always displays correct staff identification whilst on site.

Attends training and staff INSET sessions organised by the School to provide a consistent approach across the entire School staff population.

Always adheres to Health & Safety legislation, and all departmental policies and procedures, to ensure the safety of you and colleagues as well as pupils, staff and visitors.

• Carries out any other reasonable duties as requested by the Deputy Heads.

This job description contains an outline of the typical functions of the job and is not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities, tasks, and duties. The job-holder’s actual responsibilities, tasks, and duties might differ from those outlined in the job description, and other duties commensurate with this level of responsibility may be either permanently or temporarily assigned as part of the job.

Person specification

Experience:

Proven high-level PA/secretarial/administration experience in a professional environment.

• Previous experience in an educational setting (desirable).

Qualifications:

• Good level of general education including GCSE Maths and English at Grade C or above, or equivalent.

Skills, knowledge, and abilities:

• Proficient in Microsoft Office packages, especially Word, Excel, and Outlook with fast accurate typing skills (55 wpm) (training will be given on School MIS).

• High attention to detail.

• Good organisational skills with ability to multi-task.

Excellent interpersonal and customer-facing skills with a warm, friendly, and professional manner, good written and verbal communication skills, able to foster good working relationships with all members of the School community (staff, pupils and parents/carers) either in person or on the phone.

• Able to work on own initiative to a high standard, to prioritise conflicting demands and to deadlines.

• Discreet and able to always maintain confidentiality.

• Ability to keep calm and to work under pressure when necessary.

• Pro-active, making suggestions for improvement and change.

• Demonstrates an understanding of the independent education sector and effectively promotes the ethos of Royal Russell School.

Other requirements:

• Willing and flexible to assist with peaks in workloads

Our Offer

Royal Russell offers excellent benefits including a competitive salary on our own salary scale.

As part of the vibrant community at Royal Russell, you will join a friendly and dedicated team with easy access to transport links (Coombe Lane tram stop is opposite the School entrance).

In addition, we offer:

Pension scheme and life insurance

• Meals in the dining hall during term-time

• Social events throughout the year, including a Christmas party for all staff

• Cycle to work scheme (salary sacrifice)

Octopus electric car scheme (salary sacrifice)

Free on-site parking

• Use of our on-site sports facilities, including tennis courts, swimming pool and gym

A discount of up to 50% on school fees (85% discount for wrap around care before and after school during term-time) and a 25% discount with Royal Russell Holiday Club, which operates during school holiday periods.

Further Information

Full details of our staff benefits and recruitment procedures can be found on our school recruitment page at: www.royalrussell.co.uk/discover/vacancies

You can also contact us by email at hr@royalrussell.co.uk or telephone HR on 020 8657 4433.

Applications (forms can be found on our website) will be considered on receipt.

We reserve the right to interview at any point during the recruitment process so early applications are encouraged.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to a satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (including a check against the Children’s Barred List) and other pre-employment screening including references and medical fitness.

Science Block

Campus Map

Our 110-acre campus contains incredible facilities for learning.

Swimming Pool

Boarding / Houses

Sports Hall

Buchanan/Reade

Cambridge

Top Pitch

Hollenden

The Paddock

Netball Courts

Keable

Latessa

North Pitch

Madden

Astroturf Pitch

Oxford

MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area)

Queen's

West Pitch

St Andrew's

Pavilion

Royal Russell

www.royalrussell.co.uk

Royal Russell School, Coombe Lane, Croydon, Surrey, CR9 5BX

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