Office Manager – Primary School

Office Manager – Primary School – Chelmsford

Start Date: As soon as possible
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: Paid to scale

A welcoming and well-established primary school in Chelmsford is looking to appoint an experienced and highly organised Office Manager to oversee the smooth day-to-day running of its school office.

This is a varied position for an individual who is confident managing administrative processes, communicating with families and supporting colleagues across the school. The successful candidate will be a key point of contact for parents, carers, visitors and external organisations while also providing effective administrative support to school leaders and staff.

The school is looking for someone who is professional, approachable and able to remain organised in a busy environment. You will need to manage competing priorities, maintain accurate records and handle confidential information appropriately.

School Information

This is a well-established primary school in Chelmsford with a strong commitment to providing pupils with a safe, supportive and engaging education. The school places high value on academic progress, positive relationships and the personal development of every child.

The school works closely with parents and carers and recognises the importance of effective communication between home and school. The office therefore plays a central role in ensuring families receive accurate information and that administrative processes are handled efficiently.

The school has a collaborative staff culture, with teachers, support staff, senior leaders and administration colleagues working closely together. The successful Office Manager will become an important member of this wider team.

The successful candidate will be expected to take ownership of the office's day-to-day organisation while remaining responsive to the needs of pupils, families and staff.

School Office Team

The Office Manager will oversee a wide range of administrative responsibilities, ensuring that the school office operates efficiently and professionally.

You will regularly communicate with parents and carers, manage enquiries, maintain records and support senior staff. The role will also involve ensuring that key administrative procedures are followed consistently.

Because the school office is often the first point of contact for families and visitors, the successful candidate must be approachable and professional while maintaining appropriate boundaries.

Key Responsibilities

• Managing the daily operation of the school office.
• Coordinating administrative tasks and priorities.
• Providing administrative support to senior leaders and school staff.
• Acting as a professional first point of contact for parents and carers.
• Responding to telephone calls and emails.
• Welcoming visitors and following appropriate safeguarding procedures.
• Maintaining accurate pupil and administrative records.
• Updating school information systems and databases.
• Preparing letters, documents and correspondence.
• Supporting admissions and pupil records administration.
• Assisting with attendance-related administration.
• Organising meetings, appointments and relevant paperwork.
• Supporting school events and activities.
• Maintaining electronic and paper filing systems.
• Liaising with external organisations and professionals.
• Ensuring messages and information are passed to relevant staff.
• Supporting the organisation of office procedures.
• Identifying opportunities to improve administrative systems.
• Providing guidance and support to other administrative colleagues where required.
• Supporting busy periods across the school office.
• Maintaining a welcoming and professional reception environment.
• Ensuring administrative deadlines are met.
• Following school policies relating to…