Receptionist

The Department for Education (DfE) granted permission for Bedelsford School to open a temporary satellite site in Merton for children with special education needs in the London Borough of Merton in September 2025. The School is located in The Chaucer Centre, a former school building located in the St Helier neighbourhood. The Centre was previously used by Merton Council as a training centre but has been adapted to meet the need for specialist education places in the borough. In the first year the centre will provide 40 places and will have the potential to increase up to 80 children over a three-year period. Pupils and staff will transfer from the Chaucer Centre to a brand-new Free School which is scheduled to open in the borough in September 2028. Both the temporary provision and the new Free School will provide places for children who have a range of moderate to severe learning difficulties and complex needs. This is likely to include Speech Language and Communication Needs and may also include Autism Spectrum Conditions and other associated areas of need. We are seeking to appoint a friendly, organised and reliable Receptionist to join our administrative team. As the first point of contact for visitors, parents and pupils, you will play a key role in creating a welcoming and professional front-of-house environment. Alongside reception duties, you will provide general administrative support to ensure the smooth day-to-day running of the school office. This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong interpersonal and organisational skills who enjoys working in a busy and varied role.,

• Act as the first point of contact for visitors, pupils and staff, providing a welcoming and professional reception service.
• Manage incoming telephone calls and emails, ensuring enquiries are handled efficiently or directed appropriately.
• Maintain accurate visitor records in line with safeguarding procedures.
• Provide general administrative support, including filing, data entry and document preparation.
• Support the wider office team with day-to-day administrative tasks as required.
  
  GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics at Grade 4/C or above.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a professional and approachable manner.
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage a varied workload.
• Competence in basic IT systems (e.g. Microsoft Office).
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and maintain confidentiality at all times.
  
  OHCAT is an exciting, forward-thinking organisation, and we offer many benefits to attract and keep our staff, contributing towards maintaining and improving wellbeing, and encouraging our required behaviours, achievements, values, and skills. Below is just a selection of the benefits available to our employees:
Rewards & Benefits:
• Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
• Pension Scheme - you will be enrolled in either the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) or the Teachers' Pension Scheme (TPS), both offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
• Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme, Employee Car Lease Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme)
• Employee Wellbeing - We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme
• Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more)
• Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme)
Find out what makes Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust a truly rewarding place to work - visit our 'Work for Us' page to learn more about our values, opportunities and the difference our staff make every day. Our Trust: The Bedelsford Chaucer Centre is a satellite provision to Bedelsford School, which is part of Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust. We are a family of specialist education providers from pre-school through to further education across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire and fully represent all designations of special education needs and disabilities (SEND). To find out more about us, and what makes us a special place to work please our website. We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners. Working together to transform lives is what we do and across the whole organisation we have a range of experts and practitioners who advocate for children and young people with SEND to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities to achieve their full potential. As a large specialist education provider we employ over 1500 people across our schools, college and central support team. There is a wide range of job roles available, ranging from teaching and therapy to business support roles and significant career progression opportunities. It is an exciting time to be part of OHCAT and we are keen to recruit talented people who can play a key role in realising our mission and who want to make a difference. In return, we offer training and development, competitive pay and benefits in a positive and inclusive working environment. If you wish to discuss this opportunity before or after submitting an application form, please get in touch with the School directly. Visits to the School in advance of applications are encouraged. Your application form will be scored according to each of the requirements laid out in the person specification for this role. Please demonstrate in your statement how your experience, skills and knowledge match the criteria that are required for the role.