Administrator / Exams Officer

Full Job Description

We put wellbeing first by giving our teams more time to recharge

Job Title:  Administrator / Exams Officer 
Location:   Dibden Park School, Southampton SO45 5TD
Hours:       40 hours per week | Monday–Friday | 8.30am -4.30pm
Salary:      £23,638 per annum (not pro rata)
Contract:  Permanent | Term Time Only
Start:        September 2026
UK applicants only – no sponsorship available

About the Role

Are you an organised, people‑focused professional who thrives in a busy school environment? Dibden Park School is looking for a confident and proactive Administrator & Exams Officer to become the welcoming face of our school and a vital part of our administrative team.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, takes pride in high‑quality communication, and wants to play a key role in supporting pupils, staff, and visitors every day.

As our Administrator & Exams Officer, you will be the first point of contact for all visitors and callers, ensuring a warm, professional, and efficient reception service. Alongside this, you’ll provide high‑quality administrative support across the school and take responsibility for the coordination and smooth running of examinations.

You’ll be trusted to handle sensitive information, manage key school systems, and support the Head Teacher with PA duties — all while keeping our reception area running like clockwork.

What you will be doing

• Provide a warm, professional reception service, welcoming visitors, managing enquiries, and ensuring safeguarding procedures are followed.
• Handle all incoming communication — calls, emails, and post — ensuring information is processed accurately, promptly, and with discretion.
• Maintain and update school systems and records (including admissions, iSAMS, DfE forms), ensuring data accuracy and compliance with deadlines.
• Lead on the organisation, administration, and delivery of internal and external examinations as the school’s Exams Officer.
• Provide high‑quality administrative and PA support to the Head Teacher and wider school team.
• Manage office operations including stationery orders, photocopier checks, deliveries, outgoing post, and maintaining a tidy, professional reception area.
• Support school activities by assisting with the booking and administration of off‑site visits and events.
• Set up and maintain confidential pupil files in line with Data Protection requirements, ensuring secure and compliant information handling.

What we're looking for

• Warm, professional, and confident in dealing with a wide range of people
• Highly organised with excellent attention to detail
• Able to handle sensitive information with discretion
• Comfortable using IT systems and learning new software
• Calm under pressure and adaptable to changing priorities
• Committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people
• Driving licence is required 

** Must be prepared to undertaken mandatory off site training that will require some travel.**

About Us

Dibden Park School is a brand-new independent specialist school in Southampton, supporting pupils with SEMH needs, communication difficulties, and associated complex behaviours. The school provides a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment where small classes and personalised support help every pupil thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our broad and purposeful curriculum combines formal learning with life skills and enrichment activities to develop confidence, independence, and resilience. Pupils benefit from staff who understand their individual needs and remove barriers to engagement. Working closely with families, the school fosters strong relationships and a supportive community. Dibden Park empowers every pupil to achieve their full potential and prepare for life beyond school.

Acorn Education offers rewarding careers and meaningful challenges while making a real difference in young people’s lives. As a leading UK provider of specialist education for children and young people with special educational needs, and part of Outcomes First Group, we deliver innovative, evidence-based approaches that support measurable progress and lasting impact.

We are really proud to say that in 2025 Outcomes First Group were officially certified as a ‘Great Place to Work’ for the sixth year running.

Why Join Us?

We place pupils and vulnerable young adults at the heart of everything we do, so every day brings the satisfaction of making a real difference. We are committed to the safeguarding and promoting the welfare of pupils and young people. All applicants will be subject to social media checks and successful applicants to a fully enhanced DBS.

• Life Assurance
• Pension scheme with options to increase contributions
• “Your Wellbeing Matters” – mental health support and physical health checks
• Flexible Benefits Platform (Vista), including:
• Health, wellbeing and insurance benefits
• Hundreds of UK and international discounts
• Cycle to Work Scheme & Electric Car Purchase Scheme
• Critical illness cover
• Family Growth Support, including enhanced maternity/paternity leave and paid fertility treatment support

We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Outcomes First Group is committed to carrying out a fair, thorough and efficient recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education. Whilst we aim to keep applicants informed throughout, Outcomes First Group does not accept liability for any loss of earnings or other associated costs incurred by applicants as a result of delays or changes in the compliance process. All stages of the compliance process are subject to necessary safeguarding checks and compliance with statutory requirements, which may affect timescales.

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