Administrative Officer - The Compass Learning Centre

We would like to offer the opportunity to work at The Compass Learning Centre as part of our Admin/Finance Team. Our Apprenticeship programme offers an exciting opportunity for you to gain practical experience whilst supporting your development with a fully funded Level 3 Business Administration Apprenticeship.

A day in the office at Compass Learning Centre will involve the following tasks:

• To complete appropriate data input and paperwork associated with the clerical and administrative needs of the school (e.g. school transport records, pupil database)
• To provide administrative support to all areas of the school (e.g. student listings, word processing)
• To receive telephone calls and visitors and take appropriate action
• To undertake general office duties, including collation/copying reports and documents, organising and maintaining filing systems and assisting in the absence of colleagues
• To be responsible for processing incoming and outgoing mail
• To assist the finance officer/exam officer in their general duties
• To undertake word processing
• Promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people in accordance with the school’s safeguarding and child protection policy
• The pro rata salary shown is based on the number of hours and weeks worked and includes appropriate paid annual leave and bank holiday entitlements.

• The salary quoted is the annual salary for the position at the time of advert. The salary will be paid in equal monthly instalments and will be adjusted at the start of employment and again if leaving part way through the school year to ensure the correct salary is received for the work completed in an academic year.

Compass Learning Centre is a ‘good school’ (Ofsted October 2024) and a successful Pupil Referral Unit (PRU), part of the Alternative Provision (AP) in education. It is fully supported by a committed Management Committee who work closely with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team.

The Pupil Admission Number (PAN) is currently 67. The number of students on roll varies throughout the year dependent on the number of referrals from schools within the Weymouth and Portland area and from Dorset Council. Students who attend Compass Learning Centre predominantly experience difficulties engaging in a mainstream school and come to us with a variety of additional needs. The centre caters for students who have been permanently excluded from a mainstream school, individuals with medical conditions that prevent attendance at mainstream schools and a few students without access to regular education. A number of students are admitted with an Education Health Care Plan, a few are in the care of the local authority and others attend for a fixed period of time on a Dual Registration basis.

We serve the wider West Dorset community, however the majority of students who attend Compass come from the Weymouth and Portland area. Some students follow short-term, work-related social development or resilience building courses at Rylands Farm, Dorset Trade Skills, Max Events, and Weymouth Sailing Academy. All students are offered full-time programmes. However, the time spent in school is tailored to meet individual students’ needs.

Safeguarding: Compass Learning Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; this is a commitment which we expect all staff and volunteers to share. The successful candidate will be required to have a Disclosure & Barring Service check in line with the Government’s safer recruitment guidelines.

We value the diversity of our workforce and welcome applications from all sectors of the community. Please ensure that your application is completed in full, listing all qualifications from secondary school up to the most recent qualifications gained and a full employment history is stated from school until present day.

 Compass Learning Centre will conduct a number of online searches of shortlisted candidates. Part of which will be a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. As care must be taken to avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.

http://www.compass.dorset.sch.uk (opens in new tab)